I was wondering does anybody else follow the Tour de France? It's pretty populair in Holland but due to the WC it doesn't get the attention at this moment it got last year. There never have been much British cyclers exept for Miller I believe.. So I expect not many people on this forum to be interested. It became more populair in the USA because of Lance Armstrong but as many will know he quit.. But they still have Floyd Landis who is an outsider to win yellow.

The first stage was today. It was a small individual course like always on the first day. Hushovd from Noway won and now gets to wear the yellow tricot. Dutchman Posthuma will wear white tomorrow, that means he was the best >25.

So who's watching when the soccer's not on?

In the last years I watched the Tour de France regularly with pretty much interest even Armstrong always came out on top as expected. I guess I will watch it a bit but not too often as the real excitement might be missing.
In fact, these years tour will suffer a lot of the doping scandal IMO as high profile drivers like Basso and Ullrich have been suspended from the tour due to that scandal and another good driver with Alex Winokurow will miss out because his team didn’t have the needed number of drivers (5) to feature in the tour after 5 of their drivers were suspended so his team and another one as well can’t start in the tour.

http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article...1226399,00.html

It really sucks that such an exciting event and the fans get punished by the drivers who try to use doping products to their advantage.
I can’t believe how Jan Ullrich got involved, now that Armstrong has retired he was the man to beat in this tour, alongside with Basso. Ullrich would have had a good shot at winning the tour IMO, but apparently he wasted it.

I’ve been rooting for Ullrich whenever he was involved in the Tour de France, unfortunately there was always one guy better than him over the last years, Lance Armstrong.
It’s kind of disappointing that many big names won’t feature in this tour, I’ll be rooting for Jens Voigt (if he is even starting) to win one race, Erik Zabel to win the green shirt and Andreas Klöden, our local boy , to have a decent shot at driving into the top 10 spots or even pull off the unlikely tour win.

I usually watch when im in Holland, im not there yet though. 9 more days left

I heard that Ullrich, Basso, and Vinokourov can't start. Then the Tour should be pretty boring as these are the 3 favorites i would have to say.
Well, who knows, maybe the Rabobank team from Holland can cause an upset

Mildly interested, but all this drug controversy makes me switch it off.

Yeah the scandal is a shame.. I don't get why Basso and Ullrich are involved they have shown in previous years that they are the best of the rest. They could have gotten a fair title.

I have not much time to watch since I work full-time during my holidays and go to the beach when I've got a day off.. But still I follow what happens and see the summary of the course every evening I've got time. They finish in Holland this tuesday But it's down in Limburg which is pretty far away from here..

No offence to the great individual athlete that is Lance, but since he retired it opens up a field to all other racer and this year might be way tighter for the yellow jersey than the last one was. At least I certainly hope for that.

Hopefully I will be more interested in this sport come week's time.

yeah is a shame because is hard to tell who is clean and who isn't.

I've watched it itently from start to finish the last two years, mainly because I love Lance Armstrong, but the doping scandals have turned me off and I've yet to watch a stage. I'll probably start, the Tour has really grown on me the past two years and I do miss the early morning excitement.

Edit:

Stage 3



Kessler wins stage as Valverde crashes out

By Julien Pretot

VALKENBURG, Netherlands (Reuters) - German Matthias Kessler surged from the peloton to win the 216.5-km third stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday after one of the race favorites, Alejandro Valverde, pulled out following a crash.

T-Mobile's Kessler, who narrowly missed out on victory in the second stage, finished five seconds ahead of Australian team mate Michael Rogers who won a mass sprint to the line.

Italy's Daniele Bennati of the Lampre team finished third. World champion Tom Boonen of Belgium took the overall leader's yellow jersey from Norway's Thor Hushovd after crossing in fourth place.

"Yesterday I had a good feeling but it did not work," said Kessler.

"Today I was also feeling good so I tried again, and as the final climb was just before the finish I knew I had a better chance to win."

Boonen, who has yet to win a stage this year, suffered a punctured tire five kilometers from the finish.

"I preferred not to change bike," said Boonen. "It was hard to climb the Cauberg and I could not sprint for victory so this yellow jersey is a great reward."

Valverde suffered a collarbone fracture after crashing in a pile-up in the peloton 20 kms from the finish. He was taken away in an ambulance.

VALVERDE AND DEKKER DRAMAS

Earlier, after a few failed attempts by unsung riders, German Jens Voigt of the CSC team broke away from the peloton, carrying along Frenchmen Jerome Pineau and Christophe Laurent, Unai Etxebarria of Venezuela and Spaniard Jose Luis Arrieta.

They led the bunch by up to six minutes 10 seconds in stifling heat with the temperature climbing to 35 degrees.

