Le Tour!

[TANGODANCER]

Wiggins's opening few words when handed a mic on the Champs Elysee after collecting trophy: "and now we're going to draw the tickets for the raffle". (or words to that effect). Absolute classic!! I wonder how that translated???!!!

Or, in best Colin Crompton mode: "The pies have come"

[Il Pirate]

its difficult to get across how huge Le Tour is,


And it's even bigger than that. Superb work by Sky today. Cavendish ? I cannot praise enough. Who would of thought a predominately football orientated broadcast company (and Bond villianesque set up, apparantly, so I've been told allegedly) would provide the financial platform for a British TdF Winner? Funny old world innit? But as a clubman cyclist since 1970, I'm loving every minute!

Cycling has really taken off in the UK over the last 10 years and it's going to go stratospheric if Wiggans hangs in there. I'm really chuffed for folks like you IP who were voices in the wilderness of what was a tiny sport in the UK all them years ago. Have you read Matt Seatons book, The Escape Artist? It's a good read featuring competitive cycling in the UK in the 70s

I haven't read that Harry, but will certainly check it out. Couldn't have been prouder yesterday. I know comparisons are redundant really, but the wanderers winning the champions league would come close to the feeling...............

[Andy Waller]

Wiggins's opening few words when handed a mic on the Champs Elysee after collecting trophy: "and now we're going to draw the tickets for the raffle". (or words to that effect). Absolute classic!! I wonder how that translated???!!!

Or, in best Colin Crompton mode: "The pies have come"

GIVE ORDER!!

[Annoyed Grunt]

So, Lance Armstrong isn't going to fight the doping charges and will probably be stripped of his 7 Tour titles.......seems a bit strange if he is innocent of doping, why not fight to clear your name?

[Montreal Wanderer]

So, Lance Armstrong isn't going to fight the doping charges and will probably be stripped of his 7 Tour titles.......seems a bit strange if he is innocent of doping, why not fight to clear your name?

He says because he is tired of it all - he's been fighting for years. He says he has been cleared by hundreds of negative doping tests and no positive ones. Any evidence against him is testimony from teammates. His case was supported by the international cycling body who may take it to CAS. This is understandable (although this doesn't mean I think he is innocent)

[H. Pedersen]

A hero's life and reputation are ruined, based on the testimony of cheat and liar Floyd Landis.

It's a national disgrace.

[Wandering Willy]

A hero's life and reputation are ruined, based on the testimony of cheat and liar Floyd Landis.

It's a national disgrace.

Or he's guilty of cheating and taking drugs.

In which case, as you say, it's a national disgrace.

[H. Pedersen]

Maybe, but he never failed a drug test despite being the most-tested athlete in history. Stripping him of his titles based on the word of guys like this is just an embarrassment.

[CAPSLOCK]

Haven't they re-tested his samples with new test methods?

[Montreal Wanderer]

Haven't they re-tested his samples with new test methods?

Have they? And if so, what did they find? Sources please.

[jimbo]

Apparently urine samples from the 1999 tour were re-tested in 2005 for EPO as a study into more modern and different techniques. L'equipe got hold of the study data, found that some of Armstrong's tests were positive and published it. There were so many holes in it though that no conclusion could be drawn, and I'm pretty sure Armstrong successfully sued L'epuipe on the back of it.

[H. Pedersen]

Even re-testing samples with new methods seems questionable here, unless you're going to do it for every athlete who has ever competed at a high level.

[CAPSLOCK]

But you said

Maybe, but he never failed a drug test despite being the most-tested athlete in history. Stripping him of his titles based on the word of guys like this is just an embarrassment.

That's not the case, is it?

[CAPSLOCK]

And now 11 of his team mates are telling lies

Either that, or he's a cheat

[Montreal Wanderer]

It does appear to be a case of 'neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail' shall keep the the US postal Service from delivering their packages.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

It does appear to be a case of 'neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail' shall keep the the US postal Service from delivering their packages.

especially 'the sleet'.

[Lord Kangana]

There was a programme on a while back about how they still have samples of every US athlete from the '84 Olympic Games. You know the one where The US team was on home soil and under huge pressure to win outright. Well anyway, the lab started retesting them with modern methods and up-to-date knowledge (anonymously, they say) and when they got to about 50, all positive, gave up and put pandorra back in her box for fear of the maelstrom they might unleash.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

There was a programme on a while back about how they still have samples of every US athlete from the '84 Olympic Games. You know the one where The US team was on home soil and under huge pressure to win outright. Well anyway, the lab started retesting them with modern methods and up-to-date knowledge (anonymously, they say) and when they got to about 50, all positive, gave up and put pandorra back in her box for fear of the maelstrom they might unleash.

I believe (but have no evidence for) that all sports have cheats using drugs. I don't think football is exempt from this premise.

[Lord Kangana]

I'd agree. I don't believe in mairacles, in sport or any other walk of life.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I suppose the difference is that all the drugs in the world wouldn't make Darren Pratley a good footballer. But they could make him a good cyclist or runner.