A video on Lance's "livestrong" website just announced like 40 minutes ago!
(i.e. a video BY Lance himself) that he was founding a new bicycling team in
2010 FOR the TDF with Radio Shack as the sponsor!  It is unknown whether
Bruneille will join him but apparently certain that Contador will NOT as
Contador has one more year in his contract with Astana.



Kind of bizarre - Lance is third overall and Contador blew him away on the
time trial today (won the stage).  Andy Schleck is also ahead of Lance.
Lance bearly made third ahead of Wiggins by 40 seconds.



Speculation is, of course, that Johann Bruneille will abandon Astana to join
Lance on this new team (name to be announced later today) but nothing
confirmed.



According to USA Today (if you can believe them) the conflict between Lance
and Contador is apparently real..



My Take?  Even IF Lance does more training, he will be almost 39 next year
(his 38th birthday is in a week or so the news guys announced) and a young
athlete like Schleck OR Contador in his 20's, trumps an older fellow any day
of the week.  I think Lance should consider retiring or becoming the
directif of the new team. maybe that is his plan which would make more sense
than trying to INSIST on competing with the snot nosed kids in cycling.  Of
course that would leave Bruneille out of the picture unless he is so into
Lance he's ready to play second fiddle.  My this is even more dramatic than
the tour itself. talk about "As the bicycle wheel turns"  *LOL*



Stay tuned. this is getting more and more interesting. :)



http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon/2009/07/lance-will-ride-for-radio-shack-in-
2010.html



Sue



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sorry didn't think anyone was reading. I am watching the tour and trying to
figure out the strategy and interaction between Lance and Contador. I
actually watched stage 15 again today to try and figure things out. Lance, a
bit upset (grades himself as a "B-" when asked about it), Contador almost
angry.

Lance hasn't done spectacularly in his other races and only "SPECIFICALLY"
trained like for 6 or 7 months - before that was fit but running etc so he
IS a bit out of shape and older too.  Contador is younger and at his peak.
Lance also partially owns Astana so he wins whether he wins the race or not.
It's a bit up in the air. Frankly I'd love to see someone from another team
win. And what about Contador's really aggressive reaction to winning the
stage (stage 15) and the yellow jersey?  Seems quite a different guy from
years ago... kind of angry for lack of a better word.  I really liked Sastre
and hope he does better.

I WAS able to order from my favorite bike shop an Astana shirt and it's
pretty awesome (pricy but those are really good for riding!).

Everyone's performance is amazing considering that this year it really is a
totally CLEAN (no drugs) race...

So what's everyone else's take on the TDF?

Sue

-----Original Message-----
From: roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com

1. Tour de France
     Posted by: "taxcpatx" no_reply@yahoogroups.com taxcpatx
     Date: Sun Jul 19, 2009 8:07 am ((PDT))

No one has even posted a relevant message even though the TDF is now in
progress.

The only thing keeping this group alive is the spammers.

No one has even posted a relevant message even though the TDF is now in
progress.

The only thing keeping this group alive is the spammers.

This looks like another spammer who should be banned.

--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "newhsfriends" <newhsfriends@...>
wrote:
>
> Message Alert - You Have 1 Important Unread
Message!http://tinylives.zoomshare.com/files/invite.htm
>

I agree that another moderator should be appointed.  You could then delete the
spam immediately and ban the spammer.  That is the way I handle it.

You are also right--I don't visit this group very often.  No one does.  There
are very few messages posted except during the Tour de France, so there is not
much reason to visit often.

I don't know what happened to the cyclist enthusiasts.  Nearly all of the
cycling groups have disappeared.  There used to be numerous groups with lots of
postings, especially before Yahoo switched from the Club to the Group format.

