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villalobos · Jul 19, 2006, 10:17 PM

Well after the joy of the World Cup, here is the time of the Tour, proving once again that june-July is the best time of the year when it comes to sports.
Anyhow, pretty exciting stuff today, where Landis litterally run into a wall, losing 10 min in 10 km as well as the chance to win. Marvelous race for Rasmussen.
Very close standing : don't remember such an open TdF since the preIdurain years!!

Albert Pujols · Jul 19, 2006, 11:21 PM

sucks that Landis is now in 11th.. and so much for Team Discovery.

JoshuaZ · Jul 20, 2006, 12:20 AM

Goooo team USA!!!!

(Yet another sport which the US does not watch)

Sourbook · Jul 20, 2006, 11:40 AM

Today was the best stage I've seen in years. Floyd Landis rode valiantly to win the stage putting himself back in the race.

General Classification: 1- Oscar Pereiro, 2- Carlos Sastre -0:12, 3- Floyd Landis -0:30

Saturdays time-trial is looking to be very big. Go Floyd!

David Thompson · 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Albert Pujols

sucks that Landis is now in 11th.. and so much for Team Discovery.

Landis is on team PHONAK. Yes, team Discovery is disappointing. I had high hopes for Hincappie or Leipheimer. But, not to be ... Maybe Landis can pull off a miracle!

Gossamer · Jul 20, 2006, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

Goooo team USA!!!!

(Yet another sport which the US does not watch)

Now if it was full contact biking...that would rock.

My roommates and I watched highlights yesterday, pretty exciting stuff.

villalobos · Jul 20, 2006, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Sourbook

Today was the best stage I've seen in years. Floyd Landis rode valiantly to win the stage putting himself back in the race.

General Classification: 1- Oscar Pereiro, 2- Carlos Sastre -0:12, 3- Floyd Landis -0:30

Saturdays time-trial is looking to be very big. Go Floyd!

I'll watch that tonight. Give it to Floyd though, he was pretty strong in that stage! The time trial will make the difference. And the last stage to Paris might for once not be just for show... Exciting Tour.

Albert Pujols · Jul 20, 2006, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by David Thompson

Landis is on team PHONAK. Yes, team Discovery is disappointing. I had high hopes for Hincappie or Leipheimer. But, not to be ... Maybe Landis can pull off a miracle!

Yes, I know what team Landis is on

blackstar · Jul 20, 2006, 05:45 PM

well I was celebrating yesterday as my man Frank Schleck won the stage

Sourbook · Jul 22, 2006, 11:48 AM

Stage 19 time trial puts Floyd Landis in yellow. Klöden knocked Sastre off the podium with a great ride to take third in the GC. This has been an unbelievable tour. At the start I had no idea Landis was so good. He showed everyone on thursday what he was made of, and showed them again today. Barring any disasters tomorrow Floyd will win the tour.

General Classification: 1. Floyd Landis, 2. Oscar Pereiro -0:59, 3. Andreas Klöden -1:29

galarneau · Jul 23, 2006, 08:43 PM

This has been a great TdF. I didn't know much about Floyd's background before this year, but the guy has had a seriously incredible life.

I hope we see more of him in years to come with the hip replacement surgery and all.

Sourbook · Jul 24, 2006, 08:31 PM

I would imagine that the french are getting a little tired of hearing 'The Star Spangled Banner' on The Champs-Elysées.

blackstar · Jul 24, 2006, 09:45 PM

well its only a recent thing...so theres hope...;-)

villalobos · Jul 27, 2006, 10:44 AM

oops..... Busted!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf200...ory?id=2531225

mac128k-1984 · Jul 27, 2006, 10:48 AM

Will they take his victory away.

If confirmed they should, he only made up the time thanks to performance enhancing hormones.

Gossamer · Jul 27, 2006, 10:50 AM

Why, if riders are tested after every stage, would you ever try and cheat?

mac128k-1984 · Jul 27, 2006, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Why, if riders are tested after every stage, would you ever try and cheat?

Just because they think they can beat the system and need an edge.

zerostar · Jul 27, 2006, 11:13 AM

From his behavior I think he cheated, I have watched the man perform and have been a fan for a long time now and to not show up at an appearance and to a race is not like him. He was "caught" on the stage that he did amazing on? C'mon now.

If the re-test is positive he should be stripped of the victory and kicked off the tour for good. This in an embarrassment to all US riders.

