ChrisB

Bring on a real challenge!

Can Lance make it six? Ullrich sounds to be in good form so could be close again this year.

Alp d'Huez included this year (every other year IIRC). Stage 16 (21st July). The stage is just 15km long but it's 1850m upwards

Disappointed to see that David Millar won't be riding because of the doping investigations going on. Likewise no more Pantani hammering up d'Huez - he was magic.

Anyone know if ITV are showing it again? If they do, hopefully Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwin will be doing the program again - excellent team IMO. www.itv.com/tour is just holding page saying more information soon.

Ted Maul

yeah, can't wait. do you think they'll have a 'who's taken the most drugs' winning jersey this year?

brooks

Agree - best month of the year!

My predictions:
1. Ullrich
2. Hamilton
3. Mayo

Armstrong to pack end of second week.

I hope it lives up to the excitement of last year.

imlach

It will be on ITV2 every day.

Sad to see Millar finally admitting to EPO use. He was denying it in the Sunday Times only a few weeks back, and even went to court to try and prevent the Sunday Times publishing an article on him & drug usage.

The only issue I have, as ever, is really if there is anyone in the peleton who is 100% clean???? Robbie McEwan claims to be, but then David Millar was VERY anti-drugs as well, yet he's been using EPO....

Still, Le Tour is always an awesome spectacle to watch.

andyr

I don't know if Mr Millar was particularly anti-drugs - I believe that he's said previously things similar to 'Well there will always be people that want to take drugs', as opposed to the Brad McGee stance which is vehemently opposed to even the suggestion that his performance is down to artificial aids : what he achieves is down to good genes plus his own hard work.
Unfortunately David Millar's admittance just makes the cloud hanging over the sport even darker : however although pro cycling is undoubtably pretty rife with cheats I'd be surprised if other sports aren't also.
Why will cyclists cheat for relatively little gain when footballers have even more to gain (far, far higher potential monetary gains in that sport than cycling) ?
Athletics is not exactly squeaky clean : early deaths in the sport plus the US athletics ability to overlook positive dope tests (Carl Lewis et all) are some possible/probable pointers to this. An American gold medal winner in the 100m in Athens would be a pretty good way of becoming very rich : why not take a course of illegal drugs to help improve just that last few % ? Yes, of course !

If there are seen to be benefits, be it glory or financial, from cheating then many people will be tempted : cycling has a bad record, other sports and indeed other walks of life are similar : cycling's dirty laundry seems to get aired in public the most unfortunately.

STi-Frenchie

It's coming past my house on the 23rd so I'll give y'all a wave !

I remember watching it going past my MIL's place 2 years ago. It is truly an awesome sight. I didn't think bicycles could go that fast !!!

RichWalk

and we are off......... still not sure if Lance can make it six though......hope so!

Ted Maul

I'm very exited about stage 16, but not sure whether I'd prefer it to be a normal stage rather than a time trial.

RichWalk

Hats off to Richard Virenque, 9 mountains, 237k's in 6 hours!! Dont care what drugs I could have been given, I could never have done that! Nice way for one of my fav' riders to celebrate Bastille Day!

imlach

Yes, a fantastic effort by Virenque today. 203k as a twosome, and then the last 70k or so on his tod, some of which was up 12% ascents!

Given tmmrw is a comparitively easy day (only 100 miles and not any serious hills), Virenque should be able to get a good rest and perhaps defend his lead over Lance in the Pyrenees over the weekend - who knows.

RichWalk

4 mins on Ullrich already, what a ride by a man whos been written off by most of the past greats!! I am praying he keeps it up!!

ChrisB

Watched my tape of the ITV week 2 highlights last night. Stunning riding from Armstrong and Basso.

Hats off to Virenque for his very emotional dedication of his stage win.

Alpe d'Huez today

RichWalk

Crunch day for Lance today, if he can keep up or beat Basso he's done it, if he losses time could be very interesting in the last time trial!!

RichWalk

Approx 3 mins 40 secs clear of Basso!!! His aim was to be 3 mins clear of his nearest rival before the last individula time trial- barring accidents the race his his........ Hinault eat your feckin shorts you arrogant French fool

Duck_Pond

Looks like game, set and match to Armstrong. Fantastic result. Anyone know how his time for the ascent compared with Pantani's?

RichWalk

Not quite the same calculation, Pantani's best for the climb was 37 mins Armstong did I think an extra 1.5K and finished in just under 40 mins- not bad!!

ChrisB

Simply incredible performance today

RichWalk

Well done on *finally* reaching 20K Chris

ChrisB

Ooo, hadn't noticed that Cheers Rich.

Great article on the madness that is the crowd on d'Huez on the Daily Telegraph online which includes this quote:

Daz34

That is a top article Chris

RichWalk

Great article Chris, been emotional for the last few days- so wish I could have been their, wish even more I could have been good enough to compete in it.... the race despite the shadow of drugs etc, is just the pinnacle of sport as far as I am concerned, nothing gets even close, the domestiques are supermen, the leaders are almost gods........I am sure most wouldnt say so but it must be a privilege to ride in even once

Dave T-S

Whilst Lance's efforts go without saying, my man of the Tour must be Ivan Basso. My money's on him being second, but Ullrich can't be written off yet........