69 Comments

1. Comment by Stan | 07.25.2007 | 12:33 pm

   Regarding big, tall guys racing, there was a guy like that riding for my club back in the ’70s. He was very tall and thin, and he could ride faster than anybody. That was something he learned from doing a 30-mile bike commute to college. He was even good enough to ride on the National Team for a while. Here’s a picture:

   http://www.1134.org/gallery/hartford1978/aaf

2. Comment by Al Maviva | 07.25.2007 | 12:44 pm

   Euskatel – the Euskatel uni actually shows an enormous orange footprint going up the rider’s back, as befits a team that is the permanent doormat of the TDF. It’s not their fault that the organizers screwed up and put the riders’ numbers in a non-traditional location, on the rider’s back. [Ed. Um, no, Al. That's another Euskatel screwup at the Tour. Numbers in European races *always* go there.] [Update from Al: Really?] [Ed. Really.]

   Iban Mayo, hold the pickles – Mayo keeps getting sent to the tour because SETI keeps getting phantom radio messages from T-Mobile teams of past years, when Fat Kasier Jan used to ride in the Tour, telling them to “Send more Mayo!” Ulrich only wanted something to dunk his pommes frites in to help stay fueled on long ascents, but due to the usual misunderstandings between teams and organizers, they keep thinking that aliens are demanding that Mayo be sent to the Tour, lest something awful and incomprehensible happen to it. So they keep sending him. Team CSC is also puzzled because the SETI installation in Norway has picked up requests for “Pizza, Pizza now, dammit,” but Dongiovanni Pizza left Eddy Merycx’ Moltenni team in 1973.

   Soler, eh, whoa-oh… They can’t make fun of any other rider because all the other riders, except Rasmussen, have enough upper body muscle mass to actually pull the trigger on a pistol.

   Soler, eh, whoa-oh, eh, oh – Soler doesn’t feel bad about being mocked out all the time. When the other riders stuff water bottles down his bibs, that makes him feel bad. When they take his lunch away from him, that makes him feel bad. When they are out riding bikes together, and they make him go in front until he gets tired, then they ride away, that makes him feel bad. Hey, wait a minute! Soler is a domestique. He gets paid to that. Screw him! That whiner! Ligget and Sherwen are right to make fun of him. Anorexic jerk. Soler also feels bad about riding for a team named after a business that “is an industrial brand management company that achieves durability in business through long-term value creation.” Either it’s a mafia front, just like Team Astana’s sponsor, the Kazakh government, or they have trouble getting started in the morning because their Director Sportivo, Bill Lumbergh, won’t let them leave until they submit their TPS reports.

   Zabriskie – Aliens are occupying Zabriskie’s body for now and making it do whacky things, say all sorts of crazy stuff, and just generally behave weirdly. This is no different from what Zabriskie would do normally, so it’s no big deal. There was an ugly rumor that Team CSC switched shoes right before the Tour, and this caused Zabriskie to suffer a terrible case of knee tendinitis that caused him agony for two weeks and forced his withdrawal early in Stage 9, but Team CSC is amazingly smart, and smart pro racers would never do anything stupid like changing key bits of equipment just before the big race. Right? Right? Hello?

3. Comment by VA Biker | 07.25.2007 | 12:59 pm

   Q5. Saw an interview with David Z. on his last day in the TdF at VeloNews. He missed the time cut for stage 11. Made allusions to pain in his foot from pins from surgery caused by his wreck in the TdF a couple of years ago. Said he was getting his body messed up by trying to compensate. (An aside. Everyone talks about how “wacky” DZ is. I found that in watching most of his interviews on VN that I wouldn’t want him as an employee. For me, he takes “irreverent” to the level of annoying. Just my opinion.)

4. Comment by mark | 07.25.2007 | 1:10 pm

   Stan, I have never seen a knee/elbow overlap like that before. Amazing. I can barely ride in the drops without my knees hitting my chest, but I’m also about a foot shorter than the guy in your photo.

5. Comment by Jose | 07.25.2007 | 1:18 pm

   Not a Fat Cyclist fake News:

   I though the whole Vino was funny but this is getting hilarious. Unbelievable. Read the rest.

