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2006 Tour De France

I'm excited for the Tour this year, since I'm living in France. I'll actually be seeing one stage in the Pyrenees, so that should be cool. As for who I think will win, I'd say Basso, based on his Giro performance. I watched most of that and he had no challengers (obviously Ullrich wasn't there, though). I'm looking forward to a wide open race this year.
 
Ivan Basso

My money is on Basso. I won $25 on the Hughes/Gracie fight.

If someone I knew would bet against me, I'd win this one too (barring stomach issues).

Good coach, decent team, about peak of his career... Basso.
 
Huge breaking news!

Basso, Ullrich, Sevilla, 56 riders from Vuelta d'España are suspended from Tour de France!

Here's the link to ESPN story:link.



Who's the favorite now, maybe Vinokourov? Leipheimer? Hincapie?
 
gauchogolfer said:
Basso, Ullrich, Sevilla, rest of T-Mobile team from Vuelta d'España are suspended from Tour de France!

Here's the link to ESPN story:link.

I feel bad for Basso, especially since he's evidently being excluded solely for being a T-Mobile team member.

Who's the favorite now, maybe Vinokourov? Leipheimer? Hincapie?
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Yeah, just heard about it, too. It's a pity that they can't drive solely because of accusations. I won't watch this tour, it seems...
 
In the Yahoo article, the team states that the evidence is very clear....are you saying you aren't going to watch it because of their evidence of doping:confused:

Let's say one of them wins it, then is convicted, then you have a much bigger problem. There is a reason some of the other riders aren't ever even suspected. They play their sport "above reproach".

I will watch it, because it will give some of these other talented guys a shot for something that they, until yesterday, had no means of attaining, the title to the Tour De France.

I am glad the teams and organizers have taken such a hard stance against doping. It has been way out of control.

Also, I believe in innocent until proven guilty, but they have to make the decision to ban them from the race based on suspicion and evidence because they would be facing a much bigger giant if these who win are convicted in their trials after the race. It's a hard place to be for the organizers.
 
seany916 said:
My money is on Basso.
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Ah, well, so much for that.

I'm still interested in this tour, because as has been mentioned, it's now much more wide-open than before. Should be an interesting tour.

If these guys (Basso, Ulrich, etc.) were not doping, I feel bad for them since this taints them and their accomplishments.
 
Transic said:
Arrraag! :mad:

This is just infuriating.

It is interesting to see Tyler Hamilton's name come up again. Maybe not so innocent after all, eh?

Updated "best odds:"

Alejandro Valverde (ILL) 4/1
Floyd Landis (Pho) 6/1
Levi Leipheimer (Ger) 7/1
Alexander Vinokourov (Wur) 8/1
Yaroslav Popovych (Dis) 10/1
Click to expand...

Very limited knowledge here, but here goes..

Tyler Hamilton was the guy in Lance's USPS team a few years ago? And Floyd Landis was the young guy who entered the USPS team in 2002.. or was it 2003..?

Just seeing if the ideas I have are correct.. thanks. :)
 
gwuMACaddict said:
errrr... you're kidding, right?
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Lance could win in an Eames. :rolleyes:


I would like to take this time to reiterate my support for Hincapie.
Although, if Leipheimer or Landis were to win, I certainly wouldn't be disappointed. ;)
XIII said:
Tyler Hamilton was the guy in Lance's USPS team a few years ago? And Floyd Landis was the young guy who entered the USPS team in 2002.. or was it 2003..?
Click to expand...
Tyler did race for USPS from 1995-2001. He raced most of the 2003 Tour (with CSC then) with a broken collarbone, and yet he still managed a stage win (16) and managed to place 4th. Floyd indeed joined USPS in 2002.

Also, seems like we can scratch Vino off the list of favorites this year. That really sucks for him, because he wasn't even mentioned in the article (I think).
Also, I don't think Eki can be ruled out either.
 
Meh. After the way the French, the WADA, etc. treated Armstrong and (vicariously) the US the last several years, until another American shoves the Tour in their faces, I just am not going to care. Will be tough too. I'm not a major follower, but I have tracked the Tour for the last 10-12 years. The most disturbing part of the mess is that it feels like you have to take sides on this and they are going to go after each other until one cracks...

I know my absurd pride won't make a difference, but the whole cycling and doping industries need to get their act together before I can care again. Until watching a few games and seeing things actually working out, I had no intention of watching the NHL (different issues, same dysfunction) for the next several years....
 
Wow, like I said history wise this Tour could have already gone to anybody, but now it's especially true with two of the definite top pics out.

Cheers for Hincapie. If he wins maybe he can afford to cut the cost of Hincapie clothing a bit eh?
 
I made my views pretty clear well before the Tour and see no reason to change. I will however be watching this French cyclist performing at his best
 
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