Re: Cycling 2012

a great tour and not just because the English man one, - he is  mod so not my favourite group... wink - Loved Cavs final stage win, - I thought he went too early, - the win the day before was even better to watch WOW!!!

I fear that Wiggens will have too much media focus and pressure for the Olympics, but you never know.

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Re: Cycling 2012

Anyone been watching the Vuelta? A great race so far, only four stages gone but there's probably been more excitement already than in the whole of the TDF.

A controversial incident today, Sky started to attack in a cross wind and then Valverde, the race leader, went down in a crash. Sky and some of the other teams pushed on and Valverde ended up losing the race lead. Valverde and Movistar are very, very angry to say the least!

Re: Cycling 2012

Murray1903 wrote:

Anyone been watching the Vuelta? A great race so far, only four stages gone but there's probably been more excitement already than in the whole of the TDF.

A controversial incident today, Sky started to attack in a cross wind and then Valverde, the race leader, went down in a crash. Sky and some of the other teams pushed on and Valverde ended up losing the race lead. Valverde and Movistar are very, very angry to say the least!

Glad someone else feels the same! Yesterday's uphill finish produced more attacking than the entire TdF!! (Cathy doesn't agree) tongue This is in large part due to the presence of Contador - I never really used to be a fan, but I am now because AC at least has the cojones to go and attack. It should be a fascinating contest between him and Froome.

Falling is part of a race; there is no unwritten law that says anyone is obliged to wait for the race leader if he has crashed - shame for Valverde, but that's racing.

RIP Iron Man

Rock On and keep the Faith

Re: Cycling 2012

Watching when I can. I guess one of the unwritten etiquettes was breached, but as George says. That's racing.

My son the semipro regional bike racer gave me a book he just finished. A Dog in a Hat: An American Bike Racer's Story of Mud, Drugs, Blood, Betrayal, and Beauty in Belgium. A must read, can't put it down book for any fan of the sport, with real deal tales of the cheating, intrigue and team play in Europe, especially Belgium where bicycle racing is king.
Rick

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Re: Cycling 2012

I'm catching some of the Vuelta on steephill, but I'm really enjoying the USA Pro Race. I love the Rockies and must admit it's fun to see so many Americans. Having said that, nobody was upset to see Jens Voigt win today. This is a close race and will be on NBC this weekend. It's also George Hincapie's final race sad      Cathy

Re: Cycling 2012

No matter what one's personal opinion about Lance is, this is a tragically sad day for the sport.

sad

RIP Iron Man

Rock On and keep the Faith

Re: Cycling 2012

Amsterhammer wrote:

No matter what one's personal opinion about Lance is, this is a tragically sad day for the sport.

sad

Agree. For the first time in my life, I am finding it hard to feel enthusiastic about Pro Cycling.

Re: Cycling 2012

Amsterhammer wrote:

No matter what one's personal opinion about Lance is, this is a tragically sad day for the sport.

sad

sad hmm +1

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Re: Cycling 2012

The Vuelta just gets better and better. Great win for Philippe Gilbert yesterday. Saturdays stage will take some beating for excitement with all the GC contenders attacking during the final 3 or 4k before Rodriguez finally won.

Re: Cycling 2012

I really enjoyed the USA Pro Tour. Colorado is stunning, the crowds were huge, and the time trial, last day, determined the winner. I'm in for next year wink   Cathy

As for Lance. Dirty word x1000 regarding the never ending hounding. NOTHING will alter how I feel about him.  Cathy

Re: Cycling 2012

Innuendo proves nothing.  Show me a failed test. Until then, Lance is the king.

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Re: Cycling 2012

Murray1903 wrote:

The Vuelta just gets better and better. Great win for Philippe Gilbert yesterday. Saturdays stage will take some beating for excitement with all the GC contenders attacking during the final 3 or 4k before Rodriguez finally won.

Absolutely! Been thoroughly enjoying this Vuelta, and the best is yet to come when we get some serious climbing. I hope Bertie can win, but I suspect that Froome will.

Pleased for Gilbert getting his first win of the season? You gotta wonder what changed from last season, when he was winning everything.

RIP Iron Man

Rock On and keep the Faith

Re: Cycling 2012

dknight16 wrote:

Innuendo proves nothing.  Show me a failed test. Until then, Lance is the king.

agreed. - Sorry to say this but I think that this is a sad reflection of the witch hunt USA ant doping agency who think that making a statement is a conviction based on hearsay by offering reward to those that have already done wrong. - And the fact that they think that they can declare his Tour de France results void is the ultimate display of ignorance. And I though that it was only us Brits that turned on ourselves, (in terms of sporting bodies)!

Lance Armstrong has done so such good for millions of people. He is an all time sporting hero that should never have been hounded in this way.

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Re: Cycling 2012

Ian916 wrote:
dknight16 wrote:

Innuendo proves nothing.  Show me a failed test. Until then, Lance is the king.

agreed. - Sorry to say this but I think that this is a sad reflection of the witch hunt USA ant doping agency who think that making a statement is a conviction based on hearsay by offering reward to those that have already done wrong. - And the fact that they think that they can declare his Tour de France results void is the ultimate display of ignorance. And I though that it was only us Brits that turned on ourselves, (in terms of sporting bodies)!

Lance Armstrong has done so such good for millions of people. He is an all time sporting hero that should never have been hounded in this way.

+1 on the whole of this.  According to the anti doping agency guilty until proved innocent. They have done a great deal of harm with this stance..

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)

Re: Cycling 2012

Ian916 wrote:

Lance Armstrong has done so such good for millions of people. He is an all time sporting hero that should never have been hounded in this way.

Agreed Ian.
If Lance had won, 1 or 2 'Tour de France' - no or little fuss would have been heard of. The fact he had won so many on the trot - questions were bound to be raised, even thought he passed every doping test available at the time.
I saw an interview with him at the weekend - back on his bike, he looked relaxed, and happy, philosophical - dare i say!

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Re: Cycling 2012

Anybody who cares about cycling should try and catch highlights of today's Vuelta stage. It was one of the most daring, fascinating, exciting, and truly memorable stages of a Grand tour in years! I'll say no more so as not to spoil anyone's viewing pleasure, but I shall certainly return to it. All the cycling fans that I'm in touch with on the web agree that this Vuelta has been infinitely more exciting, more interesting, and just way more fun than the Tour we had this summer. There are many lessons to be learned by the TDF organization.

RIP Iron Man

Rock On and keep the Faith

Re: Cycling 2012

Ian916 wrote:
dknight16 wrote:

Innuendo proves nothing.  Show me a failed test. Until then, Lance is the king.

agreed. - Sorry to say this but I think that this is a sad reflection of the witch hunt USA ant doping agency who think that making a statement is a conviction based on hearsay by offering reward to those that have already done wrong. - And the fact that they think that they can declare his Tour de France results void is the ultimate display of ignorance. And I though that it was only us Brits that turned on ourselves, (in terms of sporting bodies)!

Lance Armstrong has done so such good for millions of people. He is an all time sporting hero that should never have been hounded in this way.

There are witch hunts, and then there are witch hunts.

But the truth will out. Like the pyramid financial schemes, like the Saville enquries going on in the UK, like the phone hacking scandals and so on and so on.

EVERYONE has known for years that cycling was a tainted sport through the 90's and through those mega successful Armstrong years. We wanted to so believe that HE could be above that. Clearly he was above it because he was actually virtually controlling it.

Yeah, he never failed a drugs check or test. But the guy is made of Teflon. Nothing sticks. Bullying, coercion, blackmail, you name it he and his team have done it. Armstrong has Obama's telephone number in his cell, as he probably had 'Dubya's' too.

It probably won't even matter that his records will be expunged. Armstrong has actually moved beyond his sport. His public personality has so developed that he is probably big enough to leave the scandal behind him. He's the first person now to have made cheating acceptable. It's almost like it was the sports fault for allowing it to happen.

BBC5 broadcast this yesterday. A 2 hour documentary based on the USADA report findings with interviews with the personalities that have testified against him as well as other indepependant commentators. At times if it wasn't so chilling it would be funny.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ngqxd

I'm not a great cycling fan, but I am a sport fan. As a story of how cycling let itself become sooo twisted that it nearly disappeared up its own drug addled backside it is compelling.

The verdict is that in 2012 cycling has already turned its corner thank goodness and the drug abuse on the Armstrong scale is a thing of the past and for that sport should be grateful.

If Armstrong is your hero then thats OK. What this documentary shows is that he is a man, with all the desires and failings of a normal man, coupled with an incredible ambition and arrogance. A man who clearly believed and probably still believes the end justifies the means.

But in the wider context, if he continued to lead a life full of good and charitable works who is to say that those that benefit from it shouldn't be grateful for the choices and decisions he has made.

This is a great documentary. If you have an interest in this story at 2 hours it is long listen but a worthwhile one.

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012

54 (edited by Brack 2012-10-16 05:45:49)

Re: Cycling 2012

hansamike wrote:

This is a great documentary. If you have an interest in this story at 2 hours it is long listen but a worthwhile one.

Thanks for the heads-up on this documentary. I was wondering about 'BBC5' ?  smacks head..... ah, BBC Radio 5 Live - of course!
I will give it a listen soon.
I was willing to give Armstrong the benefit of the doubt, but the damning 'evidence' seems to be stacking up.

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Adele: RAH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oio8V3e3WU&ob=av2e -
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