Gossamer · Jul 27, 2006, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by zerostar

If the re-test is positive he should be stripped of the victory and kicked off the tour for good. This in an embarrassment to all US riders.

Agreed.

stevesnj · Jul 27, 2006, 11:52 AM

If hes positive the French are gonna party for a year.

villalobos · 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

If hes positive the French are gonna party for a year.

Why is that?

Troll · Jul 27, 2006, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

If hes positive the French are gonna party for a year.

Nope, Spain will party. The second place guy was a Spaniard.

stevesnj · Jul 27, 2006, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Troll

Nope, Spain will party. The second place guy was a Spaniard.

Well the French will be right there with the Spaniard

BRussell · Jul 27, 2006, 01:36 PM

Weren't the other top picks out of this Tour as well? Sheesh.

mac128k-1984 · Jul 27, 2006, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by BRussell

Weren't the other top picks out of this Tour as well? Sheesh.

Yeah most of the people who challanged Lance these past few years were suspended because of doping. I viewed this race as a nonevent because of the large number of suspensions.

It was nice to see an American win, but then seeing that he cheated to make up all of the time he lost in the mountains was aweful. If confirmed, I really do hope they strip him of the victory.

Powerbook · Jul 27, 2006, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

If hes positive the French are gonna party for a year.

After a whole bunch of dopers ruin the whole event for them? Are you on drugs, too?

Eug Wanker · Jul 27, 2006, 03:18 PM

Best Tour EVAR!!!!11

stevesnj · Jul 27, 2006, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Powerbook

After a whole bunch of dopers ruin the whole event for them? Are you on drugs, too?

My point is to point out that the French have had it in for American Tour riders, finally they have someone to hang. That its an American makes all that more victorious.

villalobos · Jul 27, 2006, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

My point is to point out that the French have had it in for American Tour riders, finally they have someone to hang. That its an American makes all that more victorious.

In your little fantasy world maybe.

stevesnj · Jul 27, 2006, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by villalobos

In your little fantasy world maybe.

Hey they tried for 7 years to get Armstrong.

Gossamer · Jul 27, 2006, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

Hey they tried for 7 years to get Armstrong.

What country didn't?

Troll · Jul 27, 2006, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

Hey they tried for 7 years to get Armstrong.

Who's "they"?

Gossamer · Jul 27, 2006, 04:17 PM

I think France.

thunderous_funker · Jul 27, 2006, 04:18 PM

Well, I for one no longer believe Armstrong wasn't cheating. Considering that every single one of his top competitors was cheating, him dominating the Tour seems highly improbable without using the same tricks.

Meh. Appears cheating in cycling might even surpass baseball. What a joke.

villalobos · Jul 27, 2006, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

Hey they tried for 7 years to get Armstrong.

They tried to get Indurain for 5 years too. Of course that did not make it to the US tv sets at that time.

hey!_Zeus · Jul 27, 2006, 05:43 PM

Armstrong took drugs. They all do.

FulcrumPilot · Jul 27, 2006, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by hey!_Zeus

Armstrong took drugs. They all do.

Maybe that's why he is still considered to be the best.

Troll · Jul 27, 2006, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

I think France.

The whole of France? Did they have a referendum on the question? Or was it the President as their representative who pursued Armstrong? The Interior Minister, foreign Minister? Some other representative? Miss France perhaps?

zerostar · Jul 27, 2006, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by thunderous_funker

Well, I for one no longer believe Armstrong wasn't cheating.

He was tested just as vigorously and never failed a test (to my knowledge)

hey!_Zeus · Jul 27, 2006, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by zerostar

He was tested just as vigorously and never failed a test (to my knowledge)

There are ways around them. Some are non detectable after you stop taking them so many hours before the test.

galarneau · Jul 27, 2006, 07:58 PM

There is some discussion on rec.bicycles.racing about Floyds epitestosterone being low, which would make the overall ratio high.

Evidently this is one way to have a positive test result, but not have taken drugs.

thunderous_funker · Jul 27, 2006, 09:24 PM

As far as I know, there are entirely new testing techniques that didn't exist a couple of years ago. At the time of his retirement, a lot of cynics were suggesting that Armstrong's retirement was conveniently timed as they introduced more sophisticated testing. At the time I thought that was hollow carping, but after this year I'm not so sure.

villalobos · Jul 27, 2006, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by thunderous_funker

As far as I know, there are entirely new testing techniques that didn't exist a couple of years ago. At the time of his retirement, a lot of cynics were suggesting that Armstrong's retirement was conveniently timed as they introduced more sophisticated testing. At the time I thought that was hollow carping, but after this year I'm not so sure.

