Will Tour de France 2011 be a farce?

[Basecase]

With the doubts looming over AC's legitimacy to be racing will this year's Tour be a joke?

I didn't bother watching the Giro and now I feel I won't be bothered with the Tour either

I also wondered will any fans feel angry enough about the situation to physically attack AC on the climbs and cause him to loose some time? What are the regulations in such a case? Would Andy S be a gent and wait for Bertie?

 

[spalco]

I'm not sure what you mean by "farce". If you mean "will the other cyclists accept Contador as a legimate competitor and try to beat him?" then the answer judging by the Giro is undoubtedly "yes!", especially since nobody can predict the outcome of the CAS ruling yet.

And the Italian fans also were not unhappy about Contador being there. Except for some lighthearted taunting nobody bothered Contador on any of the climbs. Will the French be different? Who knows. But I think it would be shameful if Contador is attacked physically by the fans.

 

[sniper]

i think it is shameful the way AC is lying to the fans while keeping a straight face.

Yes, the Tour will be a Farce with AC in it, even though all other serious competitors are doped to the gills as well.
Other doped cyclists either did some time already or simply haven't got caught.
AC got caught twice already and hence shouldn't be on two wheels robbing other cyclists of possible titles or podium places.

 

[Benotti69]

Yep, gonna be farce. But will watch it on a stream with a huge dollop of cynicism, hoping that karma can somehow have an influence on certain riders.

 

[JPM London]

Farce...

A farce is the UCI not being open about the positive and forcing Contador to complicit so they could buy time to figure out how to react. A farce is the UCI taking an eternity to get the case up in the national federation where it was supposed to go straight away. A farce is the cycling rules actually being that a case goes to the national federation. A farce is UCI and WADA waiting the longest possible time to decide to appeal the case when their reasoning for doing so also implies they could as well have appealed straight away. A farce is the UCI pestering CAS to get the case moving immediately when the UCI themselves have sat squarely on it for a year. A farce is people getting on Contador's back for asking for a postponement when they case could have been settled loooong ago if not for the UCI. A farce is that because of all this UCI-wavering we now have two GTs and several smaller races without an actually confirmed winner - neither the current winner nor any of his competitors, the race organisers or fans deserve this. A farce is keeping a whole sport in a stalemate because of the incompetence by the governing organisation.

It's not a farce that Contador rides the Tour (if he chooses to, its not even confirmed AFAIK) under the current circumstances - it would be a farce if a rider currently cleared by the official process followed was banned from racing.

 

[hrotha]

No more of a farce than any of the Tours I've watched.

 

[Siriuscat]

Farce...

A farce is the UCI not being open about the positive and forcing Contador to complicit so they could buy time to figure out how to react. A farce is the UCI taking an eternity to get the case up in the national federation where it was supposed to go straight away. A farce is the cycling rules actually being that a case goes to the national federation. A farce is UCI and WADA waiting the longest possible time to decide to appeal the case when their reasoning for doing so also implies they could as well have appealed straight away. A farce is the UCI pestering CAS to get the case moving immediately when the UCI themselves have sat squarely on it for a year. A farce is people getting on Contador's back for asking for a postponement when they case could have been settled loooong ago if not for the UCI. A farce is that because of all this UCI-wavering we now have two GTs and several smaller races without an actually confirmed winner - neither the current winner nor any of his competitors, the race organisers or fans deserve this. A farce is keeping a whole sport in a stalemate because of the incompetence by the governing organisation.

It's not a farce that Contador rides the Tour (if he chooses to, its not even confirmed AFAIK) under the current circumstances - it would be a farce if a rider currently cleared by the official process followed was banned from racing.

Excellent post....sums the whole situation up perfectly

 

[movingtarget]

It's already a farce and has been for a long time. If Contador wins the TDF and loses his court case it becomes a grand farce. If Contador wins his court case the general farce continues. If anyone else wins the TDF and does not test positive within 12 months we will be secretly happy but still have some doubts.

It's called being a pro-cycling fan in the 21st century.

 

[Irish2009]

Spot on JPM London , UCI needs to pull its head outa its ****, its had since at least 1998.

 

[mr. tibbs]

It won't be a farce for me!

As for the points you bring up, see London, hrotha, and movingtarget. The important things to remember are that

-the latest word on Contador is that he's cleared of charges and clear to ride, and
-OP already assumes everyone is doping, so what's one more rider who's been accused or convicted?

I'm looking forward to the Tour. I enjoyed watching Armstrong, Basso, and my boy Ulle compete in the oughts, and I'll enjoy watching Contador, Schleck, et al compete in July. I hope that you all enjoy it, too!

 

[ergmonkey]

What's more farcical: 1) Contador gets caught with 50 picograms (or whatever it was) of Clenbuterol in his system, or 2) Schleck gets caught wiring thousands of Euros to Eufemiano Fuentes? Or, perhaps, 3) Evans pretends to be morally indignant about racing against dopers while throwing himself 100% behind the BMC squad? Or, still, 4) the UCI's selective ability to detect and prosecute doping offences?

If this Tour ends up being a farce, Contador won't be the only one to blame.

 

[inri2000]

If anyone tries to hurt Contador physically I hope they fall off the mountain and die. The lowest form of scum is haters...

 

[Ferminal]

So, Andy Schleck or Andreas Klöden winning the Tour would make it a respectable competition?

 

[Basecase]

If anyone tries to hurt Contador physically I hope they fall off the mountain and die. The lowest form of scum is haters...

Well when I say physically attacked, I mean moreso prevented from cycling rather than harmed.

Imagine a cluster of disgruntled fans - how many could it take to impede his route? 5, 8, 10 likeminded persons positioned strategically?

 

[inri2000]

Well when I say physically attacked, I mean moreso prevented from cycling rather than harmed.