--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "SueW" <gswidemark@...> wrote:
>
> My thought was I could help you by approving new members... that cuts out a
> lot of the spammers. The other thing is going through the members and
> deleting all of those who are "bouncing" and that eliminates most of the
> spammers and the other thing is if someone does send through spam to remove
> them... You took several months to answer this email... so don't seem to get
> to the group very often. I would be glad to help moderate in the ways
> above... let me know...
>
> Sue
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> > 1a. Re: not having messages emailed
> >    Posted by: "precinct4500"
> >    Date: Wed May 20, 2009 1:33 pm ((PDT))
> >
> > I have a group with about 1500 members and do NOT want to have to change
> > 99% from moderated to unmoderated, so I take the risk of having a spammer
> > sneak in a message, then I delete the message and ban the spammer.  I also
> > have another person that I have designated as a moderator who will
> > sometimes catch them before I do.
> >
> > I tried having messages moderated until I changed the status to
> > unmoderated, and there weren't enough spammers to justify all that extra
> > work.  Members quickly complain when someone posts spam, but it doesn't
> > happen that often.
> >
> > Members have also complained if an off-topic message is posted--usually a
> > humerous remark or a political comment during presidential elections.  I
> > do not delete these since they are not all that offensive.
> >
> > --- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "SueW" <gswidemark@>
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> I don't think that would work with the 120 groups I'm subbed to (and 14
> >> of
> >> them I own and have to read every message).  All the owner of this group
> >> would have to do is either clean it up (get rid of the spammers - most of
> >> them are 'BOUNCING' anyway) and have the first message from every member
> >> be
> >> moderated.  Or delegate it... I'd be willing to help there.  But
> >> something
> >> should be done.
> >>
> >> Sue
> >>
>

Message Alert - You Have 1 Important Unread
Message!http://tinylives.zoomshare.com/files/invite.htm

My thought was I could help you by approving new members... that cuts out a
lot of the spammers. The other thing is going through the members and
deleting all of those who are "bouncing" and that eliminates most of the
spammers and the other thing is if someone does send through spam to remove
them... You took several months to answer this email... so don't seem to get
to the group very often. I would be glad to help moderate in the ways
above... let me know...

Sue

----- Original Message -----
> 1a. Re: not having messages emailed
>    Posted by: "precinct4500"
>    Date: Wed May 20, 2009 1:33 pm ((PDT))
>
> I have a group with about 1500 members and do NOT want to have to change
> 99% from moderated to unmoderated, so I take the risk of having a spammer
> sneak in a message, then I delete the message and ban the spammer.  I also
> have another person that I have designated as a moderator who will
> sometimes catch them before I do.
>
> I tried having messages moderated until I changed the status to
> unmoderated, and there weren't enough spammers to justify all that extra
> work.  Members quickly complain when someone posts spam, but it doesn't
> happen that often.
>
> Members have also complained if an off-topic message is posted--usually a
> humerous remark or a political comment during presidential elections.  I
> do not delete these since they are not all that offensive.
>
> --- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "SueW" <gswidemark@...>
> wrote:
>>
>> I don't think that would work with the 120 groups I'm subbed to (and 14
>> of
>> them I own and have to read every message).  All the owner of this group
>> would have to do is either clean it up (get rid of the spammers - most of
>> them are 'BOUNCING' anyway) and have the first message from every member
>> be
>> moderated.  Or delegate it... I'd be willing to help there.  But
>> something
>> should be done.
>>
>> Sue
>>

I have a group with about 1500 members and do NOT want to have to change 99%
from moderated to unmoderated, so I take the risk of having a spammer sneak in a
message, then I delete the message and ban the spammer.  I also have another
person that I have designated as a moderator who will sometimes catch them
before I do.

I tried having messages moderated until I changed the status to unmoderated, and
there weren't enough spammers to justify all that extra work.  Members quickly
complain when someone posts spam, but it doesn't happen that often.

Members have also complained if an off-topic message is posted--usually a
humerous remark or a political comment during presidential elections.  I do not
delete these since they are not all that offensive.

