The OFFICIAL Tour de France, thread.

[Stat Brother]

Bruyneel Speaks Out In Support Of Contador | Cyclingnews.com
Not necessarily the person you want in your corner, right now!.

 

[Bob!]

why bother with dope testing in cycling, everyone thinks that all of them are at it.

Let's have a level playing field. No dope testing.

 

[Stat Brother]

podcast - realpeloton.com
More insight here from my fav cycling podcast.
All pretty depressing stuff, but does go some way to explain what is happening around Contador.

 

[Stat Brother]

2011 Tour De France Route Announced (updated) | Cyclingnews.com
Wiggins won't be winning, this year, either.

Seriously resisting the desire to start 'the official... 2011' thread, and I've not finished with this one either, as TdF is a specialised subject on this weeks Mastermind.
So prepare for a little reminder, then.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Yes get the new thread going.

This year we will need to get the Le Mans stage in (will probably go past the new footy stadium) for family commitments, and then hit the Auvernge, where we had a fab corporate day once that finished in Issoire (love that again, helicoptor ride, champange, drove the course while the race was on and pou pou) great memories.

Also need to visit a friend down south for a 40th party, so could be Pyrenesse again over the Alps. But what a finish stage 16 to 20 four mountain stages and a time trial. Thats the place to be next summer.

 

[Stat Brother]

At the risk the turning into Scanny, on the roulette thread, this will be The 2010 Tours thread, swansong (unless AC gets booted off!)

As promised though a little reminder that one of the specialised subjects in tonights Mastermind will in fact be, Le Tour.

I thought I'd be helpful, in the spirit of 'the punchline only' thread and provide you with some of the answers. Not that I know any of the questions.

- Óscar Pereiro
- 8 seconds
- David Millar
- 5745 or 2428 kms
- Eugène Christophe
- 21
- Mount Ventoux
- Fausto Coppi
- Wim Vansevenant
- Bordeaux

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

-Lanterne Rouge
-Pou Pou
-White Jersey
-Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil, Lance Armstrong
-Mark Cavendish

 

[Woodchip]

Think I know some of the questions...

Smallest gap
Youngest winner
Most visited town (excluding Paris)
Oldest entrant
Most stage wins

Now someone else can match the questions to the answers.

 

[Stat Brother]

-Lanterne Rouge - Last place
-Pou Pou
-White Jersey - Young rider
-Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil, Lance Armstrong - 5 or more winners
-Mark Cavendish - Winningest Brit

...

 

[Stat Brother]

Think I know some of the questions...

Smallest gap - yes
Youngest winner
Most visited town (excluding Paris) - yes
Oldest entrant
Most stage wins

Now someone else can match the questions to the answers.

...

 

[severnside gull]

this year we were in the Pyrenees a week or so ahead of the tour. Next year we will be there for the finish at Luz Ardiden and for the start and finish of Pau-Lourdes

 

[les dynam]

Yes get the new thread going.

This year we will need to get the Le Mans stage in (will probably go past the new footy stadium) for family commitments, and then hit the Auvernge, where we had a fab corporate day once that finished in Issoire (love that again, helicoptor ride, champange, drove the course while the race was on and pou pou) great memories.

Also need to visit a friend down south for a 40th party, so could be Pyrenesse again over the Alps. But what a finish stage 16 to 20 four mountain stages and a time trial. Thats the place to be next summer.

is the second to last stage an time-trail around alpe d'huez - have i read the map correctly! not sure about that. that would be immense as a standard stage finish, but as a time-trial it surely hands the advantage to contador (if he's allowed in next year). is that correct?

looks like a pretty cool course otherwise. will have to be very special to beat this year's

 

[Stat Brother]

this will be The 2010 Tours thread, swansong (unless AC gets booted off!)

Or gets to stay on:-
BBC Sport - Alberto Contador cleared to ride in Tour de France

This really is taking the pi$$, he'll romp home, then get stripped of 2 titles.

 

[perseus]

ITV4 broadcast live coverage in the UK from every stage of the tour. Elsewhere in Europe, Eurosport covers the race from start to finish.

 

[perseus]

Alberto Contador Suspended Over Traces Of Clenbuterol From Tour De France Test | Cyclingnews.com
Lemond Shocked By Contador Positive | Cyclingnews.com
Alberto Contador Blames Positive On Contaminated Meat - BikeRadar
David Millar: Alberto Contador Not Treated Fairly - BikeRadar

Don't eat Chinese Pork Balls (the ones with pigmeat in)

 

[Pantani]

I personally will be talking about the upcoming Tour as if Contador is not in it. It is an absolute shambles that a whole year later Contador's suspension has not been resolved fully.

 

[Stat Brother]

I know what you mean, hence bouncing this thread instead of starting the 2011 edition, early.

Sadly from the moment he pops that maillot jaune on, some time in the second week, we won't be able to ignore him.
I genuinely did this years tour was going to be the most unpredictable, and clean, in years, until now.

 

[1066familyman]

SB, as you were talking about podcasts elsewhere.....I found this, which seems to be a good link to several all from one page

 

[1066familyman]

opps, sorry.....here's the link

Recommended cycling podcasts: Bike Show, Real Peloton, Velocast | Chasing Wheels cycling blog

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Let's have a level playing field.

'Lets not.' - King Of The Mountains