The Credit Agricole team, defending Thor Hushovd's yellow jersey, were the first to try to catch the fugitives, some 70 kilometers from the finish.

Arrieta tried his luck alone but the AG2R rider was caught just before the Cauberg climb, where Kessler broke decisively for victory.

The Cauberg is a third-category climb where the Amstel Gold Race classic ends every year.

The Tour de France, visiting the Netherlands for the first time in 10 years, lost Dutchman Erik Dekker when the Rabobank rider crashed 59 kilometers from the finish along with American Fred Rodriguez.

Both riders hit the pavement in the Belgian village of Verviers. Dekker had announced he was ending his career at the Tour de France.

Valverde, 26, was one of the hot favorites for the world's greatest cycle race after it was stripped of three of its big names following a doping investigation in Spain.

"The road was very dangerous at that point, someone in front braked and he went to ground," Caisse d'Epargne team mate Oscar Pereiro told Spanish state television.

"This has destroyed all our hopes for this Tour. We knew he could get on the podium and thought he might win the race."

Valverde won one stage of the Tour de France last year, beating seven-times winner Lance Armstrong in Courchevel before pulling out three days later. The American has since retired.

Wednesday's fourth stage will take the peloton over 207 kms from Huy (Belgium) to Saint-Quentin.

(Additional reporting by Simon Baskett in Madrid)

I only watch the summaries in the evening.. I find it to bad, I'd love to see all.

Sprinter-races like at this moment are not that interesting compared to the mountain courses.. Just a few more days guys I hope Boogerd can win the finish on L'Alpe d'Huez. It's the best course in my opinion, just before the Mont Ventoux.

I really don't dare to say who's going to win yellow this year.. Maybe another American as in Landis or Hincapie?

Delighted for Kessler... in the last stage with 50 metres to go he was overtaken and he had worked so hard, its almost right to say he was robbed and now he has won and 1 2 for T-Mobile. Anyone know the reason why Ulrich and Ivan Baso decided not to compete in this years Tour De France?

Same here, glad to see a German driver won the thrid stage.

As for Basso and Ullrich, they are both involved in that doping scandal so their teams didn't allow them to start in the tour.

I like to wake and watch the tour while I am having some breakfast.
It keeps me awake watching the tour and I like the bike races

I truly hope McEwen gets Green and not Boonen. Boonen hasn't even won a single race.. He only wears yellow/has so much points for green is because of the sprints during the races. McEwen gets all his points at the finishes, he beats them all the time.

I like the fact that Oscar Freire won few days ago. When Erik Dekker fell hard I thought this tour would be a waste for the Rabobank team, but now we already got one race, they've won my faith again! Altough I dont think Mentsjov will get yellow.. But I hope for Boogerd in a great race

I heard on the news we have two of the top three riders overall, in McEwen and some guy named Rogers. Good stuff

Lets not exaggerate but yeah McEwen is a great sprinter. He'll get the green, I hope so. The way he sprinted yesterday was amazing. He came out of nowhere and suddenly he almost won.. But luckily Rabobank's Oscar Freire won his second sprint I like his style, the other sprinters got all sorts of helpers, this guy is a comboy and wins his sprints on his own.

Anyway the sprint are over, first mountain ride was today. A spaniard, Mercado won.. I didnt like the fact that he didnt want to take over from Dessel, but Dessel wears yellow tomorrow, so that makes it up a bit. Cant believe the peleton let it this far that those guys lead the list for yellow. But many things will change tomorow, when it really gets serious

Yea tomorrow is gonna be one of the most important stages in the tour. I was surprised the Peloton let them get that lead and keep expanding it, but no one considers any of the 7 that broke to be a threat. I would like to see Hincapie or Landis make up some time tomorrow, but I have no idea who will control the race.

To awnser your questions: Landis made up time, he's ot yellow

And the Rabobank team controlled the race Boogerd did a superb job for Denis, I can't believe it. Mentsjov did well in the end.. Won the race and is now 3rd in the list for yellow.

How can Mentsjov get past Landis? Landis weakest spot is his team.. He has no-one around him. The rest of the Phonak team is not good enough, but Landis is a great driver. But I got to say he is not an attacker.. He is good with time-races and he never dropps one of his rivals.. but is not an attacker himself, like Armstrong could. If the Rabobank team continus the great tactic like today, I believe we can get Mentsjov in yellow.

Would be a dream to have Mentsjov in yellow, Rasmussen in the stips and Freire in green. Don't think that has ever happened to one team.

