Well, whiffs of something questionable have been floating around Frank since 2008, when he paid 7000 euros to Eufemiano Fuentes, a doctor involved in the Operación Puerto scandal. More in an old BikeRadar article.Quote:
Originally Posted by malkin
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Well, whiffs of something questionable have been floating around Frank since 2008, when he paid 7000 euros to Eufemiano Fuentes, a doctor involved in the Operación Puerto scandal. More in an old BikeRadar article.Quote:
Originally Posted by malkin
Are the riders tested randomly?
Yeah, I'm pretty sure Frank doesn't actually like Bruyneel. And he has spent more time with Riis.Quote:
Originally Posted by pll
Some drug tests are random and some are not (stage winner, race leader, etc.).
Okay I must get this off my chest!!
Every year there is a commercial that runs throughout the tour that drives me up a wall. This year, it's that Micholob Ultra commercial. Good lord, does anyone hear "you're debonair" and think, yup, that's me!!!
I think this ad would be an excellent screener for potential mates. Show it on the first date and ask, "Do you see yourself in this commercial?" If the answer is yes, run-don't-walk to the nearest exit.
</rant>
Meanwhile, France remains a beautiful country. Loved the helicopter camera shots of the vultures today. Also love that Phil and Paul are birdwatchers, so we could appreciate what we were seeing.
"I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille" :D
Yes!Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
I agree 100%. I think whatever ad agency thought it would be a good idea should be forced to watch it over and over ad nauseum. And I completely agree that it would be an excellent screening tool.
On the other hand, the Road ID commercials make me giggle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
I'm glad that the ad with the freeze frame of the guy with the exploded tire is finally not running anymore.
Since we're on the subject of commercials, has anyone noticed the one with the bike rider, out on a long training ride, he eats a pink snowball (I think that's what it's called), he rides through the rain, he flats? Did you notice when he's changing his flat, in the middle of nowhere, alone, he's using a floor pump? Cracks me up every time. That's my favorite.
That's one of the Strava commercials. I'll have to look for that...Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
Watching some of the TdF stages, in France was interesting. Not that I could always keep up, I think my French has gotten worse from the lack of practice.
Home now, so will watch the rest here.
Looking for the floor pump will give me a reason to watch, beyond just watching the scenery now and listening to the delightful patter of Phil & Paul.
I like what Jens wrote in his Bicycling.com blog:
Since Franky is my friend and as I have said this many times over the years, I will stay on his side and be there for him as a friend should do. Friendship is not only for the sunny days in life but even more important when its pouring rain out there. Maybe I am not as objective and neutral here as I should be, but I can’t help it, I have spent eight years with Franky as a teammate and I can’t see him doing something stupid like that. I am well aware that probably not everybody will agree with my thoughts, but that’s what I wanted to say.
Thank you! I just saw a quick shot on the evening coverage and wasn't sure what kind of bird it was.Quote:
Loved the helicopter camera shots of the vultures today.
Ugh now the Michelob Ultra commercial is on.
Did anyone see this?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUWak...&feature=share
What a character, Peter Sagan!! Ha :)
hehehe, next year I simply must have cable, at least for July, so I can finally watch the TDF!Quote:
Originally Posted by ShutUpLegs
Next year the thread should allow spoilers. I'm doing my best not to comment on the stage I am watching right now. [need to comment... Argh]
ETA: I do have to comment, though, to say that I find nasty how some cycling Twitter feeds (including @inrgn) refer to Froome as "Froome-dog". So, when there is not really a story, they start insulting and provoking riders to create one?
I'm kind of surprised Tommy V isn't wearing a polkadot helmet today, he tends to go all in on the accessories. :D
Maybe if he keeps that jersey today, he'll pull out all the stops tomorrow.
My 2 cents about spoilers -- I'm watching on DVR delay, but I figure I'm in this thread at my own risk. If I'm spoiled by looking at this particular thread, that's my own fault. If it really mattered to me, I'd simply stay away from this thread.
I assumed it was just a nickname. They all have nicknames for each other.Quote:
Originally Posted by pll
Are you sure it is an insult? I know a guy who goes by the nickname Z-dog, it's not an insult, he likes it.....Quote:
Originally Posted by pll
It might be his nickname but the references to it (as Wiggins' dog) do not exactly read endearing:Quote:
Originally Posted by Eden
"@inrgn: Today's Wiggins' Froome-dog was a loyal Pyrenees shepherd dog."
Who is @inrgn?
Tweeter feed of the Inner Ring cycling blog (http://inrng.com/), which is a good blog.