--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "SueW" <gswidemark@...> wrote:
>
> I don't think that would work with the 120 groups I'm subbed to (and 14 of
> them I own and have to read every message).  All the owner of this group
> would have to do is either clean it up (get rid of the spammers - most of
> them are 'BOUNCING' anyway) and have the first message from every member be
> moderated.  Or delegate it... I'd be willing to help there.  But something
> should be done.
>
> Sue
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com]
> Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 7:27 AM
> To: roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [roadracingukandireland] Digest Number 610
>
> There is 1 message in this issue.
>
> Topics in this digest:
>
> 1a. Re: leaving the group
>     From: precinct4500
>
>
> Message
> ________________________________________________________________________
> 1a. Re: leaving the group
>     Posted by: "precinct4500" no_reply@yahoogroups.com precinct4500
>     Date: Fri Jan 2, 2009 9:34 am ((PST))
>
> I avoid the spam email problem with this group and others by not
> having messages emailed.  Some groups have hundreds of messages, and I
> avoid reading a lot of them by just looking at the topic's subject and
> skipping those that don't interest me.  You can usually spot a spam
> message at a glance.
>
>
> --- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "SueW" <gswidemark@>
> wrote:
> >
> > He was complaining about the spam or ad or porn emails sent to this
> > group which tends to cut down traffic.  It's nice you don't plan on
> > shutting it down but would also be nice to set some restrictions like
> > moderating the first message from every user or approving memberships.
> > By now you would have to delete the spammers from the group also...
> > it's a job but worth it.  Those spam emails spoil the whole thing...
> > just a thought...
> >
> > Sue
> >
>

I don't think that would work with the 120 groups I'm subbed to (and 14 of
them I own and have to read every message).  All the owner of this group
would have to do is either clean it up (get rid of the spammers - most of
them are 'BOUNCING' anyway) and have the first message from every member be
moderated.  Or delegate it... I'd be willing to help there.  But something
should be done.

Sue

-----Original Message-----
From: roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 7:27 AM
To: roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [roadracingukandireland] Digest Number 610

There is 1 message in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1a. Re: leaving the group
     From: precinct4500


Message
________________________________________________________________________
1a. Re: leaving the group
     Posted by: "precinct4500" no_reply@yahoogroups.com precinct4500
     Date: Fri Jan 2, 2009 9:34 am ((PST))

I avoid the spam email problem with this group and others by not
having messages emailed.  Some groups have hundreds of messages, and I
avoid reading a lot of them by just looking at the topic's subject and
skipping those that don't interest me.  You can usually spot a spam
message at a glance.


--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "SueW" <gswidemark@...>
wrote:
>
> He was complaining about the spam or ad or porn emails sent to this
> group which tends to cut down traffic.  It's nice you don't plan on
> shutting it down but would also be nice to set some restrictions like
> moderating the first message from every user or approving memberships.
> By now you would have to delete the spammers from the group also...
> it's a job but worth it.  Those spam emails spoil the whole thing...
> just a thought...
>
> Sue
>

I avoid the spam email problem with this group and others by not
having messages emailed.  Some groups have hundreds of messages, and I
avoid reading a lot of them by just looking at the topic's subject and
skipping those that don't interest me.  You can usually spot a spam
message at a glance.


--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "SueW" <gswidemark@...>
wrote:
>
> He was complaining about the spam or ad or porn emails sent to this
> group which tends to cut down traffic.  It's nice you don't plan on
> shutting it down but would also be nice to set some restrictions like
> moderating the first message from every user or approving memberships.
> By now you would have to delete the spammers from the group also...
> it's a job but worth it.  Those spam emails spoil the whole thing...
> just a thought...
>
> Sue
>

I co moderate two other non cycling groups on Yahoo and if it helps keep the
group going, I would be more than happy to assist here as well ?

All the best,

Kristian.
----- Original Message -----
From: "SueW" <gswidemark@...>
To: <roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 8:13 PM
Subject: [roadracingukandireland] leaving the group


>
> He was complaining about the spam or ad or porn emails sent to this
> group which tends to cut down traffic.  It's nice you don't plan on
> shutting it down but would also be nice to set some restrictions like
> moderating the first message from every user or approving memberships.
> By now you would have to delete the spammers from the group also...
> it's a job but worth it.  Those spam emails spoil the whole thing...
> just a thought...
>
> Sue
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

He was complaining about the spam or ad or porn emails sent to this
group which tends to cut down traffic.  It's nice you don't plan on
shutting it down but would also be nice to set some restrictions like
moderating the first message from every user or approving memberships.
By now you would have to delete the spammers from the group also...
it's a job but worth it.  Those spam emails spoil the whole thing...
just a thought...

