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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Liep on July 06, 2019, 09:34:54 AM

Title: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Liep on July 06, 2019, 09:34:54 AM
Before stage 1: This year will be Fuglsang's year!
With 20 km to finish line on stage 1: Next year will be Fuglsang's year!

He's a fighter, finishing the stage with blood streaming down his face, but he just cannot manage to stay on his bike through a whole tour. :(

Luckily there's a record number of Danes in this year's edition so plenty of stage wins to hope for.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 06, 2019, 10:26:58 AM
Quote from: Liep on July 06, 2019, 09:34:54 AM
Before stage 1: This year will be Fuglsang's year!
With 20 km to finish line on stage 1: Next year will be Fuglsang's year!

He's a fighter, finishing the stage with blood streaming down his face, but he just cannot manage to stay on his bike through a whole tour. :(

Luckily there's a record number of Danes in this year's edition so plenty of stage wins to hope for.

Sad, but nether the less and enjoyable first stage.   :cool:

Should be an interesting tour, what with a couple of less Brits in it this year and new blood talent emerging.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: celedhring on July 07, 2019, 02:44:42 AM
Is this thing still riddled by druggies? Loved watching Le Tour until pretty much every great champ from the 1990s and 2000s was outed as a cheat. That put me off watching the sport.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: The Brain on July 07, 2019, 02:49:15 AM
Quote from: celedhring on July 07, 2019, 02:44:42 AM
Is this thing still riddled by druggies?

Oh yes.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 07, 2019, 08:40:05 AM
Quote from: celedhring on July 07, 2019, 02:44:42 AM
Is this thing still riddled by druggies? Loved watching Le Tour until pretty much every great champ from the 1990s and 2000s was outed as a cheat. That put me off watching the sport.

They've probably had greater success against the drug cheats then international weight-lifting has.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Legbiter on July 07, 2019, 10:54:24 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 07, 2019, 02:49:15 AM
Quote from: celedhring on July 07, 2019, 02:44:42 AM
Is this thing still riddled by druggies?

Oh yes.

All competitive sport is.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Duque de Bragança on July 07, 2019, 03:24:31 PM
Quote from: Legbiter on July 07, 2019, 10:54:24 AM
Quote from: The Brain on July 07, 2019, 02:49:15 AM
Quote from: celedhring on July 07, 2019, 02:44:42 AM
Is this thing still riddled by druggies?

Oh yes.

All competitive sport is.

Even pétanque and curling ?!  :o
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Legbiter on July 07, 2019, 03:39:36 PM
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on July 07, 2019, 03:24:31 PMEven pétanque and curling ?!  :o

QuoteThe Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky has been formally charged with a doping offence by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. He is now likely to be stripped of his mixed curling bronze medal, won with his wife Anastasia Bryzgalova last week.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/feb/19/russian-curler-banished-from-winter-olympics-after-failed-drug-test (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/feb/19/russian-curler-banished-from-winter-olympics-after-failed-drug-test)

:lol:  :mellow:

Even curling is not pure.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Legbiter on July 07, 2019, 03:42:26 PM
Ok this is just ridiculous.  :lol:

QuoteThe sleepy world of pétanque has been rocked by claims that Belgian players are turning to stronger stimulants than shots of pastis and drags of Gitanes cigarettes when bowling on the international stage.

The image of the jeu de boules, in which the bowler's feet must remain anchored to the ground, is that of elderly men in flat caps and string vests idling their days away under a fading sun.

But beyond the gravel strips found on squares and summer campsites across northern continental Europe, two leading players on the game's lively and cut-throat international stage have caused uproar by accusing their Belgian counterparts of snorting cocaine to secure a competitive edge.