ETA: just noticed I swapped some letters... the twitter feed is https://twitter.com/inrng
I don't see that as an insult. Boasson-Hagen is sometimes referred to as BoDog (or BoHog). And I think inring's quip was a pretty apt assessment of today's stage ... I see that as a compliment to Froome's loyalty, actually.Quote:
Originally Posted by pll
Quote:
Originally Posted by jobob
I never look at this thread until I've watched this race, just in case. Also avoid twitter and google news. :D
I wonder whom Froome will be riding for next year.
Veronica
Ah, looks like Tommy V has the mountains classification pretty much wrapped up, he leads it by 11 points with only a few low category climbs left.
He's going to be awash in polka dots tomorrow. Helmet, socks, maybe shorts, possibly even bike. You read it here first. ;)
I wonder whom will be riding for Froome :rolleyes: he's young, but he's held out admirably. Had he been an opponent rather than a teammate of Wiggins, he would be a substantial threatQuote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
(btw - I know that is grammatically incorrect, but couldn't resist the silly rhyme :p)
Didn't Froome's girlfriend used "Froome-Dog" to refer to him on twitter?
Good question.Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
Thing is, I don't really see Wiggins as a long-term GC contender; this particular tour played very well to his strengths but if there were more mountains and less TT, or if Wiggins couldn't keep up in the mountains as well as he did, I suspect support would have switched to Froome early on. Wiggins might not have Team Sky's wholehearted (CG) support next year.
LOL! Precisely.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eden
Sky put together a really strong climbing team this year - Froome, Rogers, Port, BoHog :p, Knees... all to really support Wiggins.
Next year they may give more support to Cav. It's an interesting dilemma they've got.
Veronica
Oh and I predict no more Radioshack-Nissan next year. What a disaster that merger has become! It's a shame - they have some really good riders.
Veronica
Following up on my own remark ...Quote:
Originally Posted by jobob
NBCSports showed a graphic of the two second-place finishers who went on to win the Tour the following year: LeMond who initially supported Hinault, and Ullrich who initially supported Riis.
I wonder, if Froome did stay with Sky, it would be another Lemond-Hinaut situation?
From the Wikipedia entry about Greg LeMond:
[In 1985, LeMond] was brought across to La Vie Claire to ride in support of team captain Bernard Hinault who had regained his form and was attempting to win his fifth Tour. Hinault led through the early mountain stages, but suffered a crash and came into difficulty. At this point it was clear that LeMond was an elite rider capable of winning the Tour in his own right. However, the managers of his La Vie Claire team ordered the 24-year-old LeMond to ride in support of Hinault. [...] Hinault won the 1985 Tour, with LeMond finishing second, 1:42 behind. LeMond was clearly frustrated by the events, and later revealed that team management and his own coach Paul Koechli had misled him as to how far back Hinault had dropped during the crucial mountain stage. Regardless, he rode as the dutiful lieutenant, and his aid was crucial to enabling Hinault to gain his fifth Tour victory.
The following year in the 1986 Tour, LeMond was made co-leader of the La Vie Claire team alongside Hinault, with Hinault publicly promising to ride in support of LeMond to repay LeMond for the work he had done in 1985. What he did not say was that the help was contingent upon LeMond demonstrating that he was clearly the better rider. [...]
The rest of the story is here.
So maybe it would be best if Froome changes teams if he wants to fulfill his GC ambitions.
Rumors are already flying as to which teams are courting the Schlecks, Cancellara etc. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
So, I thought it was peculiar that Spanish riders get upset that someone catches their break away group. Today Valverde gesticulated at Nibali, as the latter joined the lead group after a descent. Nibali must not have been feeling good because he eventually shook hands with Valverde and sat up to wait for the peloton.
In stage 13, Luis León Sánchez was also upset when he was caught and passed by Wiggins leading Boasson Hagen. Since when is the peloton not supposed to catch a break away? Is that really how they want to win a stage?
Nibali joined the breakaway group very early today. Since he was a GC contender Sky would have been forced to chase down the breakaway and Valverde would not have gotten the win. I think Nibali hadn't really planned to get away, but did because of the fog.
The only chance for some riders to win the stage is in the breakaway, so yeah, they are not happy when they get caught.
Veronica
I get being upset. What I do not get is gesticulating and protesting (as Sánchez and Valverde did). It's the first race in which I see that.
RNT is a train wreck.Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
Curiouser and curiouser:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schl...or-coming-year
Bizarre.Quote:
Originally Posted by malkin
Way to go, spectator. Take your lovely, very large dog to watch the tour go by and let the dog slip it's leash and take out a bunch of riders. Dumbass.
Hee hee. Everything but the socks. Guess he needs to save something to add for Sunday's final stage. :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by jobob
I think they were emphatic, anyway it worked. I mean they got their point across.Quote:
Originally Posted by pll