Sue

Thats a shame Andy.  If there was any discussion on here, then I'm
sure it would become lively again.  I think that ever since yahoo
screwed up and changed yahoo clubs into yahoo groups, things took a
nosedive as regards peoples interests in the new format.

I've no intention of closing this group down - its here for whoever
wishes to use it...

all the best andy.
micky


--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Green"
<sayandy40@...> wrote:
>
> Any one who reads this group. Sorry I am leaving as it is clearly not
> longer moderated and nobody into cycling as anything they want to say.
> best of luck for 2009 any riders out there
>
> Cheers
>
> Andy
>

Any one who reads this group. Sorry I am leaving as it is clearly not
longer moderated and nobody into cycling as anything they want to say.
best of luck for 2009 any riders out there

Cheers

Andy

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26862681/

Seven-time Tour de France champ will race in Tour Down Under in January


       Ryan Remiorz / AP Cyclist Lance Armstrong has been retired for three
years.


ADELAIDE, Australia - Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will
begin his comeback in the Tour Down Under in January. Mike Rann, premier of
South Australia state, made the announcement Wednesday, hours ahead of the
American's planned media conference in New York to announce details of his
comeback. Armstrong's appearance in Australia in January was also confirmed by
Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur. The six-stage Tour Down Under, the
first event on the 2009 world pro cycling calendar, will be take place from Jan.
20 to 25. Armstrong announced on Sept. 9 that he is returning to cycling after
three years in retirement and would attempt to win the Tour de France an eighth
time.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26854852/

Contador says he'll leave Astana if Armstrong joins outfit


JAIME REINA / AFP/Getty Images
Spain's Alberto Contador celebrates Sundayat the podium as winner of "La Vuelta'
mutliple stage race.

MADRID, Spain - If Lance Armstrong joins the Astana cycling team for his
comeback, then Alberto Contador is ready to leave.

"I think I've earned the right to be the leader of a team without having to
fight for my place," the Spanish rider said Tuesday in AS newspaper. "And with
Armstrong some difficult situations could arise in which the team would put him
first and that would hurt me."

Contador, the 2007 Tour de France champion, won the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday.

"My intention is to stay (at Astana) because I have a contract until 2010, but I
have already received a good number of offers from other teams," he said.

Armstrong announced this month he is returning to cycling after three years in
retirement and would attempt to win the Tour de France an eighth time.

Armstrong is to discuss his comeback in New York on Wednesday. Astana would be
the logical team for Armstrong to join. Astana team leader Johan Bruyneel was
Armstrong's team director for all seven of his Tour victories, and the two are
close friends.

Astana spokesman Philippe Maertens declined to comment Tuesday on whether
Armstrong would join the team.

"The team will say nothing before Armstrong explains himself," he said.

Bruyneel has said he could not imagine Armstrong riding for anyone else.

"On the basis of what he says, we'll make a decision," said Contador, who, like
Armstrong, plans to skip the Italian Giro and Vuelta to concentrate solely on
the Tour.

Armstrong has yet to announce which events he'll enter before the Tour. He'll
hold a news conference Wednesday during a four-day meeting held by the President
Clinton's foundation. Armstrong, who has used his celebrity to raise awareness
about the fight against cancer, will address a panel of world leaders earlier in
the day.

Contador said he got no help in his Vuelta victory from American teammate Levi
Leipheimer, who finished 46 seconds behind the 25-year-old Spanish rider.

"It's not normal that someone working for you finishes less than a minute off in
the general standings," Contador said. "If (the next-to-last stage time trial)
had been 20 kilometers more who knows what would have happened."


