The Chicken gets plucked!

[spazzdog]

In the standings, everyone just moves up. I don't think they "redistribute" the points; they're just gone.


On a tangent to the doping thread; anyone know the stats on incidence of doping on the womens side of the fence? I know there must be some there, like in other sports.

[maillotpois]

[Trekhawk]

Ok its pretty clear tonight I cant read this forum and drink at the same time.
It really makes for a messy computer screen.

[maillotpois]

Glad it's not just me. I had to have a bottle of wine to get me through that stage. I was in Sac all day getting texts and emails from people saying "Did you see?" "Did you hear?" So I had to rush home at 90 mph and try to watch the whole darned thing before I could even turn on my computer!

Whew!

[salsabike]

I'm pretty sure Trekhawk spit out her drink because of your "That wasn't chicken" pic. I know I did. Thank you--we needed that!

[Velobambina]

Maybe this will make the last few stages more exciting, as the riders will be more reluctant to dope? Or do it to a level where it might be detected.

I hate to say it but I was not pulling for the Chicken. I was hoping that Conti or Levi would win the stage yesterday.

[margo49]

Unattributed quote:
"If my wife thought I was in Mexico and it transpired I had been in italy, I would have more to worry about than getting expelled from the Tour de France"

[Eden]

Unattributed quote:
"If my wife thought I was in Mexico and it transpired I had been in italy, I would have more to worry about than getting expelled from the Tour de France"

Hah! so on OLN this morning they said that the way poor chicken was "busted" was that a reporter said he saw him in the Dolomites a few days before the tour. Like I said, these days if anyone even says something then you get kicked out. It's sad and I think its a witch hunt. If this is the case I am on the side of Rasmussen. Gasp a guy who looks like Ras, riding around in a black kit in Italy - some proof! There's a guy around here who makes people double take he looks so much like Lance Armstrong....... (oh and he always races in a plain black kit)

[bikerchick68]

Do you think Rabobank is really that dumb? that they would take some reporters word without questioning Rasmussen further and trying to decide for themselves where he was based on that new information?

I have a hard time believing they're so stupid they based firing the guy on nothing more than that... but then, I'm getting more and more cynical about the pros in the sport as time goes on.

[Number 7]

New York Times

This article says that when questioned, Ras confessed to being in Italy and not Mexico.


Go Contador!

[SadieKate]

What I am hoping for:

-- An absolutely clean finish to the tour - no more failed tests and lies but I won't be naive if that doesn't happen

-- A very close and competitive time trial showdown between Alberto, Levi and Cadel. I think that would be really exciting.

-- A TT win by George because he could win on this course without jeopardizing the podium standings but I want him to win just cuz.

Who I'm really happy for: Mauricio Soler. He legitimately took the polka dot jersey off Rasmussen's back. He didn't get it by default and he just exudes the love of the sport and the competition. The Big Red Rooster was bobbin' 'n weaving yesterday.*

*Anyone remember the old California Cheese commercials with the silly rooster voiced by Bob Goldthwait?

[Grog]

I have a hard time believing they're so stupid they based firing the guy on nothing more than that... but then, I'm getting more and more cynical about the pros in the sport as time goes on.

There has been four missed controls over the past little while (one year?), two by the Danish authorities and two by the UCI. Rules say you miss three and you're out, however it doesn't say three by WHOM so that was a bit of a tough call, but Danish authorities kicked him out of the Danish national team (Olympics etc.), and commented about how he did not collaborate with them. I'm surprised Robobank kept him for so long, it's not really good for the sponsors' name to have one of your team's racers being excluded from his national team.

ETA: Actually the EXCELLENT NYT article linked above states that the rules say that it's three missed controls by the same organization. Supposedly the rule has been or is going to be changed for "three controls" period.

[li10up]

Men in black is not to be taken literally. It was another rider that saw MR in the Dolomites - not a reporter. Looks like he's told so many lies he himself can't keep track of them all.

[jeannierides]

I hate to say it but I was not pulling for the Chicken. I was hoping that Conti or Levi would win the stage yesterday.

Me too, VB!

[IFjane]

Me three!