Poll: 4 Days to go. Should Boonen ride? yes/no

[Kennf1]

Although I still don't buy the "Out of Competition" argument. He's a public figure and what he does in his private life still effects the fans and people around him in his public life. Especially when his use goes public.

Would you be so lenient if it were anyone else? Armstrong? Pres Obama? Cav? Valverde?

Whether they like it or not, they are "public figures" and if they do anything wrong the press will jump on it. Boonen needs to be more careful. This is hurting more than just himself.

Well, there's "public figures" and then there's "pro athletes." Forgiving pro athletes for their social life indiscretions is a time-honored tradition (with the exception of dog fighting). As long as they're likeable, they are forgiven. Kind of how life in general works.

Now if Boonen launched some kind of big-dollar ad campaign with Specialized and a slogan like "biking is my drug of choice," then people might be jumping on him a bit harder.

 

[Amsterhammer]

The judges will announce their decision on Friday morning.

Boonen was interviewed in Monaco this evening - he's, uh, very frustrated and agitated by it all, but if it goes against him he'll just go 'back to Belgium'.

 

[S2Sturges]

In a word...Yes!

I agree, the guy's being made a scapegoat, so what if he's done a few lines of blow out of competition.. as many have said, it's not banned and it didn't help him win P-R earlier. That's called guts, power and determination.
The ASO are tiny minded when it comes to some things, maybe one should ask how many ASO staff have been naughty when it has come to out of work recreational drugs, including alcohol, that's a recreational drug too...the scrutiny must be equal, I reckon.
Picking and choosing, especially a commercial organisation, nothing to do with any government body, that represents the biggest sporting event in the world, is like stacking the deck. They help choose that year's golden boy of sprinting, climbing, overall GC, by finding a reason the eliminate the competition. It was done with Pantani, Ullrich just to name two. Were there opponents clean, I doubt it, but they rocked the boat...
They have also give Valverde the flick, though he is a bit suss w/ Operation Puerto, so that can be understood.
Actually, given the outrageous team of ringers that Astana has put together, the dull and predictable flat stage sprints, this year's Tour promises to be worth a miss. I certainly don't plan on staying up late here in Oz to watch any of it.

 

[Amsterhammer]

Boonen allowed to take part - just announced.

 

[rolfrae]

Boonen allowed to take part - just announced.

Poor old Alan Davis. They had him there for the presentation yesterday, got his hopes up and now he'll be sent packing.

Can't wait to see Cav kick Bonnen's ****.

I guess it's fair to let Boonen ride, given that Armstrong had EPO in his 1999 samples and still gets a go on the Boucle.

 

[Andre.J]

Well sorry Cav, you won't get your green jersey now.

 

[Anonymous]

good for boonen.. good for the race, and we get to see him and cav head to head.. bad for davis..

personally, i think once the team has been presented, then that should be it.. i dont think changes should be allowed the day before unless its through injury or illness

 

[ak-zaaf]

hmmm, this didn't need a new topic i see ;p

 

[Amsterhammer]

personally, i think once the team has been presented, then that should be it.. i dont think changes should be allowed the day before unless its through injury or illness

I tend to agree, though this was a unique situation.

 

[craig1985]

Would of picked both Boonen and Davis myself.

 

[subzro]

Davis should stick around until the morning, maybe one of the 4-7 was a Quick-Step rider

 

[Anonymous]

Davis should stick around until the morning, maybe one of the 4-7 was a Quick-Step rider

then they should race with one less rider as far as im concerned

 

[Anonymous]

Well sorry Cav, you won't get your green jersey now.

Then you are predicting that Boonen will do something that he has not shown the ability recently to do, that being beat Cav consistently. Maybe.

 

[rolfrae]

Then you are predicting that Boonen will do something that he has not shown the ability recently to do, that being beat Cav consistently. Maybe.

Or get beaten by Cav to the stage wins but scrap it out for the intermediate points, something Cav won't do if it means sacrificing speed for the final sprint.

 

[Anonymous]

Or get beaten by Cav to the stage wins but scrap it out for the intermediate points, something Cav won't do if it means sacrificing speed for the final sprint.

I've said this before, I think on the road, Cav may change his plan regarding the intermediate sprints. The guy just has that killer attitude. I think he will vie for the green.

 

[Ben in SC]

Well.... Should the newly crowned Belgian waffle be there?

Obviously the question is moot today as Boonen has been cleared to ride.

I do not support the decision, not because I don't want to see him race. For those of us who love bike racing and the Tour, seeing him race is terrific news!

But last year he was excluded for a cocaine-related incident. Instead of learning from that, he repeated the mistake again this year. Last year the mistake had consequences, this year it does not. What message does that send to this young man? I think it sends the message that if you are a big enough sports celebrity, you can get away with anything.

The decision to admit him to the race is great news for the fans, but perhaps terrible news for the one who needed to learn a lesson, and now has not. I hope he learns the lesson anyway, and goes on to a long and successful life.