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Sue
Thanks for the tips, i am pretty confident i can make the ride in the time i
have set but it is not a race, so if it takes longer it is not a problem.I am
averaging between 18 and 22 miles an hour on nearly every outing i do whether it
a 10 ,20 30 or more and i appreciate what you say about injuries, after such a
long time away from the pedals it is taking a while for the legs too redevelop,
so i am not pushing it too hard ,but i am quite a fit person anyway.What drinks
other than water would you recommend,
by the way yoga at 63 good on ya!
 
thanks   andy

--- On Fri, 1/8/08, SueW <gswidemark@...> wrote:

From: SueW <gswidemark@...>
Subject: [roadracingukandireland] Re:Advice or tips needed?
To: roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, 1 August, 2008, 10:24 PM






Well sounds like if you've done 68 miles, you can probably push it to 90 but
take it SLOWLY.... this is NOT the time to be um...macho and push for time.
Trust me the sweet feeling of making some kind of time record soon fades in the
pain of injury.... I know... so been there done that... :(

Also, I would suggest not only carb loading before the ride but take stuff like
Power Bars or Balance Bars (whatever your poison) along. For drinks, plenty of
water and also the sports drinks (to replenish the potasium etc). Stay away from
soda (way far away)...

I've found I can push the mileage if I take it slowly. At 43 if you do something
foolish, you can get injured and the older you are, the longer it takes to go
away. I am STILL fighting an injury from LAST YEAR when I decided I was going to
be super old bag and do "Namaste Yoga" with the sweet young thangs on Fit TV.
Now I call it "nasty yoga". argh. I am 63 and that's a world of difference from
43 but still....

Good luck!

Sue

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
















       __________________________________________________________
Not happy with your email address?.
Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at
Yahoo! http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/ymail/new.html

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Well sounds like if you've done 68 miles, you can probably push it to 90 but
take it SLOWLY.... this is NOT the time to be um...macho and push for time. 
Trust me the sweet feeling of making some kind of time record soon fades in the
pain of injury.... I know... so been there done that... :(

Also, I would suggest not only carb loading before the ride but take stuff like
Power Bars or Balance Bars (whatever your poison) along.  For drinks, plenty of
water and also the sports drinks (to replenish the potasium etc).  Stay away
from soda (way far away)...

I've found I can push the mileage if I take it slowly.  At 43 if you do
something foolish, you can get injured and the older you are, the longer it
takes to go away. I am STILL fighting an injury from LAST YEAR when I decided I
was going to be super old bag and do "Namaste Yoga" with the sweet young thangs
on Fit TV.  Now I call it "nasty yoga".  argh.  I am 63 and that's a world of
difference from 43 but still....

Good luck!

Sue

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi, i am wondering if anyone can offer me some advice or tips,in about
6 weeks i will be doing a 90 mile solo ride in aid of Breast Cancer,i
used too race back in the 80's but things have moved on a bit since
then and i have only seriously got back on my bike around 10 months
ago.at 43 now things are a little harder.
I have been training for this ride since April this year and up too
now the furthest i have done is 68 miles (3hrs 35mins),

Has anyone any advice on good energy foods for the ride or setting
myself up for it, i have set myself a target of 5hrs or less too
complete the ride? not that quick by some peoples standards maybe but
you gotta start somewhere!

I look forward too hearing from someone

Thanks

good article

"The Tour won't be itself until Lance Armstrong has a true successor--someone
who wins and keeps yellow, and returns to defend it. Until then, the advances in
drug screening can keep the show on the road, but the heart of the race will
keep bleeding on the asphalt."

   ----- Original Message -----


  
http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/starr/archive/2008/07/24/can-the-tour-de-fran\
ce-outrun-doping.aspx

   NEWSWEEK's Lily Huang writes on this year's Tour de France:


   A year ago the Tour de France disintegrated before it left the Alps. The
presumptive winner, Michael Rasmussen, fired by his team for evading doping
controls during training, lost the yellow jersey before he could finish. (Floyd
Landis, who tested positive post-race in 2006 for testosterone boosts, gave up
his title in a courtroom.). This year, the Tour is implementing a real crackdown
on substance abuse--so far, three riders have been kicked out of the race--and
fending off its troubled recent history with some serious rebranding.

   Take a look at the poster that Tour organizers have heavily used to promote
the event: Front and center is a heart, tattooed onto a stretch of pavement.
Inside is the inscription "Le Tour Toujours"--the Tour forever. The symbolism
mimics the silent encouragement that devoted fans like to write in spray paint
on mountain roads to lift the pedals of their favorite riders. The inscription
makes this Tour sound like a return to some enduring essence, as though the
steady purging of compromised riders over the last two years was but a
nightmarish interlude.

