Tour de France 2011 talk

[Roadtrip]

I saw this photo online and while a little disturbing, shows the real character of the rider, Chapeaux Johnny Hoogerland!!

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6827671_n.jpg

Click only if you have a strong constitution. Also a little sad that someone stood there taking photos of him in likely one of the worst moment of his life instead of climbing in to help him.

I normally wouldn't post but this dude is my new hero.

[bluebug32]

I enjoyed BikeSnob's idea of revenge:

"If I were a Tour official, I’d start by sentencing the driver to spend the entire rest day sealed in a hamper containing the whole peloton’s dirty bib shorts. Then, I’d make him spend the remaining stages locked inside the Garmin team bus bathroom. (They don’t call Thor Hushovd the “God of Thunder” for nothing.)

Finally, once the Tour was over, I’d tie him to a chair Clockwork Orange–style and make him listen to an edited recording consisting entirely of every single one of Paul Sherwen’s tedious French châteaux facts. I can hear it now:

“Did you know, Phil, that the Chateau du Fromage was built in 1620 by Louis XIII’s cousin in order to house his extensive collection of fragrant cheeses?”

“NOOO! Make it stop! I can’t take it anymore!”

I know it’s cruel, but the punishment should fit the crime."

http://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-fra...mages?page=0,0

[Deborajen]

I just read on Cycling News in an article about Johnny Hoogerland that "Race director Jean-Francois Pescheux apologized and said it was a scandalous thing that happened." Is something getting exaggerated in the translation or is this suggesting the car rammed the cyclists on purpose? With all of the politics in TDF I'd wondered if it could have been deliberate, but surely a French TV car wouldn't nearly take out Voekler. On the other hand, the car rammed right into Flecha. Hoogerland was being very nice about it and said he doesn't think it was done on purpose.--

[tulip]

I was wondering when the French-bashing would begin...I seriously doubt it was on purpose. The driver overcorrected to avoid the tree. He or she should not have been passing to begin with.

I rather like the tidbits about the chateaux and villages. It's great exposure for alot of very economically depressed small towns to have the Tour pass through. I've been watching Eurosport coverage and they don't give as much information on the regions and towns. I miss those stories.

[Deborajen]

I was wondering when the French-bashing would begin...I seriously doubt it was on purpose. The driver overcorrected to avoid the tree. He or she should not have been passing to begin with.

Wait - One of my favorite riders is Thomas Voekler!

I'll grant you that I'm a little suspicious. There is a lot of history in the Tour, and some of it is the French not always being particularly good sports about their countrymen not winning. But like I said, did something get lost in the translation? And you answered that part.

There are boneheads in every country. Maybe this driver was one of them (besides being a lousy driver and not following directions). France is kind enough to invite the world to be their guests and participate in this event. Yes, it's a beautiful country, too!

[MuddyTrails]

I'm really enjoying this ongoing Tour commentary thread, especially since the Tour never fails to disappoint as the summer's most interesting telenovela

Off day, or ride day, there are always comment-worthy news, though some I'd put in the category of gossip... And in that vein, Spanish newspaper El Pais is commenting as a gossipy aside that the car that hit Flecha and Hoogerland was driven by a well-known French sports commentator. However, I can no longer find that juicy tidbit in the coverage. It might have been edited out, and I failed to bookmark the piece. What is more interesting is the interview with Flecha, who was very much upset at how no one has apologized in person for the accident, only Proudhomme presented his apologies to the team director. He doesn't have kind words for Voeckler either.

And we have the first withdrawal for doping, Russian rider Alexander Kolobnev, of Team Katusha. In fact, the entire team was subjected to doping controls on 6 July, and El Pais is also reporting that the team expects another of their riders, a "close friend" of Kolobnev's to also show positive. Kolobnev's positive was for a diuretic, hydrocloriotazide (sp?), originally designed as an anti-hypertensive medicine, and which masks the use of other doping substances. Since the positive is for a substance that also has a medical use, withdrawal is not mandatory, but Kolobnev has "chosen" to retire from the race.

As the French would say, plus ça change, plus la même chose...

MuddyTrails

[blue_angel]

He doesn't have kind words for Voeckler either.

Why is that? It's not like the crash was Voeckler's fault! I also think it's somewhat shocking that there's been no public apology to the riders from the driver and the media company.

[pll]

I just read on Cycling News in an article about Johnny Hoogerland that "Race director Jean-Francois Pescheux apologized and said it was a scandalous thing that happened." Is something getting exaggerated in the translation or is this suggesting the car rammed the cyclists on purpose? With all of the politics in TDF I'd wondered if it could have been deliberate, but surely a French TV car wouldn't nearly take out Voekler. On the other hand, the car rammed right into Flecha. Hoogerland was being very nice about it and said he doesn't think it was done on purpose.--

It is hard to exaggerate about what happened, hyperbole is nearly impossible. It was scandalous, intolerable, disgraceful, etc. It was an officially accredited car that hit the riders (which implies some sort of vetting -- of course, they do not vet based on driving skills, but they might reconsider that). The riders could have been severely hurt or worse.

The notion that it hitting the riders was on purpose is ludicrous in my view. Hopefully, the police is involved and that the driver was stopped that day and checked for traces of alcohol. I'm with Tulip -- I enjoy hearing a little of the history and factoids of each region.

[pll]

Here's a cute picture, from an ITV (UK) photo gallery:

[blue_angel]

Every time I see Tommy Voeckler I just want to pinch his cheeks!