"I know enough Belgian players who use coke," said Edward Vinke, 46, a top Dutch player, speaking to the Vice sports website. "They go to the toilet and do not throw a wrong ball when they come back. They really feel like the king."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/15/petanque-drug-allegations-cocaine-belgian-players (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/15/petanque-drug-allegations-cocaine-belgian-players)

Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Duque de Bragança on July 07, 2019, 04:59:24 PM
Quote from: Legbiter on July 07, 2019, 03:42:26 PM
Ok this is just ridiculous.  :lol:

QuoteThe sleepy world of pétanque has been rocked by claims that Belgian players are turning to stronger stimulants than shots of pastis and drags of Gitanes cigarettes when bowling on the international stage.

The image of the jeu de boules, in which the bowler's feet must remain anchored to the ground, is that of elderly men in flat caps and string vests idling their days away under a fading sun.

But beyond the gravel strips found on squares and summer campsites across northern continental Europe, two leading players on the game's lively and cut-throat international stage have caused uproar by accusing their Belgian counterparts of snorting cocaine to secure a competitive edge.

"I know enough Belgian players who use coke," said Edward Vinke, 46, a top Dutch player, speaking to the Vice sports website. "They go to the toilet and do not throw a wrong ball when they come back. They really feel like the king."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/15/petanque-drug-allegations-cocaine-belgian-players (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/15/petanque-drug-allegations-cocaine-belgian-players)


:weep:

Old-school pétanque play vs coke head play...
Well, there are much better doping products than cocaine but I guess it still qualifies somewhat as doping.  :hmm:
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: PDH on July 07, 2019, 05:11:36 PM
Wasn't there a story a while back about PGA Tour pros having a high rate of doping?
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 08, 2019, 08:07:06 PM
Well timed and very deserved win by Julian Allaphillipe, Oh and he takes the yellow jersey too.  :cool:
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: PDH on July 11, 2019, 09:24:22 PM
That was a very nice finish on the La Planche des Belles Filles - when Tour riders are almost stopping and having to weave back and forth on a climb, any bike rider watching suffers along mentally.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 11, 2019, 09:59:03 PM
Quote from: PDH on July 11, 2019, 09:24:22 PM
That was a very nice finish on the La Planche des Belles Filles - when Tour riders are almost stopping and having to weave back and forth on a climb, any bike rider watching suffers along mentally.

Yes, an epic ride.

Nice that the rider who lost out in the tussle to win the stage and who crossed the line shaking his head, got the consolation prize of the yellow jersey!
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 13, 2019, 06:17:20 PM
Stage 8 was a real classic bike race, definitely worth catching.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Liep on July 14, 2019, 04:49:21 AM
Quote from: mongers on July 13, 2019, 06:17:20 PM
Stage 8 was a real classic bike race, definitely worth catching.


Yep, incredible riding from De Gendt. There's been a lot of good racing this year.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 15, 2019, 09:05:32 PM
Quote from: Liep on July 14, 2019, 04:49:21 AM
Quote from: mongers on July 13, 2019, 06:17:20 PM
Stage 8 was a real classic bike race, definitely worth catching.


Yep, incredible riding from De Gendt. There's been a lot of good racing this year.

More proof of that, stage 10 expected to be a mundane one before the rest day, yet it blows up in the last 35 km and the top ten places are shook up; Pinot 3rd to 11th, Bennet from 4th to 27th, also R.Port loses amongst others.

Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Liep on July 16, 2019, 02:31:45 AM
Fuglsang :(

One of stages I thought would end in a bunch sprint so skipped it.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Liep on July 19, 2019, 05:52:11 AM
Great racing in La Course, heartbreaking to see Spratt getting overtaken on the final hill by Vos after a long solo ride. But the Dutchman was just too strong also beating the Danish hope Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig who gave a great post race interview: "She's riding so fucking fast, she's awesome."
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 19, 2019, 07:23:11 AM
Quote from: Liep on July 19, 2019, 05:52:11 AM
Great racing in La Course, heartbreaking to see Spratt getting overtaken on the final hill by Vos after a long solo ride. But the Dutchman was just too strong also beating the Danish hope Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig who gave a great post race interview: "She's riding so fucking fast, she's awesome."