   The most extravagant bike race on earth used to be the story of men against
impossibility: Charly Gaul versus the storm, Tom Simpson versus the
Continentals, Marco Pantani versus the world. Now the Tour is about itself,
versus drugs. Dogged by drug scandals for the last ten years, the Tour has to
prove that it can recover, and still create a story that will go down in the
annals of the sport. This year's race rolled out under a new banner, but the
worst hallmarks of the old--drugs, lies, and sensationalist journalism--have yet
to be dropped.

   Along with the general paranoia of recurring scandal is a deepening distrust
of whoever is wearing the leader's yellow jersey. Last year's eventual champion,
Alberto Contador, was not allowed to compete in this year's race; he and the
rest of Lance Armstrong's former team had signed with the Kazakh conglomerate
sponsor Astana, which Tour organizers decided to penalize for previous doping
offenses, notably involving Alexandre Vinokourov in 2007 but none of the current
members. With that, the Tour organizers hope, the message is clear: we're back,
and we're drug-free.

   So far this year, three riders have been eliminated for drug-related offenses:
Manuel "Triki" Beltrán, the veteran Spaniard riding for Liquigas; Moisés Dueñas
Nevado of Barloworld, who just cost his young team their sponsorship by breaking
the sponsor's zero-tolerance policy; and Riccardo Riccò, whose high-profile
detention prompted the entire Saunier Duval team to a hasty withdrawal from the
race. All three tested positive for EPO (erythropoletin), a hormone that
stimulates production of red blood cells, but Riccò was found to have used a
"third-generation" strain of the drug. Unfortunately for Riccò, the World
Anti-Doping Agency already knew about it and had developed a third-generation
test.

   In the old Tour, nobody talked about drugs. In the not-so-old Tour, the mid-
to late '90s, the original heyday of EPO, guys like Christophe Moreau, Frankie
Andreu and David Millar confessed to drug use and opened the first fissures in
cycling's insular culture. In the new Tour, Millar is a leader of
Garmin-Chipotle, the poster team for clean cycling, which he calls "the future
of the sport." This year, the peloton has undergone some 3,000 doping controls,
compared to 300 in 2006, according to Team Columbia manager Bob Stapleton.
Retribution is swift and total for any rider guilty of transgression: handcuffs,
police custody, a possible prison sentence for possession of illegal substances.

   The image of Triki Beltrán, a rider who did three Tours of duty for Lance
Armstrong, partially obscured in the back of a police car is a reminder of just
how the Tour has gone about renouncing its former self. Phasing out drugs is
noble and necessary, better for the riders and better for the sport. But the
Tour seems unable to make the transition without also making spectacle out of
the riders' disgrace. Each of the indicted riders this year quit the Tour under
a formidable police escort and may be sentenced to at least two, and up to five,
years in prison. The 24-year-old Riccò, like his compatriot Cristian Moreni, who
was hauled off the 2007 Tour, has already had to spend the night in jail.

   Complicit in this portrayal of doped riders as moral degenerates and menaces
to society are the journalists who cover the Tour. For the mainstream press the
spectacle easily takes precedence over the sport, and the idea of a guy taking a
bike around France over mountain passes that only weeks ago were buried in snow
does not register as inherently fantastical. The Los Angeles Times has already
wondered if this year's race might be another "Tour de Dope." The 2007 Tour's
frenzied witch hunt was fed in no small part by Le Monde, the French daily,
flush with suspicion of the new yellow jersey.

   Whatever the depth of corruption in the sport, from the 1998 Festina Affair to
the 2006 Operación Puerto, the two greatest drug busts in the history of
cycling, the riders remain the most visible accomplices. (The preeminent Festina
team rocked the entire sport when customs officials stopped a team car loaded
with dope, syringes, and other paraphernalia. Operación Puerto uncovered the
dealings of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes with dozens of top cyclists, after
a raid of his collection of doctored blood.) These two events transformed the
Tour not by exposing the underside of the professional peloton but by revealing
a deeper truth: that no outsider knows  what goes into the Tour. Suddenly,
general understanding of the sport became contingent upon a single unanswerable
question: do they or don't they? This is where the old Tour lies abandoned--the
Tour of Coppi and Bobet, Anquetil and Poulidor, Hinault and LeMond, Armstrong
and Ullrich--replaced by one less concerned with the stories of its riders than
the campaign against dope.