   Rasmussen pulled out of Tour

   Yellow jersey Michael Rasmussen will reportedly not be at the start of the Tour de France’s 17th stage Thursday morning according to L’Equipe. He was withdrawn from the race by his Rabobank team for reasons which were not specified. Rasmussen won Wednesday’s Stage 16 finishing at Col d’Aubisque.

   The news comes just hours after the news that Cofidis’ Cristian Moreni tested positive for testosterone, leading to that team’s withdrawal from the race.

   Stay tuned to Cyclingnews for more information as the story develops.

6. Pingback by RocBike.com » Links Of The Day: 25 July 2007 | 07.25.2007 | 1:28 pm

   [...] 5 Questions About the Tour de France Thus Far [...]

7. Comment by Jose | 07.25.2007 | 1:30 pm

   Next not Fat Cyclist Fake News….

   Tour Organizers Request a Mulligan

8. Comment by Stephanie | 07.25.2007 | 1:33 pm

   this tour is officially out of hand.

9. Comment by Anthony | 07.25.2007 | 1:35 pm

   They always call Txurruka “That Little Spanish Boy.”

10. Comment by Philly Jen | 07.25.2007 | 1:38 pm

    No way, Jose!

    But it’s true, and the latest reports are saying that his team director discovered he was in Italy, not in Mexico, during the month of June. So they gave him the boot for touring The Boot (presumably in black)…

11. Comment by Wes Woolard | 07.25.2007 | 1:39 pm

    Rasmussen kicked out. What a pile. I don’t see who this great sport can regain its credibility. Note to the peleton: cut this crap out!

12. Comment by AMG in Texas | 07.25.2007 | 1:48 pm

    These are my answers to the questions that boggle the mind:

    The Euskaltel-Euskadi kit is the closest answer the team has to those annoying fans who constantly moon the riders. Did you see them in yesterdays stage??? There was even one guy running in frame with a G-String. What happened to the TV censors??? It is obvious that they get bored to sleep on the TDF mountain stages. Perhaps if they saw Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake in the crowd that they would do something about it. Pffff.

    Iban Mayo is the only clean rider in the tour. Honestly… he even said so!

    Juan Hernandez Solar is glad to get any attention just like you secretly desire. Perhaps it will turn into a sponsorship deal. The JHS pipe cleaners company.

    Liggett and Sherwen and trying to “spice up” the TDF commentary, but they had missed the class Simon Cowell had in January. So we have to live with what they come up with.

    Zabriskie had equipment problems… they swithed to generics just before the race (the labels on the generics come off real fast and easy, I hear).

    To me, I would like there to be an American Idol type selection process for next years TDF. Just find all the REAL fat cyclist in an area, bring them into a stadium, put them on REAL bikes, then time them. Judging should be 20% athletic ability, 20% interviewing responses, 40% comedic antics, and 20% sympathy story. Then allow the race to be coed, add skimpy outfits, race team cheerleaders, team mascots, and have TV cameras follow these people around as they “train” for the tour. There will be new classifications…. which team loses the most weight, which team can tan more of their bodies, the team with the best cheers, the team that can put at least one of their riders through to the next stage. Drunken antics will be frowned upon (unless they are chugging a sponsors brew). Antics performed during a BONK, allways allowed. I heard that even the back office people will get TV time… the team cooks will be in a cook-off and they will be sharing their recipies.

    Here is the TDF alternative #2 for next year. Just ride the Paris loop and allow the teams to do close quarters combat with cardboard hands (the sponsors names and logos will of course be prominently displayed on such). They will alternate directions every 2 laps with the final lap they will ride in opposite directions (it will be safe… they will all be wearing their helmets wont they?).

13. Comment by AMG in Texas | 07.25.2007 | 1:54 pm

    The info on Ratmussing leaving the tour is true folks…
    http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/details/articles/12944.0.html

14. Comment by LanterneRouge | 07.25.2007 | 2:14 pm

    Contador in yellow. That’s got to piss off Levi.

15. Comment by Mrs. Coach | 07.25.2007 | 2:17 pm

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Professional Cycling will continue to deteriorate until they hit rock sludge bottom. It will smolder there for a couple years in WWF style until a really rich and really ingenious person (Dr. Botched maybe) comes along and magnanimously picks it up and puts it on a new, fresh, organized course.