Doping has been around the Tour since the 60's. it is widely thought that doping always is a step ahead of doping control. So yes it is not a strech to thik that many cyclists are indeed doped, including Armstrong.
This said, it is good practice to wait for the counter analysis to happen and see what it reveals in regard to Landis.

Albert Pujols · Jul 28, 2006, 12:49 AM

Landis has been suspended pending the submission and results of a second test or "B sample." His team has stated he will be fired from the team should his B sample prove positive.[8] The exact T/E ratio measured for Landis has not been made public, and there is some debate as to whether the test necessarily proves doping.[9] In particular, hypothyroidism, which Landis has, causes low levels of SHBG, which in turn can cause relatively high levels of testosterone (since testosterone must bind with SHBG before it can be biologically processed out of the system). The net result is an accumulation of testosterone and an abnormally high T/E ratio. Even though he is on medication for his hypothyroidism, thyroid levels are notoriously unstable in those with hypothyroidism, even if taking medication

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_Landis

I don't think he's cheating, and based on his recent statement, I think he's right.. they should just wait for the test results before saying anything. He seems pretty confident in his innocence.

mrgaskell · Jul 28, 2006, 05:50 AM

Why can't someone (Armstrong in this case) just be a phenomenal athlete? He has the second best Vo2 max ever recorded by a human being. Myabe he was just that much better? Great equipment, great team, far, far better work ethic than his competeters plus being a frickin' stud gives you seven victories in the Tour. Hell, it was ALL he concentrated on. Mercxs and Indurain had similar careers and Tour victory tallies but also won Giro de Italias and Tour de Spains, etc.

I think people just enjoy "hating" on other people's success. If they can't do it, than no one is capable. Stop being the proverbial crab in a barrell and just enjoy the man's success.

BTW, Landis also drank some JD the night before, so maybe that had something to do with it as well?

analogika · Jul 28, 2006, 05:54 AM

No partying here in Europe, btw.

Just huge, huge disappointment.

And most of those riders banned from even taking part due to doping concerns were NOT American. Jan Ullrich was thrown off the T-Mobile team prior to the race, fer cryin' out loud.

Troll · Jul 28, 2006, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by mrgaskell

... far better work ethic than his competeters ...

I don't know about that. Armstrong was a Tour de France specialist. The other riders competed in a number of different races before and after the Tour de France. Lance focussed almost exclusively on one race. I think that made the difference.

As for Landis' explanation, if his body somehow performs differently to everyone else's, how come he didn't test positive on other days? It strikes me as suspicious that he tests positive on the day that he turns out a performance that is without precedent in the history of the Tour - and only a day after his body basically shuts down on him. I hope he didn't cheat. It would be very bad news for the Tour and for cycling, but right now things don't look too good.

thunderous_funker · Jul 28, 2006, 12:23 PM

Like I said before, I have never doubted Lance. I've always been a very very big fan. The guy is absolutely amazing.

At the same time, however, I never would have believed that so many of the top riders in the world could be caught doping. No doubt that Armstrong is a world class athlete and an amazing sucess story, but I find it pretty implausible that he dominated a race AND apparently was the only one NOT cheating.

And the sheer number of riders caught this year suggests that cheating is not only very widespread, but that riders seem to have very low expectation of being caught--at least leading up to now.

Eug Wanker · Aug 1, 2006, 09:55 AM

The NY Times says that lab tests show some of the testosterone in Landis' sample is synthetic.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/08...dis/index.html

NEW YORK -- Some of the testosterone found in Tour de France winner Floyd Landis' "A" sample is from an external source and not his body's, the New York Times said on Tuesday, quoting an unidentified International Cycling Union official.

The carbon isotope test on the first of Landis' two urine samples taken after his 17th stage win in last month's tour contains synthetic testosterone, said the official, with knowledge of the results from France's Chatenay-Malabry antidoping laboratory.

The results, if confirmed by Landis' B sample, which the newspaper said the laboratory has agreed to test later this week, could make Landis the first Tour champion to be stripped of his title.

analogika · Aug 5, 2006, 02:03 PM

Welp, it's officially confirmed by the "B" test - Floyd Landis was doped; his team has fired him, and Pereira is champion.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/othe...ng/5249116.stm