   The scuffling of the last ten years has cost the Tour dearly. As the race
nears its end, what matters is not whether the anti-doping authorities will
catch every scofflaw but whether the Tour will maintain its own narrative as one
of the world's premier athletic events. That story is still one for the ages.
The Tour won't be itself until Lance Armstrong has a true successor--someone who
wins and keeps yellow, and returns to defend it. Until then, the advances in
drug screening can keep the show on the road, but the heart of the race will
keep bleeding on the asphalt.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Looks like Ricardo Ricci's "ride of the century" was drug-helped.  He tested
positive for a new type of EPO called "CERA" and was ousted from the team and
the tour.  For some reason his team ALSO left the tour.  This is really getting
OLD.

Sue

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Less Than A Week To Go!
By Phil Liggett
June 30, 2008

As I write, we are less than a week away from the start of the 95th edition of
La Grande Boucle. Are you all ready? If you cannot be at some point along the
2200 miles route during July, then stay rooted to your seat and follow it with
us on Versus, as we will not miss a thing.

On Thursday, Paul Sherwen, Bob Roll, Craig Hummer and myself will rendezvous in
Brest. Roll and Sherwen have been there before as riders, but for us
journalists, I think the feeling of anticipation is just the same as we look
forward with optimism in the hope that we will witness a great sporting clash
without the scandals of recent years.

On paper, qualified somewhat by recent performances in the Tour of Switzerland
and Dauphine-Libere races, one of the following will win the Tour de France in
Paris on July 27th.

In alphabetical order they are: Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Cadel Evans
(Silence-Lotto), Denis Menchov (Rabobank), Carlos Sastre (Saxon-CSC), and
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne).

If they all fail, then I can give you at least 10 names to fill the podium that
would include Mauricio Soler (Barloworld), Riccardo Rico (Saunier Duval), Kim
Kirchen (Team Columbia) and Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel-Euskadi), in what may be
one of the most open races in years.

Following the controversial exclusion of Astana and last year's winner Alberto
Contador and his team mate, California's Levi Leipheimer, himself third in 2007,
the organisers have left out the top team of 2008. Does this mean that the
winner this time can enjoy only a hollow victory?

Perhaps, and only hindsight will help here, but it has also ensured a great
scrap over a well thought out route that starts from Brest with a tough
undulating stage to Plumelec. A sprinter may find it hard to win this first
stage.

As always, the late pullouts are the news before the start and gone are the
sprinters, Tom Boonen and Daniele Bennati, the later being injured. Boonen, who
exactly a year ago was vociferously decrying the dopers of the Tour has himself
been caught out using the social drug cocaine. What a clown!

This means our occasional dose of nail-biting sprinting will now be enacted by
Britain's Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia), South African Robbie Hunter
(Barloworld), Norway's God of Thunder, Thor Hushovd (Credit-Agricole), Spain's
Oscar Freire (Rabobank) and the grand master, Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto) from
Australia. Oops, I forget grand-dad Erik Zabel who is likely riding his last
Tour and will want to add to his 12 stage wins, so improving his own German
record.

Surprises are not commonplace in the Tour, and history has allowed only a
handful of little known riders to carry the greatest prize of all into their old
age.

In 1966, Lucien Aimar managed it by taking every opportunity that came his way.
He took the lead on stage 17, on the road to Turin in Italy, succeeding in Paris
without ever winning a daily stage.

He beat an excellent field, too, although most of the Italians had boycotted the
event. Guess why? They were protesting over the new anti-doping controls!

Lucien, who was on the same Ford team as the Tour legend Jacques Anquetil, laid
the foundation to his win on the road to Pau on stage 10, leaving behind his
team captain and Anquetil's bitter rival Raymond Poulidor by seven minutes.
Poulidor decided not to chase and Anquetil certainly was not going to, so the
race was lost by the two favourites before the Pyrenees had begun.