    ANSWERS:
    1- That is what I’ve been telling Bob. The first couple times I saw them I thought they had crashed and their shorts were ripped. (I actually saw this to a rider in the Pro peleton during New Mexico’s tour of the Gila this spring)

    2- Hey, at least he hasn’t dropped out this year (yet).

    3- awesome!

    4- At least they are talking about someone besides Armstong.

    5- CSC thought they should allow Zabriskie to gracefully get time cut so that he wouldn’t crash out and need recovery time (again).

16. Comment by Mrs. Coach | 07.25.2007 | 2:19 pm

    LanternRouge, at least Contador has ridden like he wants it. I understand that Levi needs to conserve, but at some point he’s got to make a move.

17. Comment by AMG in Texas | 07.25.2007 | 2:26 pm

    What is Ratmussings new nickname? Fried Chicken!!!

18. Comment by AMG in Texas | 07.25.2007 | 2:28 pm

    Why do we know that Ratmussing was a hen? He is not crowing anymore!!!

19. Comment by Cyndy | 07.25.2007 | 2:35 pm

    The first time I saw those Euskatel riding shorts, I leaned in really close to my TV screen because my eyes were telling me I was looking at nekkid a$$, but I just could not believe my eyes. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one thinking that, I was laughin so hard. Plumbers crack. nice.
    Solare is kinda cool, he does look like a big bug bobbing along on a bicycle. Being that he’s from Colombia I wonder what his dope of choice is? hehe

20. Comment by ellrod | 07.25.2007 | 3:09 pm

    So Ras gets the boot for being in Italy when he said he was in Mexico.

    Senor/Signor?

    There must be another shoe to drop here.

21. Comment by Nancy Toby of Lanterne Rouge Blog | 07.25.2007 | 3:17 pm

    I’m going to be LOVING Contador in yellow! He is a thing of beauty. But yeah, I’ve been meaning to write about those plumber pants for a while. You beat me to it.

22. Comment by eclecticdeb | 07.25.2007 | 3:26 pm

    I’ve been one of those who has taped the race, then watching it at night. Up until all this doping, lying, and blood transfusion nonsense, it HAS been fun to watch. Now I’m just embarassed to tell anyone I’m following TDF….makes me look almost as bad as saying I watch wrestling.

23. Comment by paige | 07.25.2007 | 3:27 pm

    Q1- Me too. I did a huge double take the first time I saw an Euskatel rider from behind. But at least now I can tell them apart from Rabobank. Well, that and a few other things…urm.

    Q2-I like the aliens misunderstanding that Al puts forth. Makes as much sense as anything else in the Tour this year.

    Q3-The very second I saw a closeup of Soler, the Tripletts of Belleville soundtrack started in my head. Hey! Maybe that’s where DZ is…being used as a human battery to power the equipment in a French dope-testing lab?

    Q4-4a- I don’t think it hurts his feelings. The Terrible Twosome pick a rider every year to make fun of…which is why they’re so damn fun to listen to. Plus, what’s he going to do? Use harsh language at them? All they’d have to do is push him over and sit on him until he gives up. The skinny cyclists I know are strong and wiry but very very tired after a few days of mountainous climbs.

    Q5- See above.

    Bonus question- You watch the enhanced coverage tonight solely for hearing Bob Roll expound on the problems of the day and Al Trautwig try hard to steer him in a different direction.

    Should be fun, really.

24. Comment by Big Boned | 07.25.2007 | 3:30 pm

    The chicken has been plucked. Might as roll up the streets in Paris, there’s nothing to see here.

25. Comment by KatieA | 07.25.2007 | 3:36 pm

    If you miss FOUR scheduled drug tests and then get kicked off for “lying about where you were” one would assume that there might be something more to it. And I thought if you missed one you were banned? Or is that just swimming / athletics / every other sport known to man?

    But sorry to say that all I care about now is that Cadel Evans is now only 1:57 off the lead in second place. He was five minutes before Rassmussen was shunted.

    As an Australian, we really don’t have left to cheer for after the whole “Robbie Couldn’t Make It Up The Hill In Time” situation, and a couple of the others being taken out by a guardrail that jumped up at them and ending up looking like Kenny’s head-brake pics. Except they weren’t as brave and didn’t try to continue. :)

26. Comment by LanterneRouge | 07.25.2007 | 3:39 pm

    Nancy, I swear that I didn’t steal my nickname from your blog. I bought a book called “Tour de France/Tour de Force: A Visual History of the Worlds Greatest Bicycle Race” back in 2001 and that’s where I stole it from.

