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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2009 9:15:28 GMT
That's a shame, Iain -- but the television coverage is always great.
About another 10 days to go....
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Post by BigIain on Jun 24, 2009 19:08:01 GMT
British Eurosport tends to miss the first 2 hours of each stage most days, but I guess the coverage is still ok. The comentary id done by Sean kelly and some guys who know what they are talking about... such as the local wine and cheese!!!! Also heard today that Tom Boonen is Banned from competition following his positive cocaine test earlier in the year!!! WOW!!! uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/23062009/3/boonen-ask-judge-reverse-tour-ban.html
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2009 19:41:40 GMT
Just like last year.
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Post by BigIain on Jun 24, 2009 20:33:51 GMT
Do the French have a word for deja-vu?
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Post by BigIain on Jul 1, 2009 21:28:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2009 5:28:31 GMT
Apparently in Laurent Fignon's book, he was saying that absolutely everybody used to do it, because only the top three riders had to pee in a bottle at the end of the day. As long as you didn't arrive in the top three, you could poison yourself with anything.
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Post by BigIain on Jul 3, 2009 22:02:11 GMT
Tom Boonen is back in thanks to a legal review today. Good! Now he can chase Cav's back wheel to finish second in every bunch sprint for the next 3 weeks!!!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2009 0:28:13 GMT
I am happy as well that Tom Boonen is back. Adds a little spice to the Tour.
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Post by BigIain on Jul 6, 2009 17:59:22 GMT
I had the pleasure of watching most of the stage today in to Grande Motte. There was a great team breakaway by Columbia with 30 km to go and all the other teams failed to respond to it. Cavendish is proving that he is one hell of a sprinter and wins his second stage in two days. Tom Boonen has hardly had his name called at all in the first 3 days racing. Team Time trial tomorrow. I love the spectacle of the team trial. Should be good entertainment
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2009 18:23:38 GMT
I just saw the last 30km after leaving the office. I know how much you dream of spending more time at La Grande Motte, Iain. Actually, seen from afar, those buildings do not seem to have aged at all in the last 35 years or so.
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Post by BigIain on Jul 6, 2009 21:20:22 GMT
I commented to my father that they do not look quite so bad from the helicopter shots!!!! I think that the Mairie must have had a condition with the TV company that there were no shots of the beautiful resort without lots of captions up on the screen to mask it!
I still wish that I had been there though. Then I could have enjoyed my favorite view of la Grande Motte... getting smaller in my rear-view mirror as I drive to Sete.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 7, 2009 15:24:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2009 8:23:25 GMT
Thomas Voeckler won yesterday's stage, which made everybody happy since a French rider wins so rarely. He was extremely popular 5 years ago when he wore the yellow jersey for 10 days and spiked interest for the Tour in the French Antilles. Even though he is a blond blue-eyed Alsatian, he grew up in Martinique and speaks fluent creole, which very much pleased the local television stations. The Antilleans have been loyal ever since and watch the Tour de France just for him.
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Post by BigIain on Jul 9, 2009 14:17:47 GMT
I was delighted for Voeckler yesterday. He has had the promise to win a stage for many years and finally did so. I am looking forward to seeing the Pyrenees in the next few days. I love the roughness of these mountains. Andorra tomorrow (?) for the finish. I love the drive to Andorra as well as the promise of dirt-cheap Cuban cigars and alcohol!!!
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Post by BigIain on Jul 11, 2009 7:53:58 GMT
Finally some real racing yesterday!!! It was good to see Armstrong being challenged on the final climb. Too many times I have seen him beat better riders with his aura, Contador really gave him a statement yesterday and I hope he does it again today.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2009 10:26:02 GMT
Me too. It's going to be a really tough day for everybody anyway.
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Post by hal2000 on Jul 23, 2009 8:23:38 GMT
I hope that the Schleck brothers give Contador and Armstrong a run for their money.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2009 19:58:37 GMT
Thank god that the Armstrong dope fiend seems to have been vanquished this year.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2009 5:48:52 GMT
Final day!
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Post by hwinpp on Jul 29, 2009 10:21:09 GMT
And the first doping allegations have appeared.
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Post by BigIain on Aug 2, 2009 7:22:53 GMT
it was great to see Cavendish destroy the field on the Champs Elysees last week. Dominant sprinter on the tour.
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Post by hwinpp on Aug 20, 2009 9:42:34 GMT
Hmmm, I'm a bit surprised nothing became of the doping allegations I mentioned at #49...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2009 17:42:23 GMT
The chemicals are sneakier than ever. And self-transfusions are now the rule. (Take blood out of yourself when you are in top form and squirt it back in on the big day.)
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Post by bazfaz on Aug 20, 2009 21:40:08 GMT
And self-transfusions are now the rule. (Take blood out of yourself when you are in top form and squirt it back in on the big day.) Is this a fact? The biker would have to take an awful lot of blood out and put it back to make a difference.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2009 22:25:48 GMT
Yes, it is disgusting to what lengths they go now.
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