Will Tour de France 2011 be a farce?

[on3m@n@rmy]

Well said JPMLondon.

What I'm about to say does not really fall into the "farce" category. It's more in the "excitement" category, but some might consider the following contributory to a farce. So, here's how I'd sum up last year's race in terms of excitement:
- too much waiting
- not enough attacking
- too much hugging
... BTW no Vino

This year with Vino back, I'm hoping he will help eliminate the waiting and lack of attacking. Can't do much about the hugging though.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

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.

Let me guess 'Senor Contador', you're not prejudiced?

I am speaking from experience - as I was at the stage end in Castres in 2007 when Rasmussen was on the podium and the crowd were largely apathetic.
But the following day when he retained the jersey after the Albi time trial there was a noticeable way in how the crowd had changed.

Expect the same for Contador if/when he takes the lead.

 

[Stingray34]

With the HD cameras they use and my nice big TV, I'm only watching for the stunning scenery these days. Same with giro.

It makes up for the utter lack of panache amongst the riders. How anyone can gobble drugs so insanely yet race so conservatively is beyond me. And 35 yr olds racing to win it...

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

With the HD cameras they use and my nice big TV, I'm only watching for the stunning scenery these days. Same with giro.

It makes up for the utter lack of panache amongst the riders. How anyone can gobble drugs so insanely yet race so conservatively is beyond me. And 35 yr olds racing to win it...

39 year olds.

 

[ksmith]

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

I doubt very much if the fans would hurt him. They will yell at him show their disgust.

His handlers now thats a different story, if they have given him none prescription drugs and Contador of his own free will taken them. I presume at your pleasure, they will be at the bottom of the mountain along with all the other dopers. Because of their actions they put a lot of career ending hurt into the clean riders.

 

[c&cfan]

Let me guess 'Senor Contador', you're not prejudiced?

I am speaking from experience - as I was at the stage end in Castres in 2007 when Rasmussen was on the podium and the crowd were largely apathetic.
But the following day when he retained the jersey after the Albi time trial there was a noticeable way in how the crowd had changed.

Expect the same for Contador if/when he takes the lead.

so you literally watch cycling? really watching?

i thought that you and others like you, wiki doctors, were living here i am glad that you started watching since 2007. believe me, you will like it this year

 

[mr. tibbs]

With the HD cameras they use and my nice big TV, I'm only watching for the stunning scenery these days. Same with giro.

It makes up for the utter lack of panache amongst the riders. How anyone can gobble drugs so insanely yet race so conservatively is beyond me. And 35 yr olds racing to win it...

I actually like Contador b/c he goes for it whenever he has (or thinks he has) the legs. How many stages have we heard criticism of him b/c he didn't follow the 1999-2005 playbook. "He shouldn't have attacked on that stage. Can't gain enough time to justify the effort." But he did, anyway--and it's always paid off. Even in 2009 where he dropped Kloden, Astana still won the Tour. Maybe it was a mistake (I'd argue not: much as I like Kloden, his goal was and always has been to help his leader win the Tour), but he was going at full speed, not holding back.

If any GCer has panache these days, I think it's Contador.

 

[MarkvW]

I actually like Contador b/c he goes for it whenever he has (or thinks he has) the legs. How many stages have we heard criticism of him b/c he didn't follow the 1999-2005 playbook. "He shouldn't have attacked on that stage. Can't gain enough time to justify the effort." But he did, anyway--and it's always paid off. Even in 2009 where he dropped Kloden, Astana still won the Tour. Maybe it was a mistake (I'd argue not: much as I like Kloden, his goal was and always has been to help his leader win the Tour), but he was going at full speed, not holding back.

If any GCer has panache these days, I think it's Contador.

And Contador ALWAYS has it in the legs. It's mechanistically boring.

 

[peloton]

And Contador ALWAYS has it in the legs. It's mechanistically boring.

you haven't been following cycling for long then, it seems.

 

[moi123]

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?

It only makes for more drama. It's will be exciting and intriguing even if Contador dominates like in the Giro.(oops than even more!)People will watch and it will be a spectacle. Let's hope Contador will ride and that there won't be any strange or political decisions coming from the leading organizations.

 

[Cobblestones]

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?

I watched all the spring races but for the first time in many, many years, I had no interest in the Giro. I only read reports of some of the stages and couldn't bring myself to watch a single one. I don't know yet what I do during the TdF, but I'm not excited. I'm looking forward to Lombardia, though.

 

[erader]

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

i hear you. quit putting the riders on pedestals. consider doping just like any other discipline -- e.g. TTing or climbing.

if you can't handle the disappointment move on to another sport where they don't "cheat". good luck with that .

erader

 

[pmcg76]

I really dont understand all this "not watching the Tour, didnt watch the Giro" BS, what!!! all because of one rider stretching the rules, FFS the last 20 years of the sport has been a farce and even beyond and its only now that people are suddenly realising its a farce.