    BTW: You’re right Contador deserves it much more than Levi. His attacks in the mountain stages have been tremendous to watch. I hope he can hold it through the last TT.

27. Comment by Clydesteve | 07.25.2007 | 3:39 pm

    1. Yes, it has come to that. Sex sells. The sponsors dictated this kit design.
    2. Listen, Al, Jan is not the only mayo lover. This IS the FC site. Iban Mayo, too.
    3. Not qualified to answer, not having seen the movie.
    4. I think “he can make it go uphill” is the only one of these phrases that translate to Columbian. Besides, he does not look as doofy as Rasmessedupagain does.
    4a. Anytime someone uses Razzmussit’s nickname, they are making fun of him, so, yes.
    5. Zabriskie was such a poor interview on “The Zabriskie Diaries” on http://www.velonewstv.com that Velonews compelled CSC to make him slow down and miss the time cut. The guy is annoying, not genuine, and for the most part boring, once you have seen his schtick. If you want to see an engaging interview (I am serious, here) check out the Chris Horner Diaries vid clip features on velonewstv.com. He really is well-spoken, smart, enthusiastic, good in front of the camera, and insightful about team tactics.
    6. I would just watch the race highlights film clip on velonewstv. So, do all the points and time bonuses that Razzy won go to the next guy in line in each stage?

    (paid for by velonewstv.com)

28. Comment by RoadRash | 07.25.2007 | 4:11 pm

    I agree with ClydeSteve. Look for Chris Horner to join Phil, Paul & Bob when he retires from racing.

    Impressive pre-cognition from Fatty!

29. Comment by KT | 07.25.2007 | 4:14 pm

    1– I think their kit is ugly, so spend as little time as possible looking at it. But, now that I actually look closely, you are correct. Ew. At least it’s not as bad as Saunier Duval’s shorts. Whoever came up with the design for that deserves a quick kick in the nuts, which if you look at the front of the shorts, the black points where you should be aiming that kick for. Double ew.

    2–Comic relief.

    3– Haven’t seen it yet, so can’t comment. Although, the pic you posted next to Soler’s pic is very convincing.

    4– I think Soler doesn’t care, because he knows he can go up the hills better than Paul and Phil can. Who cares what a couple of old dudes are saying? They must be jealous that they don’t have the, shall we say, legs to do that sort of thing anymore.

    4a– They make fun of whoever they can, mostly by screwing up the pronunciation of their names. Although I though it was funny that they kept getting Alexandre Vinokourav and Alejandro Valverde mixed up. Here’s a clue: Vino wears sea-foam green and is no longer in the race, Valverde doesn’t and is still in the race.

    5– Dave Z wanted so bad to be the lanterne rouge but he screwed up his time calcs. Got just a touch outside the time cut. Sigh. Some people aren’t good with numbers.

    Bonus: If you tape the morning show, it gives you something to spin to on the trainer. Then watch the evening show for the Bob Roll show.

    Is it just me, or is this tour becoming about the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen in sports?

30. Comment by MTB W | 07.25.2007 | 4:28 pm

    fatty, way to go – you accurately predicted Rassmussen departure. Rasmussen was (essentially) DQ’d. While it happened b/f he won, he was leading at the time (although it was pretty likely that he was going to win). Feel sorry for Contador/Levi/winner on Sunday since, as fatty predicted, they will also be DQ’d. And on and on it goes.

    Which is why the Leadville 100 is now the race to watch! Fatty, better check that grapefruit to make sure no one “slipped” any banned drugs in it.

31. Comment by Lins - Aust | 07.25.2007 | 4:56 pm

    http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/ftimages/2007/07/07/1183351527560.html
    The new Wallaby jersey has “grip patches” on the chest and shoulders. Euskatel has them on their rear end for pushing each other or being pushed by Basque fans up the hills. This idea was first conceived whilst Mayo was still on the team.

32. Comment by Boz | 07.25.2007 | 5:10 pm

    I road w/ a guy tonight that looked like a cross betwwen Solar and Icabod Crane. Only older. You guys put that thought in my head, don’t blame me. I hope he doesn’t read this blog, but then, he was faster than me and I may never run into him again. Some of them old guys can really hammer.
    WCE (world cycling entertainment)would be a good name to rebuild the sport under, but I’m loosing my appetite for it – the bad chicken and vino dinner was hard to stomach. But it did create a buzz amoungst our inpromtu group ride tonight. It sure didn’t dampen anyone’s love of riding.

