Its already started.
I must have been a bit remiss in my training as I don't seem to be so enthused this year. I did try - I even watched a bit of the earlier Tour De something else a few weeks ago. Maybe I should have been doping up, but I haven't asked my doctor or masseuse to give me any juice. Besides it seems to be extra cold here this winter. And wet. I know I know - its all a bit relative this cold /hot business. Its been around top of 12C - 13C here in the last few weeks and a 5 am low of around 2C. My brother in Aberdeen is in the middle of summer and the temperatures there are approximately the same. So they are running around in T Shirts and bikinis.
Because its been cold and wet I haven't been out pumping myself up on my bike. Or even pumping up the tyres. Its too cold out in the shed to get on the other bike set up on the rollers thingo. Thats the main thrust of my excuses. The other part is due to the fact I don't read the sports pages of the news papers or watch the sport section of the TV news. Which means that I don't read the biggest bit of the paper and the TV News is all sport. Plus I'm totally sick of the build up the Olympics and the jingoistic boosterism around our pampered sooky tax payer funded athletes.
The upshot is that Ms fxh is much better informed than me. And is getting increasingly irritated pointing out to me what is going on in the live TV broadcasts "Cant you see Cadell" ????? - " Hes so distinctive - look back there"
For some reason, and here I blame the weather too, I'm finding it hard to stay up at night after 11.30pm. The TV starts here at 10pm, but fiddle farts around for a while with recaps and a segment on French food before the race gets under way. Theres a short punchy recap at 6.00pm to 6.30pm which leaves out the scenery,assorted drunk Frogs running on the road and castles, and focuses instead on the crashes and sprints.
What I need is a short update on who is who in the TdeF, who is on drugs, what the drugs are, where to get them, any gossip and technical information.
I'm relying on forum members - I think Gilgamesh is a near professional rider who just missed out on getting into Team AAAC and Hepcat is possibly in Team (Left) Bank De Ivy.
I love watching the Tour de France for the scenery, beautiful towns, chateaus and (of course) the stunningly beautiful podium girls. Alberto Contador is still serving his 2 year ban for a drugs offence but will be back after the Olympics. He will be eligible for the Vuelta a Espana.
My guess is that the general classification (yellow jersey) will be contested by Bradley Wiggins and Cadell Evans, last year's winner. Wiggins is in superb form having beaten Evans recently in the Criterium de Dauphine.
Mark Cavendish, World Champion, has trained for the Olympics and is a few pounds lighter. With no lead out train, he did very well to win the second stage. He is also suffering after yesterday's crash and will do well to challenge for the green jersey that he won last year.
The rider to look out for is Peter Sagan, only 22, who has won two stages in his first Tour. My team is God-Original Sin. No podium girl is safe!
Last edited by Gilgamesh2003 (2012-07-05 06:22:29)
But no one has ever found Lance failed a single drug test right?
Last edited by fxh (2012-07-06 04:02:51)
Innocent UNLESS proven guilty
Its all bit early.
"Our Cadel" is only 17 seconds out - not too bad - coming into the moderate hills tonight will sort the druggies from the rest. Be interesting - I'll see how late I can stay up to watch live tonight.
FWIW - I can see no reason why any drugs are banned in sport - let them all go crazy I say - like in music - shit if bands were tested before going on stage where would we be now? No Grateful Dead, No Keith, Charlie, Mick Taylor, No Oasis (well now there is a good case for banning), .............
I say test people after the race and publish results and what they mean, then let the public decide if a freak of nature on drugs winning is better or worse than a freak of nature not on drugs winning.
What I cant stand is the bullshit and hypocrisy.
Last edited by fxh (2012-07-07 03:56:18)
formby - I'm very close to a laissez faire libertarian stance on drugs.
Worst harm to society
Most worst = Tobacco
Next worst = Grog
Next worst = Sugar
Next worst = Fat
The rest pale into insignificance comparison in their harm to individuals and costs to society
Anyway - back to Our Cadel and TDeF - the old cats are complaining that its all the young idiots who are riding crazy and falling over in the middle of the peleton and taking out good riders. It will be interesting to see tonight if the young guns are also riding crazy fast down the hills and blowing out at the corners and taking others down with them.
I'll declare my current drug intake - just tonight -
- 2 bottles of Australian Shiraz and Cabernet @ 8 standard drinks per bottle + roast chook + roast spuds + roast onion - + roast pumpkin + 3 cups of caffeine brewed up espresso - full strength - + 2 X 15mg codeine + 1 x stilnox + 2 cigarettes (OPs). Possibly a small joint later.
Last edited by fxh (2012-07-07 06:53:44)
its 1.25am - I'm off to bed.
Looks like at the end of today, a small few hills, Cadel is running second with 10 seconds behind.
A pretty good position to be in - theres a time trial before the big hills next week..
3 bottles of cider and a Brie Chaser.
It seems obvious to me that professional sportsmen will take substances and supplements to enhance their performance. I mean wouldn't you?
Last edited by One For Bop (2012-07-08 04:31:48)
Great performances by Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome this afternoon.
I hate to say it but this tour is so boring that I actually forget to watch it.
I didn't watch last night.
I'll catch up at 6 pm wrap up tonight then watch at 10 pm live with some plonk.
I hope Our Cuddles isn't as far behind as me.