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.
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Marcel is not a happy bunny and wants the organisers to change the finals to a 5km straight run in with lanes marked out for each sprint train...
18:06:32 CEST
Marcel Kittel was a little subdued outside his team bus, saying that it was hard to organise a sprint train in the chaotic finish.
"He knew where he needed to be and when. I tried everything to hold him off but I couldn’t, it was really close in the end.
"To be very honest, in the finals this year, there is no tactic. It’s impossible to ride with a team here. I don’t know why the organisers do it like this with downhills in the city, we have all those small roads and corners. It goes wide, narrow, wide again and every team is struggling at this stage to be at the front."
@frank
Hello, still trying to get my money back from you for the product I paid for, that you never delivered. A bit of research is showing me that I am definitely not the only person you have done this to.
Hey, kudos to your business plan - take money, deliver no product - nothing better than pure profit right?? But I don't want to part of your plan. Please send my money back.
@chris
I'm quite a fan of Cav, in spite of his occasional idiotic outbursts, but I must admit I had always thought in a straight shoot-out with Kittel he'd always come off worst. I was wrong.
Kittel had a good lead out train and got beat.
@chris
Yeah, even Cav said it was "terrifying" and he knows of what he speaks. That being said, to anyone who thought Cav's best days were behind him has been proved wrong - emphatically. He's beaten the best three times so far this year. Love this quote from him: "I'm really happy with that. Half of the stages have been won by Dimension Data. It's been a good Tour for us," he pointed out, before giving an inside view of the stage finale and sprint.
And what about Dan McLay? Never heard of him before this Tour but he's going great and giving his wildcard team lots of PR. Chapeau!
@wiscot
Cav did say it was terrifying but his tone comes across as terrifying but awesome. Kittel comes across as having a bit of a moan.
@RobSandy
He's beaten both Kittel, Greipel and the rest of the pretenders in straight shoot outs. There's plenty of life left in him.
Are there many more sprint stages left?
@chris
Stages 10, 16 and 21 look feasible for Cav, but I guess it remains to be seem how he gets through the mountains. And how much he wants to save for Rio. Whatever he does, his team have had a great tour so far and now some of the other guys will get free reign.
@Amy
DAAAAh-Am!!! Talk about awkward call out!
I can say in Frank's defense that while it takes a while to get something, it does always eventually come. Trust me, he is not in the "product" business here to make money.
On that note: Any updates on the VVLV kit shipping? Personally I am flying out in two weeks and the address I gave you will no longer be good soon.
But, that being said, I truly and honestly know, after "doing business" here for many years now, that you are good for it!
Thanks, Mate!
@Buck Rogers
Ummm...
Awkward yes, but I can understand her frustration.
@ChrisO
FWIW, never had an issue with any of the gear I've ordered.
@Barracuda
Same for me.
Delivery to Australia no problem at all.
Thanks Frank