33. Comment by Maile in Florida | 07.25.2007 | 5:15 pm

    Q3: I’m glad I’m not the only one. The resemblance is spooky!

34. Comment by matt | 07.25.2007 | 5:20 pm

    Paul also likes to dump on “Little Tommy” Voeckler, who is always languishing at the back, barely able to hold onto the real riders’ coattails. Nice.

    Oh, and who let Saunier-Duval into the race in a yellow outfit – that’s the colour to identify the lead doper! Hmm, Mayo you say?

35. Comment by Al Maviva | 07.25.2007 | 5:41 pm

    Clydesteve – c’mon! “Whut ees game? WHUT EES GAME?” is one of the funnier things I’ve ever heard. Zabriskie is flaky as hell, you need to check out the Van de Velde interviews to really appreciate why Zabriskie is well liked. You can’t appreciate a guy like that until you start spending a lot of time riding with bona fide hammers, and you spend three hours at a time bleeding from the eyes trying to hang on. A flake like Zabriskie is great to have around, takes your mind off the fact that if somebody offered you a pistol, you’d hand it to a teammate and say, “Kill me now,” that’s if you actually had enough energy left to hold a pistol.

    FWIW, the details of Zabriskie’s demise are 11th stage, missed the cut, the knee he injured in a *car* accident three years ago was inflamed from the new shoes the team received after the Dauphine Libere. Zabriskie says every time he switches shoes, it takes him a long time to get them dialed, and they always cause knee pains. That’s the God’s honest truth and would you people stop spreading the maskirovka? Okay, my sketchy description invited the fabulism, but that’s the deal, now cut it out. None of this stuff about crashes and other stuff. And a switch like that just before the Tour is insanity. You *never* change anything right before a big race.

36. Comment by James | 07.25.2007 | 5:42 pm

    1 – In terms of eye-bleach-inducing kits. Euskaltel 2007 doesn’t even make the historical top 10, IMHO. Check out Naturino 2005, for instance (http://www.nalini.com/eng/profi05/naturino05.htm).
    2 – They’ll keep sending Mayo until he gets it right
    3 – Ummm….sure. Sorry, what was the question?
    4 – Clearly, Soler doesn’t speak whatever language Phil and Paul speak. Neither do the rest of us.
    5 – I heard that his wife called to tell him that she was lonely. Well, not lonely, but it ended in y.

    James

37. Comment by Jason | 07.25.2007 | 5:42 pm

    Fatty:

    As to your bonus question I am in the same boat. I was chatting with a buddy about Vino and next thing you know he tells me Rass is out. I’m absolutely bummed out as I was excited to see him getting closer to Paris in Yellow. I’m still watching the stage but let’s be honest what’s the point. How sad…How sad.

38. Comment by Dan Schrimpsher | 07.25.2007 | 6:02 pm

    1. I am in denial and haven’t noticed any male butt-cracks on anybodies shorts. No you can’t make me see it.

    2. Because his name sounds like mayonaise and europeans like mayonaise.

    3. Haven’t seen it, but maybe.

    4. No cause I don’t think he speaks English. I could be wrong.

    5. Yes, some sprinter a few years ago that was really tall with really crazy legs.

    Bonus: I am watching it as I type this. After posting a story on The chaos that is the 2007 tour.

39. Comment by Born4Lycra | 07.25.2007 | 6:08 pm

    Q1. EE uniform is excellent – still I would say that I support them. I also agree with KT I reckon the Saunier knix look more confusing/intriguing but they have been in yellow for a few years now. Also time to admit I’m dumb but I am not understanding the early banter regards the position of the numbers – and I’ve tried really hard.
    Q2. Tradition
    Q3. not seen the movie but can see the likeness
    Q4. any publicity is good publicity altho not sure about the attention the drug taking wa*kers are getting.
    Q5. not sure but not missing him
    bonus Q. – yes you still got to watch. Allsorts of stuff to be sorted out. How will team Disco ride to the finish who will be number 1 rider. Can Cadell Evans do a Badbury? (Oz skater who won gold medal at Winter olympics after running last but everyone else fell over and suddenly he was first). Could we actually see a genuine full stage race into Paris for the first time in a while.

