The beginning of so many ends
A lot has happened in the last ten years of le Tour, and a lot of it stemmed from the race that took place in 2006. At the time it seemed like yet another “Tour of Redemption” as the organisers liked to claim every few years after something had happened to tarnish the race’s image, yet again. In 06, we were coming off the back of a seven year reign of very little in the way of competition, with most of those races decided in the Prologue and followed by a three week procession. 06 was anticipated as the start of a new era, we just didn’t know at the time how significant it would become many years further down the track.
The pre-Tour build-up had fans frothing with anticipation of an Ullrich vs Basso battle, but that was scuppered at the 11th hour by Operacion Puerto, just what incoming Director Christian Prudhomme didn’t need. Also ditched were Fransisco Mancebo, a young Alberto Contador (yet to be considered a GC contender), and one Alexandre Vinokourov (while not one of the Puerto accused, still unable to start as most of his Astana teammates were pulled, leaving him without a sufficient team). With the two favourites out, the race was anyone’s for the taking. Of course, there was more drama to come.
A crazy break was let go and produced a surprise leader in Oscar Pereiro, who then conceded the yellow to Floyd Landis, who then blew to bits and handed it back to Pereiro, before making the biggest comeback since Lazarus the next day and riding away from the race in a solo effort that still ranks as one of the best ever, no matter how juiced he was. I remember watching the stage live and talking to a mate on the phone, and his incredulity at what we were witnessing. As Landis drank with the fervour of an alcoholic and manically poured water over his head during his escapade, my friend (an ex-road racer at a high level himself) professed that Landis was “cooking” from some sort of drug cocktail and was doing his best to dilute whatever concoction he’d taken, and not blow a positive or do a Tommy Simpson on live tv. How prophetic his words proved.
Of course, that was just the beginning, and the resulting fallout became one of the biggest sporting stories of all time. Landis just about brought down the entire sport with his revelations, and no Tour since has been without some form of scuttlebutt, yet not on that scale. The last few years, while tame by comparison to those preceding them, have been pretty well dominated by each winner and not offering too much in the way of exciting competition; although last year’s end result was closer on paper than the actual race was… which once again leaves us in the same state of anticipation that grips us every year in the month leading up to the start, and then promptly lets us down about two weeks after that, and wondering when the Vuelta starts.
This Tour has all the hallmarks of potentially being a great one, with three guys who have to be considered genuine contenders, yet just one who is most likely to win. We really do need a positive test to liven this one up, or someone to juice themselves so comprehensively that the motor in their seat-tube can’t handle the power from their legs and melts the carbon around the bottom bracket and drops onto the road at the summit of Mont Ventoux. Maybe try and blame it on a chimera twin that drank too many whiskeys the night before and left their bike in the team truck with a bag of someone else’s piss strapped to it. That would bring the crowds back. But seriously, if each of the contenders is on form, we could have one of the best races of the last ten years with some real proper drama played out on the roads, not in the labs or courts and not two, three or seven years from now.
We’re giving you plenty of time to ponder the possibilities, and maybe come up with your own hare-brained scenarios as to what may unfold, or what will most likely bring you those precious VSP points and the honour of wearing the Maillot Jaune for the next year. Will you be daring and go out on a limb that doesn’t resemble that of an anorexic spider? Will you take short odds on a short-ass? Will you stake your claims on claims of a steak? Or will you tear yourself apart with internal conflict like a couple of bitchy Italians?
Whatever you do, there is absolutely no excuse to Delgado this one, we’re giving you plenty of time and it’s not like you can claim you didn’t realise that the race was this week… and don’t whinge if this Start List changes before the racing gets underway, it is provisional after all. Good luck and may the best, or second best, man win.
[vsp_results id=”49193″/]
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@The Pressure
Here is my take on this: Unless I've been asleep in the drops...I've never seen much community interaction out of Amy. Maybe a silent member, but I don't understand why you'd want to rep a Community if you aren't an active member. Seems odd to me.
Secondly, this is first and foremost a Community of chatter, feedback, advice, and rides. If you are in need of a new jersey, I can think of a few other places to get one quickly. The LBS comes to mind. The V-gear is just an added bonus, while the main course is sharing passion for cycling. (this can even be done naked, but please only from behind your monitor and not out on the open roads...)
Next, I received my gear in a timely fashion.
Finally, he has a personal email listed. Email big fucking Frank directly instead of taking it public and demanding your money back. Pretty, pretty, pretty sure scamming people is not how the Dutch Monkey has chosen to make a living...
Besides, there are much easier ways to endear yourself to the Followers, like shouting over the VSP. Let's get back to it!
I can understand Amy's frustration, but suspect (being a Level 4) she's a newbie. If you've been around these parts long enough, you know that a V-gear order doesn't get turned around in a week or two. A quiet e-mail to Frank would have been a better way to go. Maybe Amy also doesn't realize that Frank actually has a real job and that everything he, and the Keepers do for this site is out of love for cycling and our odd little community.
On a happier note, I'm old enough to remember when British contributions to the Tour were very modest. A Millar win in the 80s was something special and a thing of wonder. (Let's try and forget ANC Halfords, shall we?) but for British riders to win 4 of 7 so far with the prospect of more to come, is quite incredible.
@ChrisO
I don't know much about Navarro (a stage win in the Vuelta, no?), but this might say more about Nibali's shape than anything else? Or more contaminated capsules, you think?
@wiscot
Maybe she has.
@andrew
Dodgy pharmacists are everywhere... if you know how to find them.
@andrew
the way the peloton rode the last climb, very slowly, allowing riders to escape off the front etc also made it easier for the riders from the break to stay away. The climb itself is only steep at the top and Nibali is clearly not at his best, the stage was not particularly difficult (49kmh+ avg) - one big climb at the end, all these factors I think made both Cummings and Impey look better climbers than they are, Awesome rides from both.
GVA, what a stud! That's how you defend a jersey and take one for the team. Can't wait for Andorra.
Nibbles is tanking badly!
@chris
https://www.facebook.com/CyclingTips/videos/1224571437583206/
When inflatables attack! This story and more ridiculous shit to be afraid of slathered all over your local and national news broadcasts. Please, somebody do a compilation video of these inflatables and their attacks.
Looks like Froome's been practising his descending. Pedalling away while sitting on the top tube a la Sagan.