Although I have given you the obvious candidates for victory, be ready for a new
name to steal the show. The only difference in 2008 is he will become a
household name, as in the 42 years since Aimar won; the Tour de France has
become more popular than ever and is now one of the hottest news items in the
media throughout the month of July. Tour fever, for which there is no cure, is
very contagious.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Landis Loses Final Appeal on Tour Title
AP
Posted: 2008-06-30 16:00:37
Filed Under: Sports
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (June 30) - Floyd Landis lost his final chance to retain
his 2006 Tour de France title Monday, the last step of a long,
multimillion-dollar process that poked holes in the anti-doping establishment
but ultimately left the cyclist as just another convicted cheater.

A three-person panel at the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a previous
panel's decision, ruling his positive doping test during the Tour two years ago
was, indeed, valid. Landis also must pay $100,000 toward the legal fees of the
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

In its 58-page decision, the CAS panel said the lab that analyzed Landis'
positive test results used some "less than ideal laboratory practices, but not
lies, fraud, forgery or cover-ups," the way the Landis camp had alleged.

In the end, the panel saved its harshest criticism for Landis, who it said
essentially tried to muddle the evidence and embarrass the French lab, and
continued on that course even after the evidence was shown not to exist.

"Appelant's experts crossed the line, acting for the most part as advocates for
the Appelant's cause, and not as scientists objectively assisting the Panel in
the search for truth," the decision read.

Landis did not immediately return messages.

"We are pleased that justice was served and that Mr. Landis was not able to
escape the consequences of his doping or his effort to attack those who protect
the rights of clean athletes," said USADA chief executive officer Travis Tygart.

The decision comes just six days before the start of the 2008 Tour. Landis won
the 2006 edition after a stunning comeback in Stage 17, a rally that turned out
to be fueled by synthetic testosterone.

The ruling upholds Landis' two-year ban from cycling, which is due to end Jan.
29, 2009, though at this point, the ban wasn't the real issue.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

You're really cute. I wanna get to know you. Here are my profile with many
photos Reach me here.
http://fhgdsfgn.zoomshare.com/files/photos.htm

Just when it was starting to look good- plonker

I agree, great Giro, and so far the season has been pretty good all
round (then again after last year......) Let hope the feel good
carries on through tour.

Have not yet learned to love Contador, don't know why. Ricci and
Sella are both much more fun
--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, mickymallen
<no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Best for a long time?
>
> I actually ENJOYED a major tour for the first time in a long while.
> Winner was a bit uncharismatic - i mean, what exactly did Contador
do
> to deserve winning it?
>
> Emmanule Sella - what a rider!!! Thing is, last time someone won
back
> to back mountain stages like that, was Pantani in 94....
>
> But in an age of 'clean riders'   Im hoping that Sella was indeed
> that. Very aggressive and ver bold. Not since the likes of Virenque
> and Jose-Marie Jimenez has guys throttled the GC in the mountains
like
> that
>
> brilliant
>
> oh yeah  - and there was Cavendish too :)
>
> it was a shame it had to finish!
>

Nice report... thanks!

Sue

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Best for a long time?

I actually ENJOYED a major tour for the first time in a long while.
Winner was a bit uncharismatic - i mean, what exactly did Contador do
to deserve winning it?

Emmanule Sella - what a rider!!! Thing is, last time someone won back
to back mountain stages like that, was Pantani in 94....

But in an age of 'clean riders'   Im hoping that Sella was indeed
that. Very aggressive and ver bold. Not since the likes of Virenque
and Jose-Marie Jimenez has guys throttled the GC in the mountains like
that

brilliant

oh yeah  - and there was Cavendish too :)

it was a shame it had to finish!

Hi All,

Anyone know the condition of the rider who hit the road furniture during the
Tour of Flanders ?

All the best,

Kristian.


----- Original Message -----
From: "schuijlenburg" <cyclingheroes@...>
To: <roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 2:36 AM
Subject: [roadracingukandireland] Tour of Flanders 2008: Picture Gallery (8
pages)


> Tour of Flanders 2008: Picture Gallery (8 pages)
> http://www.cyclingheroes.info/id1493.html
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

Tour of Flanders 2008: Picture Gallery (8 pages)
http://www.cyclingheroes.info/id1493.html