    KatieA – Michael Rogers rode on but broke down and Stewie could not walk let alone ride a bike. Kenny was fortunate he landed on his head and therefore did not break anything (sorry ken) while our lads actually broke stuff. I’m with you though Go Cadell (if he wins I HTC he is clean same goes for Contador)

40. Comment by walter | 07.25.2007 | 6:57 pm

    Fatty –
    Thanks for providing some laughs about the f(*&ing mess formerly known as the Tour — I needed that! Your ability to foretell the future 3 months out is pretty impressive — perhaps you could use those same magic powers on something we can all profit from next time, so we can all retire…

    Last but certainly not least — all the best tomorrow. Still sending prayers, good vibes, etc.

41. Comment by Debamundo | 07.25.2007 | 7:06 pm

    1. Very entertaining. When the sun hits it just right I bet their butt cracks show.
    2. Oh now, be nice. He’s doing a little better this year.
    3. Missed the movie. It is good? I agree. I ride with a guy from South Africa who kind of looks all spidery, too. And his butt crack shows through his light blue team shorts. Go figure.
    4. Nah, wild card rider as KOM? He doesn’t care what they say. And they pick on other obvious targets.
    5. He was having knee trouble. It’s the knee with screws in it from when he got hit by a car while training a few years back. He blamed it on a change of shoes. Sounds fishy, but there you go. I missed seeing him time trial, though. He can really fly on a good day.

    Bonus. Not really any point. I rush home at lunch to watch the last 10K or so, so I saw the finish before I heard the news.

    I do remember your post from April without even going back to re-read it. Eerie!

    To those making comments about Levi/Contador, Levi has already said he’s happy to work for Contador to try to help him get the win, and that’s exactly what he did today. He isn’t angry and they are not fighting against each other. He conceded his chances and is being a team player now, but with all the recent drama it looks like he’ll get his podium spot after all.

42. Comment by Big Mike In Oz | 07.25.2007 | 7:46 pm

    Here’s me starting to let go of the dream of an Australian winner when suddenly 3rd place at 5 minutes turns into 2nd place at 2 minutes. It all came 1 stage too late though. Imagine a mountain stage with Contador not having Rasmussen to spar with. That would have really changed the Contador/Evans dynamic. Alas, it all comes down to Saturday’s TT (or crashes).

43. Comment by LanterneRouge | 07.25.2007 | 7:46 pm

    Debamundo, re: Levi/Contador

    Yes Levi is saying all the right things. What else can he do in public without sounding like a complete jerk. Disco tried to build this tour team around Levi as the team leader. That’s probably the main/only reason he agreed to return to Disco/Postal. Keep in mind that he left the first time because he thought he was too good a rider to continue working for Lance. If you think your too good to work for the guy who won 7 tours how would you feel working for the new guy who never even rode the tour before. Levi will continue to do the work for Contador but he’ll be seething inside.

44. Comment by Glenda | 07.25.2007 | 8:26 pm

    AL M===DZ was “WHAT GAME PLAY” and totally HILARIOUS, it was sad to watch his diaries go…but CHRIS H rocks and the TOUR will prevail! It is hard to cheer for a winner but cyling will always be our LOVE! And to Susan and FC ===WIN~!

45. Comment by Glenda | 07.25.2007 | 8:26 pm

    AL M===DZ was “WHAT GAME PLAY” and totally HILARIOUS, it was sad to watch his diaries go…but CHRIS H rocks and the TOUR will prevail! It is hard to cheer for a winner but cyling will always be our LOVE! And to Susan and FC ===WIN~!

46. Comment by Debamundo | 07.25.2007 | 8:38 pm

    LanterneRouge,
    Okay, but his actions today backed up his words. I’m not a big Levi fan, okay. I think he can be a bit arrogant. But I just wanted to point out that today, if you watched the stage, he was really being a team player and it made me feel bad for the negative things I’ve said about him in the past. He was obviously sacrificing himself and his own ambitions today to work for Contador. That’s all I’m saying. The guy’s not a saint or anything. But today I saw him swallow his pride and work for the team. And as for seething inside, well, who wouldn’t be disappointed? At his age, it’s unlikely at this point that he will ever win. He realizes now that he’s going to have to be happy with the podium spot he’s likely to get this year, and even that will be a hollow win with everyone else being thrown out. I just felt for the guy today. That’s all. Everyone’s always bashing on these guys and they work SO HARD. And yeah, maybe he’s a doper like everyone else. Who knows. I just thought he showed some sportsmanship today and it’s something to be proud of.