I like the tour so far. It is open, everyone can do a shot.. It's more fun to watch since Lance isn't around. Still wondered how it would have ended when Basso and Ullrich were there

i was intersted until lance left and all thoose eople got susspened or whatever. he had an amazing story thats why i watchedi will watch the very last stage though to see the end

I dont think we would be wondering who would control yellow. Basso would have it by now and would probably be dominant imo. Ullrich is a different story though. He is past his prime i believe and i think the yellow would still be up for grabs.

Good job Floyd. I hope he can hold out but Rabobank looked solid. Still pretty good on Landis part especially with a terrible hip that will be replaced after the tour.

i don't think robobank has the breath and de depth to hold out all the way. eventually boogerd is gonna drift behind more and more. while rassmussen might be good for the odd etappe win here or there, but a serious candidate i don't think he is. menchov, hmm, i'll believe it when i see it. but he could finish in the top 5 though.
my bet is still that hincapie is gonna come up big sooner or later.

I believe Hincapie lost 20 minuts yesterday? How is he going to make that up..

I believe it's among Landis, Mentsjov and Evans. With Sastre, Rogers and Klöden as outsiders. Think Landis will keep yellow though.. Altough I hope Mentsjov can do it. If the team keeps on dominating like yesterday we'll make it, but it takes much energy to keep doing the work upfront. The Phonak team should do something too.. But when Axel Merckx is your best climber besides Floyd, you aint got nothing. It's Landis' weak spot, we have got to attack him with the entire team. But I do repect the way he races with that hip of his.

how long does the tour de france go till?

Till next sunday, Champs Elysee

I love L'Alpe D'Huez.

The best stages are always the ones where the Peloton is obliterated and today, it inevitably happened. Landis was so comfortable out there and I think he has this as long as nothing unordinary happens. I dont think Kloeden can take time out of Landis and we saw what happened to Menchov. If anyone is going to win this race besides Landis, they need to be leading by 30 secs going into the ITT judging by the earlier ITT stage. I dont think Pereiro has a chance even being in second by :10 or so.

Anyways, this is the best 4 or so days of the tour imo.

One of the most amazing rides I've ever seen today, so inspiring..

Today was the single greatest individual performance in a stage. Better than all of Lance's mountain climbs. Floyd took over and held out for like 200km. I was really surprised when he cracked yesterday, but he showed his true spirit and absolutely crushed the field.

Even Sastre says that the Tour is in Landis' hands now. Like I said before, it will come down to the ITT. This one is longer (better for Landis) and he beat Sastre by 1:10 and Pereiro by 1:40 in the shorter TT earlier.

pereiro is merely a pretender anyway. in front of the cameras he kept giving the impression like he wasn't gonna hold on to the yellow. yeah, with a gutless attitutde like that you're gonna lose it.

landis is far more a fighter. usually when somebody couldn't be more embarassed , like landis yesterday, they come back in un-imaginable style.

i still am not 100% sure though if he'll win. as mentioned, it comes to the time trial. i'm quite confident landis won't throw it away a 2nd time. he's gonna carve up in the TT and take an un-assailable lead.

I don't know about that. In cycling the riders often try and refrain from being overly cocky. Not only that he could've easily lost the yellow to Sastre but instead he led a group of riders very hard for several kilometers in order to hold on to it; very impressive if you ask me and he deserved to hold onto the lead.

I personally think that tomorrow's stage will largely be between Sastre and Landis. I don't think Pereiro can hold on to the yellow but with the Tour being totally unpredictable this year, who knows.

Today's stage was kind of boring although it was to be expected.

I almost haven't followed the tour at all this year but I'm delighted that our Germans Kessler and Voigt won one stage apiece with local boy Andreas Klöden still having a chance for a top 3 finish, or even the yellow shirt.
Do it Andy .

Btw, T-Mobile have fired Jan Ullrich because of this doping scandal issue.
Ullrich didn't do anything to prove that he wasn't involved so it was a good decision by T-Mobile, well deserved punishment for Ullrich's unprofessional behaviour IMO.

What a ride today! Floyd knew he was a better time trialist than the 2 ahead of him. Way to go Floyd. Great ride by Kloeden and Pereiro as well to take the podium spots. 8 in a row for American riders, who would have thought that 10 years ago.

Dammit!

Oh well, good fight from Pereiro.

I got goosebumps watching the stage today..

All credit to Pereiro, he rode the time trial of his life and fought remarkably to maintain second place. I was very surprised at how early and viciously Sastre cracked; quite sad really.

just listen to me next time, i'm always right. pareiro was nothing but a pretender. he came 2nd, but that ain't 1st is it. landis comfortably won this tour in the end anyway.

i expected more from menchov. the rabo team did very well this year, 4 stage wins, but menchov, the only real candidate for the crown, bitterly disappointed. though he produced one stage win, thanks to boogerd, the rest of his tour wasn't good for his standards.

sastre, basso's servant, i never expect to win after he was pushed forward at the last minute as the man who was going to bring team csc the win. he also did horribly in the final time trial. when he could've made up some ground.