I really dont get the logic here, its not like we havent had a precedent before, Valverde rode for a long time and won a lot of races before being suspended, the Festina guys got derisiory 6 month suspensions which were mostly served over winter and seen them all back in time for the 99 Tour. Why when it suddenly comes to Contador that everyone is whining.

How can someone watch the classics but not the GTs, are the classics somehow cleaner than the GTs. That is just rubbish.

I have followed this sport for over 20 years and I have learned to take it as it comes. I would dearly love to see doping eradicated from the sport but I am realistic to know that aint going to happen anytime soon so there is no point acting like children and putting athletes on pedestals.

As someone else said, if you aint happy go watch some other sport you can believe in, if you find one let us all now which one. How about Nadal winning the French Open for the 100th time in a row today. Real exciting stuff indeed.

 

[Andynonomous]

2nd time in a row.

How about Nadal winning the French Open for the 100th time in a row today. Real exciting stuff indeed.

Don't mean to be a prck but it was only the second time in a row, and 6th overall (2005,6,7,8,10,11).

 

[tubularglue]

If wada was to take over all testing and protocol, then no farce'


i am ready for the circus come July..............prediction - Cunego in yellow

 

[ManInFull]

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?

It will not be a farce. He will actually make the event even more interesting. It will only be a farce to the self-righteous types who believe that some of riders who might actually contend for GC aren't doping in their own way. You should watch pro cycling with your eyes open and simply enjoy it for what it is. If you are looking for some clean sport with no issues, try bowling.

 

[Animal]

I really dont understand all this "not watching the Tour, didnt watch the Giro" BS, what!!! all because of one rider stretching the rules

One????

It's been a parade of filthy dopers for years now. I think that's what's turning people away.

 

[Magic Spanner]

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

The most efective fan protest is to switch off and stop buying bits of pro-tour carbon. You want to watch clean racing? Get down to your local circuit at the weekend.

 

[Magic Spanner]

I watched all the spring races but for the first time in many, many years, I had no interest in the Giro. I only read reports of some of the stages and couldn't bring myself to watch a single one. I don't know yet what I do during the TdF, but I'm not excited. I'm looking forward to Lombardia, though.

The big 1 day races have always been more exciting than the Grand Tours. There is a winner that day. Team members get used up so the big guns go head to head. There are do or die efforts - no point in saving yourself. Crashes, attrition, cobbles, wind, rain, mud and glory. What's not to like? Oh yeah ........ I almost forgot. The cheating!

Like you the spring got me excited and there were some great races, Het Niusbland standing out for me. But......I couldn't watch the Giro and won't watch the Tour. If the World Champs doesn't get me interested then I'll start to worry where the riders and teams that we can believe in are coming from.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

The Giro was pretty spectacular. The idea that people aren't watching the race because of dopers is silly. They're not watching the race because "dopers" they don't like are winning them.

To say you're not watching the GTs but you're watching the classics because of dopers is just senseless. Do people really think the classics riders are clean and the GT contenders are the only dopers?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

And Contador ALWAYS has it in the legs. It's mechanistically boring.

2008 Giro - Contador was dropped several times.
2010 Tour - Contador struggled.
2010 Dauphine - Contador was soundly beaten in the TT and lost the overall to JB.
2009 Paris-Nice - Contador cracked and dropped to 4th.

Contador DOES NOT always have it in the legs.

 

[danjo007]

i cant tell who's worse. contador, spaniards and/or AC's fanboys.
they could all fall of the face of the earth for all i care.

 

[Magic Spanner]

The Giro was pretty spectacular. The idea that people aren't watching the race because of dopers is silly. They're not watching the race because "dopers" they don't like are winning them.

To say you're not watching the GTs but you're watching the classics because of dopers is just senseless. Do people really think the classics riders are clean and the GT contenders are the only dopers?

Couldn't watch the Giro because the guy in pink should be serving a ban. The reason I prefer the classics is because they are more exciting and unpredictable. Not because I think they might be clean!!!!

People on here don't like AC for one reason. It's the same reason folk don't care too much for LA or Vino, Scarponi, Basso, Ricco, Millar, Riis, DiLucca, Rebellin, Landis, Hamilton. They race their bikes using PEDs.

Plenty of us don't.

 

[c&cfan]

Couldn't watch the Giro because the guy in pink should be serving a ban. The reason I prefer the classics is because they are more exciting and unpredictable. Not because I think they might be clean!!!!

People on here don't like AC for one reason. It's the same reason folk don't care too much for LA or Vino, Scarponi, Basso, Ricco, Millar, Riis, DiLucca, Rebellin, Landis, Hamilton. They race their bikes using PEDs.

Plenty of us don't.

coppi bartali anquetil poulidor merckx gimond roger hinault moser fignon lemond indurain ris ulle pantani armstrong rominger jalabert kloeden cancellara petachi bettini gilbert paolini boogerd landis pereiro...................................................................................................................................

the juniors.
the veterans.
table tennis' players.
messi ronaldo maradona pele.
etc.

so what?

 

[ManInFull]

Personally, I think Lance's fanboys, who are now Baby Schleck's fanboys, are worse.