47. Comment by Marty | 07.25.2007 | 9:08 pm

    Even dumber about Mayo, in the same week that druggies are been detected left, right and center in the Tour, Scott Bicycles reveals Mayos new bike, named?
    “Addict Limited” !!
    See here.
    http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/tech/probike.php?id=/tech/2007/probikes/tour_mayo_saunier_scott

    You can imagine what the public will think if mayo does well in a stage on THAT bike.
    Has eveyone gone crazy this year?

48. Comment by KatieA | 07.25.2007 | 11:04 pm

    Lins – Aust: I HATE those jerseys. They look like some architect (I was going to put in a nasty term there, but thought better of it on the FC Family Blog) designing the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre. What’s wrong with tradition??

    Born4Lycra – saw the 60 minutes story with Stewie, I love his quote “it’s a lot easier riding it from the hospital bed here…” And I’d forgotten Michael rode on with the dislocated shoulder. How DOES one actually ride with that?

49. Comment by MAJ Mike | 07.26.2007 | 3:34 am

    How to fix the tour?

    Answer: Put Bob Roll back on the bike.

50. Comment by neca | 07.26.2007 | 4:21 am

    I watch it every day, like some poor fool. The extended Phil & Paul version even. I tried watching the 8 pm, but there seems to be too much Al & not enough Bob for my taste. (Bob’s book is hysterical).

    E-E’s kit isn’t nearly as bad as some others. At least all the crazy Basque fans can spot them easily enough!

    Thoughts & Prayers with your family, FC.

51. Comment by Eufemiano Fuentes | 07.26.2007 | 4:23 am

    It is true, Rasmussen was summering at my italian villa while claiming to be in mexico. I told him to be truthful about his whereabouts, because there was nothing nefarious about the situation. We were actually just discussing politics, sipping chianti and playing backgammon the whole time.

    But, like all danes, he is a compulsive liar.

52. Comment by Mrs. C. | 07.26.2007 | 5:00 am

    Q1: Thanks for that! I did the double take early in the Tour to make sure it was just a bad design and not plumber’s crack, too. Just plain crazy.

    Q4a: Phil and Paul love to rip on Christoph Moreau any time he struggles in a climb, “poor old Moreau.”

53. Comment by Mrs. C. | 07.26.2007 | 5:10 am

    One more thing…Saunier Duval’s kit:

    The black chamois looks like a heart shape from the front bringing the eyes straight to their man-parts. Someone wasn’t thinking. And, yellow? Again, not thinking.

54. Comment by sans auto | 07.26.2007 | 5:59 am

    on the bright side, the yellow and polka dot jersey wearers were both candidates for the white jersey. So it’s the #3 “young” rider that gets to wear white. Maybe there is a clean future to this sport… or maybe the younger guys are better at covering thier doping or just haven’t been around long enough to leave a long trail of “doctors”.

55. Comment by bikemike | 07.26.2007 | 7:58 am

    doesn’t the cricket season start soon?
    how about lawn darts?

56. Comment by BotchedExperiment | 07.26.2007 | 8:01 am

    Fatty– eh, erm, uh, sorry about the Rasmussen thing. . .

    Sans, oh boy, that’s one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is that it was always guys around 30 that did well in the tour, and this year, every young guy climbs like a jet and time trials like a locomotive. The young guys are staying with older guys who are doping. . .

    Since it seems like most (if not all) the top guys are doping, and you certainly can’t tell a doper from a non-doper, PLEASE at least keep the interesting guys in the tour! 192 guys started the tour. 3 were interesting (Vino, DaveZ, Little Aussie Pocket Rocket Robbie Mc). All 3 gone.

    And another thing: Don’t shuffle the deck now! Yeah so Rasmussen’s dirty. Contador’s not?? If they sack Rasmussen for lying about his whereabouts, they should fire Contador for being Spanish, 24 years old, and leading the tour! That’s 3 strikes if you ask me.