I kinda lost touch with the tour when I was having my holidays in Spain. But I did see Menchov crash in the Alps.. To bad, I had high expectations. Still the Rabobank team did a great job, having won 4 races and the mountain jersey. Altough I wanted Boogerd to have it instead of Rasmussen.

To bad Landis won.. I didn't want another American to win. But when I have to be honest I've got to say it is well deserved. To me Perreiro never made the impression to enter the Champs Elysee in yellow.. I thought Sastre had better chances to beat Floyd.

Anyway I liked this tour, it was very open

WOW! Phonak has confirmed that Landis has tested positive for abnormal levels of testosterone at Morzine. If this is confirmed by the organizing commitee of the Tour he will be stripped of his victory and it will be handed to Pereiro!

The truth is that his miraculous recovery after his collapse the day before did seem a bit 'superhuman'.

Its a shame really, Lance did it on hot dogs and one nut.

Im not too sure about that to be honest.

again the sport is blighted by drug allegations!

Christ, is it ever not?

Right now they are awaiting the counteranalisis. If this is confirmed, Landis will be stripped of his title and Phonak has stated that they will kick him off the team.

This is unreal, the people in the cycling sport have worked hard on its reputation, but all it takes is one nutcase. And that the champion as well.

No real surprises here. Another cyclist caught, the "champion". It's scary to think that they have not picked up more of these cheats following the event. The labs are always one step ahead of the sports bodies. How do you test for something you don't even know exists?

Floyd obviously didn't pick up all the masking tricks from his old buddy Lance . Maybe Lance was a freak, but then again that's a bloody good effort to hold off a pack of top riders likely to be juiced up on one thing or another not once but 7 times. There's always going to be that shadow of doubt for me.

He never failed a drugs test though to my knowledge. Its the one reason that he hates the Tour at times, is the accusations that follow him around.

I dont think it was out and out doping, but after his cancer he was definitely allowed to take certain medications that other riders weren't. I mean, Lance was nobody before his cancer. He wasn't even talked about much as a potential future winner. Then going on to win 7 Tour de France's in a row... it's a bit odd.

I dont really buy the lifetime movie channel story of a guy who battles cancer only to then be uplifted to miraculously go on to become the best rider of all time (statistically).

Im positive that it has came out. But still.. the sport is making a fool out of itself. It seems everyone is involved lately. It's just to bad. Something has to change, it's not fair otherwise.

Yesterday evening there was a 'criterium' in my village, Wateringen. Every year the thursday after the tour is over, there is a race in my village. There were cyclers from the Rabobank, Lotto, T-Mobile, Phonak (no not Landis lol), Cofidis, Quicksteps.. and so on. Boogerd is there every year, he is from Den Haag which is pretty close and he won the youth-race once when he was young. We like to say it all started here lol. Oscar Freire won yesterday (it is all one big set up anyway, it is just one giant village party). But we never got as much media attention before. Any tv and radio station were present to get some words from the cyclers about their opinion on the case..

So Perreiro Sio takes it over from Armstrong.. Gues nobody had expected that, did anyone?

actually your wrong.
Before his cancer he was already considered a great rider and was expected to be a future winner..
its just that Cycling wasnt very known.. and this whole wonder thing was what really elevated it..
honestly people should stop dissing Lance..
Lance survived.. he conquered.. he dominated..
people should thank him for what he did to this sport.. Its now an International sport that people everywhere watch.. before him it wasnt even close to as popular..

btw.. having the doping results on Landis been confirmed?

Regardless of whether the results are positive or not the news itself is utterly devestating. With cycling it seems you unfortunately cannot trust anyone anymore.

The world is bigger than the USA mate.. Cycling has been populair in Europe and Russia for a very long time. Lance only made the sport become more populair in the USA. I even believe he made the sport less populair in Europe with his arrogant behaviour. I do respect what this man has reached, it's been amazing (and I believe he's done it without dope till it is proven he did use) but I liked this tour better than last 7..

Speaking of Lance, anyone read his autobiography?

It's devestating, I actually sat reading it in tears

I am from Norway and most of the latest year TDF have been one of the sumerhighlights for me and some other young family members. But not this year, Lance was great, his story was great, and his cycling was great. TDF have lost the biggest attraction as Lance is gone. I have never seen some of this arrogant behaviour as you talk about, but I am not so into cycling either.

But this Tour was great too.

I think it`s very bad for the cycling sport when the winner have cheated, not good at all. But the last stage was good for me, I was so happy when Hushovd won the last stage..