:cool:

Nice race.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Eddie Teach on July 20, 2019, 07:27:35 AM
Dutchman girl?
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 20, 2019, 05:19:36 PM
Very interesting stage 13 in the Pyrenees today.

The defending champion, Geraint Thomas faded on the final slopes of the Tormolay (sp) , losing 30 seconds to julian Alaphilippe, who despite the predictions managed the big climb with some comfort finishing in first three.

Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: PDH on July 20, 2019, 05:42:30 PM
Thomas had his training interrupted.  When it came time to keep up the high effort he faltered.  Alaphilippe thought that he himself had used up too much in the time trial, but it looks like Thomas is running on a not full tank at the moment.  It could change, this thing is nowhere near done, but a puncheur should fade away, other big names have been close to (or have already been) cracking...will a Dutchman with this year?
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 20, 2019, 05:46:24 PM
Quote from: PDH on July 20, 2019, 05:42:30 PM
Thomas had his training interrupted.  When it came time to keep up the high effort he faltered.  Alaphilippe thought that he himself had used up too much in the time trial, but it looks like Thomas is running on a not full tank at the moment.  It could change, this thing is nowhere near done, but a puncheur should fade away, other big names have been close to (or have already been) cracking...will a Dutchman with this year?

Yes, it's been a fascinating race so far and nice to have an uncertain outcome with 'sky's dominance temporarily blunted.

Pity about Quintana, he now seems to be over the hill as a contender.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: PDH on July 20, 2019, 05:48:43 PM
Quote from: mongers on July 20, 2019, 05:46:24 PM
Yes, it's been a fascinating race so far and nice to have an uncertain outcome with 'sky's dominance temporarily blunted.

Pity about Quintana, he now seems to be over the hill as a contender.

Well, throw out some extra steroids that Froome used for a few years and he might have won one Tour de France..
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 24, 2019, 07:45:46 PM
Fascinating race with arguably still five or six men still in contention for podium places.   :cool:
Now the last three stages, all Alpine mountain ones will decide everything, possibly even the green jersey if Sagan can't get over them in good time due to the heat.



The only downer today was Luke Row and Tony Martin both being disqualified from the race for a minor dust up on today's GC friendly stage.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 25, 2019, 10:59:26 AM
An epic stage today, well worth watching; won't spoil it by saying who won or did well.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Liep on July 26, 2019, 09:50:21 AM
Crazy stage, wonderful riding on the first HC mountain then iced over road on the descent stops the race. :S
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Liep on July 26, 2019, 10:00:01 AM
Hail, flooded and then later a huge mudslide. Right call to stop the stage. :o

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EAaMCz9X4AA4rmi?format=jpg&name=small)
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Malthus on July 26, 2019, 10:26:41 AM
I dunno, it would have been fun to see the racers confronted with that.  :lol:
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Maladict on July 26, 2019, 10:36:34 AM
Dutch commentator insisted they could have continued. Reminds me why I should watch cycling on the Belgian channel.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: PRC on July 26, 2019, 11:02:54 AM
That's a quick cyclocross bump.
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 26, 2019, 11:27:43 AM
Extraordinary end to a stage; global warming makes it's presence felt?


Pity as the stage was at a crucial point and looked set for an exciting final 30km.  :(
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: Duque de Bragança on July 28, 2019, 03:41:18 PM
Lots of Colombian football jerseys and flags today around the Arc de Triomphe by the Champs-Élysées for obvious reasons. :)
Title: Re: Tour de France 2019
Post by: mongers on July 28, 2019, 05:05:35 PM
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on July 28, 2019, 03:41:18 PM
Lots of Colombian football jerseys and flags today around the Arc de Triomphe by the Champs-Élysées for obvious reasons. :)

:cool:

Though the French cyclists did themselves proud this Tour.  :frog: