Scoop 0 #1 July 12, 2007 It's not often it comes to the UK but we had the first couple of stages locally and it was great. Not really publicised that well over here normally but because of the British stages its had some good coverage. All I can say is... what a race! Although I didn't appreciate standing at the side of the road for 10 hours just for what was probably no more than a minute of action as they rode past! I tip my hat to them. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji_XcHvJvac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #2 July 12, 2007 fuck this guys, they're all doped, makes the whole "sport" thing somehow useless, doesnt it!?“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #3 July 12, 2007 If they're all doped at least its fair! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #4 July 12, 2007 yea, i mean, i dont really give a shit, i'm just fed up with doping here, doping there.. well, everyone knows it, shitloads admit it, so whats the big deal anyway..“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #5 July 12, 2007 Is it any wonder when their stages are over 200km! Even if they are doped their bodies still got to take the punishment. Kinda like how top fuel dragsters dont run on 98 unleaded! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #6 July 12, 2007 dragsters dont run on unleaded fuel!?!? “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrFreefall383 0 #7 July 12, 2007 It's not that hard to think they're doping, because most people think the human body can't take that abuse. The fact is that it can, our minds just don't usually allow it. If you turn your mind off, or at least train to the point that your mind isn't stopping you from going farther/faster, then your body can take all sorts of abuse. So the reason Lance Armstrong was so damn powerful on his bike was that he trained at high altitudes. As such, when he had more oxygen in his blood, such as during the TdF, he was able to race twice as hard. As for the race itself, I've been watching all the stages so far, and they've all had interesting finishes. The first with Robbie McEwen coming from the back of the peloton to take the win, that was incredible. And then the third with Cancellara taking that nice little lead right at the last second, I probably should've seen that coming. Real fun."If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #8 July 12, 2007 We watched the Prologue while we were in London. It was pretty cool but there were a ton of people there and so it was hard to really see the racers. Besides that, they whizz by pretty quickly! I'm glad I got to see it though, it was exciting.She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #9 July 12, 2007 did i mention cancellara was a swiss dopehead?!? “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #10 July 12, 2007 Robbie McEwan was amazing to take that first stage win despite all the dramas. Was a shame about the spectator who took out Mark Cavendish. That put him out of the running, would have been nice to see a Brit win on home turf. As you can probably tell, I'm not very clued up on the TDF but it was exciting. Just wish I could follow it this year Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johan420 0 #11 July 12, 2007 just curious....why do they run tour the FRANCE in london?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #12 July 12, 2007 Quote just curious....why do they run tour the FRANCE in london?? coz' the brits dont know how to bike!? “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #13 July 12, 2007 They only started from London. Naturally the majority is across France. It also goes into Belgium I believe. Here is the route: http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/COURSE/us/le_tour_2007live.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrFreefall383 0 #14 July 12, 2007 Right, it's nothing more than a starting point. The vast majority of the event runs through France. And in years past, it's been even more predominantly in France than anywhere else, although Belgium is still quite popular with the race commission because of its terrain."If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #15 July 12, 2007 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was always within France until maybe a decade or two ago, when they started dipping into neighboring countries. I think this year's is the first time ever they ran a stage in England. It's a damn shame they don't have the Chunnel capable of having a stage race through it! Now THAT would have been something! "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #16 July 12, 2007 Quote I think this year's is the first time ever they ran a stage in England. No, they last went through England in 1994 if I remember correctly. I was only a nipper but I remember going to watch them and catching the freebies from the caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,595 #17 July 12, 2007 QuoteRight, it's nothing more than a starting point. The vast majority of the event runs through France. And in years past, it's been even more predominantly in France than anywhere else, although Belgium is still quite popular with the race commission because of its terrain. Yep, this year it has visited the UK, Belgium, and will dip into Spain during a Pyrenean stage. Man, todays stage highlighted just how tough the TdeF is even for those who aren't going for the wins. Vinokourov just rode all 6 of his domestiques into the ground trying to get back to the peleton after a crash. Brutal.Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,595 #18 July 12, 2007 Quote Quote I think this year's is the first time ever they ran a stage in England. No, they last went through England in 1994 if I remember correctly. I was only a nipper but I remember going to watch them and catching the freebies from the caravan Yeah, they were here then. In fact, it's the question for ITV's current competitionDo you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dougjumper 0 #19 July 12, 2007 Cough..Deep Voice(Bob Roll). Its Tour Day France. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #20 July 12, 2007 Quote Yeah, they were here then. In fact, it's the question for ITV's current competition I've entered! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #21 July 12, 2007 Quote the reason Lance Armstrong was so damn powerful on his bike was that he trained at high altitudes. As such, when he had more oxygen in his blood, such as during the TdF, he was able to race twice as hard. and the others trained at sealevel in junkyards Lance is just a great junkie like all winners of the TdF. The chemicals he uses are not detectable yet that's all scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #22 July 12, 2007 QuoteISo the reason Lance Armstrong was so damn powerful on his bike was that he trained at high altitudes. As such, when he had more oxygen in his blood, such as during the TdF, he was able to race twice as hard. That is the old "Train High" philosophy. The problem with it is the higher the altitude you train, the less 02 per minute you can bring in through the lungs. Because you are bringing in O2 at a lower rate, you can't push your body as hard. The newer philosophy is "Live High; Train Low". i.e. get your body adapted to high altitude but do your training at lower altitude. This is done by actually living and training near sea level, but sleeping in a room (or tent-like apparatus) that has equipment reducing the O2 content of the air to simulate the O2 content of high-altitude air."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #23 July 12, 2007 +1“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #24 July 12, 2007 Thats some pretty incredible lengths to go to! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #25 July 12, 2007 QuoteThats some pretty incredible lengths to go to! A few months ago I met a guy who works for a company in Boulder that manufactures the "tents". According to him, business is booming."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
