Any cycling fans out here ?

[pokester]

realy want someone else to win the "tour" this year ...

[Nick Cope]

Ha ha!

No, I'm still with Lance. Let him break the record and be done with it! I'd like to see a real close race though and I really hope his ex-team mates give a run for his money in the mountains. But today is Virenque's! When is this guy gonna retire?

As for Jan, well...

What bike have you got, Pokester?

[Benicio Del Toffo]

Jan can do it, he looks in great shape this year. I hope he's done it the right way though! Don't want no David Millar antics from Ullrich!

I hope someone annihilates Armstrong in the mountains. IMHO he's a massive drug user. You don't go from being a decent rider to having life-threatening cancer an on to being a legend of the sport - just doesn't happen.

But how can cycling catch someone who's one of Nike's major endorsements? The sponsors are waaaay bigger than the sports and if Lance got caught, well that would cause a whole world of shit. Masking agents mate, simple as.

At least the US athletes are starting to be caught, after years of rumouring and pointing the finger at all other athletes (to avert prying eyes), they're finally starting to be held up as the pioneers of cheating. Fucking Flo-Jo, bigger cock than mine! Actually, most Action Men have a bigger cock than mine.

But anyway, back to the point, someone needs to whip that Yank substance-addled, Sheryl Crow-nobbing , blue-pissed miserable get!!

Let's see some Pantani-esque performances in the Alps. Without the snow.

[sermad]

There was an article in todays guardian about doping in cycling. One guy was quoted as saying 'Belgium doesn't have a doping problem. Everyone is positive'.

[ladyboygrimsby]

My money's on Eddy Merckx.

[son of stan]

Bit disappointed that Joseba Beloki didn't start this year. He looked to be really pushing Armstrong in last year's race until he crashed out. Was also hoping for big things from Mayo but he has been a bit anonymous so far. Still, into the mountains they go today.....

[Nick Cope]

Yeah, it's a real shame about Beloki. Jan's looking real lean this year, glad he managed to get off the burgers and nightclubs in time! However, his team isn't looking so good and I think Lance is gonna kill him in the mountain time trial... Lance is peaking just right, much stronger than last year.

Tyler Hamilton wasn't looking too good today either - hope he recovers.

Benico, you are talking utter shit. You obviously have no idea what you're talking about so please do us all a favour and shut the fuck up about it.

[llmod1]

I've just got back from a stag weekend where everyone except for me was either a top ten UK Triathlete, bi athlete, swimmer, cyclist etc. A couple were ex Olympians!!! Ended up watching one stage of the tour (wild stag in know&#33 anyway pretty much every guy there said that every rider bar none is doped up or on supplements of some sort and that without them they would not be able to compete.

The problem apparently lies with the organisation, without drugs the average speed of the tour would drop dramatically, they are worried that if the riders are not travelling at the speeds that the public are used to then they will lose interest.

Also, apparently (remember I got all this second hand,) they were saying that the sports fucked up because anyone who stands up and blows the whistle on others is the bad guy rather than those who are actully taking the drugs.

Thought I'd just add this extra info as it was fresh in my mind.

[ladyboygrimsby]

Have you seen the latest drug they're using: Methadone. LOL. I think they should make drugs compulsory. Magic Mushrooms only. See them on a Time Trial then.

[amino]

Quote[/b] (llmod1 @ July 14 2004,19:31)]I've just got back from a stag weekend where everyone except for me was either a top ten UK Triathlete, bi athlete, swimmer, cyclist etc. A couple were ex Olympians!!! Ended up watching one stage of the tour (wild stag in know&#33 anyway pretty much every guy there said that every rider bar none is doped up or on supplements of some sort and that without them they would not be able to compete.

The problem apparently lies with the organisation, without drugs the average speed of the tour would drop dramatically, they are worried that if the riders are not travelling at the speeds that the public are used to then they will lose interest.

Also, apparently (remember I got all this second hand,) they were saying that the sports fucked up because anyone who stands up and blows the whistle on others is the bad guy rather than those who are actully taking the drugs.

Thought I'd just add this extra info as it was fresh in my mind.

Yeah, this is so true. I've was a cyclist for whole my little life, won couple of Finnish titles as youngster, but never did as far as my brother who was a pro four couple of seasons and then got married. End of that story

Well, I know couple of Pros and the thing is just as said - you're a bad guy if you open your mouth and tell the truth. Basicly the rule is in the teams that you've to take something or you don't ride and get paid.

It doesn't matter what they are taking, but it's really tough thing what they do, doped or not. Anyone can go and try to do the same, riding for three weeks, 200+ km per day and so on. There's just nothing that can compete with that, but it's a pity that it's so doped.

[Nick Cope]

Not everybody. There are some exceptional athletes that can take the strain without supplementing their energy. And don't forget that the star riders have a whole, largely expendable team behind them, to make sure they're in the right place. That and the fact that these guys work their fitness cycles to hopefully peak at the crucial time.

There is the pack mentality in many teams, but part of that is to do with the over zealousness of the organisers when they decide to make an example over someone.

Also, it's very easy to say how every single participant is on drugs - that's just as much pack mentality as frowning upon the person speaking out. And Lance has spoken out plenty of times and been shunned for it.

[amino]

True true...

[Benicio Del Toffo]

Nick I'd prefer it if you didn't get all personal with me.

I know you like to question my intellect from time to time, obviously you're the cleverest man in all the land, so I bow to your massive intelligence.

But having followed cycling for 20 years, cycled myself for about 15 years, read a good deal for university and for pleasure around the subject and also worked with someone who did a thesis in Doping In Sports, I feel entitled to have an opinion.

So, if I were you and didn't really want to end up looking a prize cunt, I'd just think before you let your fingers do the talking. Clearly, you're exempt from being pulled up for slagging folk off, but I don't think you should abuse your position.

[Nick Cope]

Okay fair enough, pull me up on the personal attack. I apologise for that.

I still think your slanderous statement was stupid, especially considering the amount of years you've been into cycling.

[rolex baxter]

I'm a fan of the tour - they screen a 30 minute daily highlights package down here

Love watching the teams swing into action and the rivalries heat up - difficult to predict what may happen, while I do like Lance everyone else is trying to knock him off his perch, it may be the case that another rider sneaks the glory - clearly we'll know more in a week.