Imagine a cluster of disgruntled fans - how many could it take to impede his route? 5, 8, 10 likeminded persons positioned strategically?

That would be the biggest farce of all. AC is free to ride according to international rules, people should get over it.

 

[Cloxxki]

Big farce to me.
Not just because of AC who can almost not lose this, but because the obviousness of the issues in the sport. AND the TdF being overhyped as it is. Giro and Vuelta are just as long and hard, offer the same UCI points.
But anyway, it was a farce having Armstrong there, even if he was likely unabled to charge during the TdF itself, bringing this uncharacteristic drop in performance as the race went on. He had been exposed, very credibly IMO, by a former trustee, and still got to put his stample on the race, and make millions off it directly and indirectly.
It's a farce that this race is still in the end governed by the UCI, and it's a farce to even considered them a non-profit organization.

AC will likely win, not for Armstrong's reasons (better prep mentally and medically), but he still preps medically. He lies about it, this makes him unworthy to even watch riding his bike. He doesn't do any special tricks, just boosts his VO2max over a 100 and wins, easy.

I couldn't bring myself to watch the Giro even while I was at home, with access to TV. I am just so allergic to BS. Havig doubts whether I was watching clean sports was one thing. But to watch KNOWING it's corrupt mainly to keep it unclean, is too much to ask.

 

[veganrob]

Farce...

A farce is the UCI not being open about the positive and forcing Contador to complicit so they could buy time to figure out how to react. A farce is the UCI taking an eternity to get the case up in the national federation where it was supposed to go straight away. A farce is the cycling rules actually being that a case goes to the national federation. A farce is UCI and WADA waiting the longest possible time to decide to appeal the case when their reasoning for doing so also implies they could as well have appealed straight away. A farce is the UCI pestering CAS to get the case moving immediately when the UCI themselves have sat squarely on it for a year. A farce is people getting on Contador's back for asking for a postponement when they case could have been settled loooong ago if not for the UCI. A farce is that because of all this UCI-wavering we now have two GTs and several smaller races without an actually confirmed winner - neither the current winner nor any of his competitors, the race organisers or fans deserve this. A farce is keeping a whole sport in a stalemate because of the incompetence by the governing organisation.

It's not a farce that Contador rides the Tour (if he chooses to, its not even confirmed AFAIK) under the current circumstances - it would be a farce if a rider currently cleared by the official process followed was banned from racing.

Excellent, well thought out.

 

[thirteen]

With the doubts looming over AC's legitimacy to be racing will this year's Tour be a joke?

I didn't bother watching the Giro and now I feel I won't be bothered with the Tour either

I also wondered will any fans feel angry enough about the situation to physically attack AC on the climbs and cause him to loose some time? What are the regulations in such a case? Would Andy S be a gent and wait for Bertie?

then why are you even bothering to post?

do you watch any races? at all? and do you believe all the riders you see in any of these races are clean?

lol! another AC as whipping boy thread

and, no, i don't think any fans are going to get physical over this. if they did, they'd have to punch out most of the peloton, including your Saint Andrew... there may be a regulation in that case.

 

[veganrob]

then why are you even bothering to post?

do you watch any races? at all? and do you believe all the riders you see in any of these races are clean?

lol! another AC as whipping boy thread

and, no, i don't think any fans are going to get physical over this. if they did, they'd have to punch out most of the peloton, including your Saint Andrew... there may be a regulation in that case.

Right on.
And if the crowd does get a bit out of hand hopefully AC has his mechanic in the car. WHAM Out of the way a$$holes. hahah

 

[benzwire]

If AC rides and wins this year, then is suspended by CAS after the win, would he lose both tours (2011 and 2010)?

 

[Havetts]

Yes and the 2011 Giro.

 

[Cloxxki]

It might actually be good if a small group of cycling fans would make a statement in the Tour. Perhaps form a road block. On a mountain stage, easier than clapping in your hands. Block the road, to "level the playing field".
Hand a petition to the race director. It's all going to be on live television. Is this not all about the fans? We watch at the tv commercials, we wear the caravan's hats and hands.

This is not about AC, it's about the whole sport that made him a symbol of boith right and wrong. LA had cancer to inpire him, AC has the special brother to inspire him. Both would have lost without the hot sauce, although in a level playing field, AC might have won it as well. My simple interpretation.

If physical action beyond a road block would be carried out, no reason to single out AC. Schlecks are just as bad. I get very angry with the charade in interviews from the whole gang, would love to throw (specially designed) stick in their front wheels (uphill for reduced risk of serious injury). Road block just seems way cooler. The 2 or 3 gendarmes who can get close have no way to control it. Whistling doesn't do anything, shooting into the air will cause multiple casualties, people falling off the mountain. Just a pieceful road block. Not so hard to set up. Maybe a roomie turn on an uphill. Place loudspeakers from the walls and vehicles there. Speak to riders and officials at a volume not to be missed. Ask riders who've never been implicated in doping to step forward and take a lead. It will be maybe 10 or 15 of them. Most of them French. So it may have to be carried out by non-French conspirators

 

[Dr. Maserati]

That would be the biggest farce of all. AC is free to ride according to international rules, people should get over it.

The flaw in your logic is that if RFEC had adhered to these "international rules" Contador would be currently suspended.

I think Bert will be in for a tough time at the Tour - it is not like the Giro, if he takes the lead expect the crowd to turn on him like the did with Rasmussen in 2007.

 

[Señor_Contador]

[...]if he takes the lead expect the crowd to turn on him like the did with Rasmussen in 2007.

Oh yeah, we're all waiting on the edge of our seats.

You know you are delusional when your opinion gets adulterated by your own prejudices.

 

[Señor_Contador]

Even I, as much as I hated Armstrong, did not, do not and will not wish him bad.