57. Comment by Philly Jen | 07.26.2007 | 9:18 am

    LanterneRouge, Debamundo,

    Levi’s been a gracious, consummate professional after being put through a series of switchbanks: no Basso, yes Basso, no Basso, yes Contador. Both Leipheimer and Contador are a stark contrast to the Chicken, who actually said to the press,““There’s no doubt now about who’s the leader of my team…It was disappointing that Menchov couldn’t get his ar$e over the Galibier.”

    I guess the Chicken has egg on his face now.

58. Comment by Minneapollama | 07.26.2007 | 9:33 am

    Soler looks like Voldemort.

59. Comment by sans auto | 07.26.2007 | 9:42 am

    Botched,
    Such a pessimist. Can’t you see the bright side of anything? Don’t get me wrong, I agree with you completely, but I like to keep my blinders on and think that the next generation of pro cyclists will be clean. Sure the newbies shouldn’t be able to keep up with the experienced dopers, but I think it’s their youthful enthusiasm for the sport (I don’t really think that). This Tour stinks, I’m just trying to get excited for next year.

60. Comment by Clydesteve | 07.26.2007 | 9:57 am

    Al M – I did actually think “Whut Game Play?” was funny, and DZ did properly take it beyond the limit so as to make it so childishly ridiculous that it became funny again. I thought that was the real DZ, showing how he could, as you say clown around in the pelo and give everyone a chuckle. But I still think he gave sucky interviews for the most part.

    And, yes, it is incomprehensible to me that he was not allowed to use his old shoes and maybe put fake emblems from the new sponser on. I love that way that guy TTs, and I felt bad that he did not get a chance to shine on the TT stages.

61. Comment by tigermouth | 07.26.2007 | 11:35 am

    Re. doping: This just provides another TdF side issue to read and talk about. Sort of like when they added the Tour Tech updates or riders’ blogs. Helps keep people interested.

    Re. Phil and Paul: Why all the talk about Chris Horner this year? Do they have a crush on him? Did he bribe them? I suppose they feel a need to trumpet some American rider, but why did they pick Horner?

62. Pingback by Funny side of Tour de France and cycling. - FunEnclave | 07.26.2007 | 9:20 pm

    [...] YouTube – Yellow Jacket – N°3 Also have a read here, Fat Cyclist » Blog Archive » 5 Questions About the Tour de France Thus Far Fat Cyclist » Blog Archive » 2007 Tour De France Winner Stripped of Title i am sure you will love that video and those articles. _______________________________________ medpal’s Signature: medic on call!! [...]

63. Pingback by The Coach’s Box » Blog Archive » Le Tour: 2007 Review | 07.29.2007 | 6:02 pm

    [...] Best Find: Many might say that Alberto Contador has been the best find of the 2007 Tour, but though he won the GC & the Best Young Riders competition, I think that there’s another rider who has emerged as a future cult hero of the TdF. Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez. The man who “climbs like a spider”, has been the revelation of this years Tour. He’s come in & not taken note of any reputations, simply attacking as he sees fit on the huge mountain stages. Yes his climbing style has caused much humour amoungst the commentators, but you can’t laugh at winning the King of the Mountains classification. [...]

64. Trackback by france lead generation | 10.29.2007 | 11:01 pm

    france lead generation

65. Trackback by Can ritalin make you tired. | 03.23.2008 | 10:02 pm

    Slang names for ritalin.

    Ritalin. How is ritalin taken. Debates on ritalin. Ritalin inhaled lung damage. Buy ritalin. Ritalin pregnant.

66. Comment by Rick | 07.9.2008 | 12:40 pm

    Why are so many support vehicles needed. Many times I can’t see the riders for all of the motorcycles and cars. Doesn’t it allow the riders to draft of them and giving them an advantage.

67. Comment by dorean | 07.6.2009 | 1:13 pm

    the latest images and tour itinerary will be on display at the sears conference at 18 truman irvine with video display after the stephen sears attorney meeting.

68. Comment by Alexandra | 06.15.2010 | 4:15 am

    This year I would love to see the stages online, but haven’t found a website with live videos yet…

69. Comment by Patrick | 07.20.2010 | 9:01 pm

    Some years ago I heard a name that refers to the crazy fans (some in costumes) that run along with the riders in the mountains. Can’t remember what they are called, does anyone know?

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