Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms 'le Tour'

Rather than clog - up the 'Trad Area'; which I'm pleased to say is the fastest growing 'Area' on the Board! I thought I would carry on with Chris's comment re the current Tour here.

The 'Tour' is an institution, there are Bad Apples in every Sport where there is money to be made; or depends on it to survive. The comments made by a certain 'Brit' whilst, to a degree are understandable, from his personal'Profesional' point of view. They were in my opinion disrespectful to the over - whelming majority of the participants. As a cyclist myself, a mere 80 miles aweek, I'm amazed anybody can withstand the 3 weeks of the 'Tour' without resorting to some form of extra assistance; in my case it would be a moto - cycle!

Vive la Tour!

I agree absolutely. Has to be one of the most gruelling events of any type anywhere. And to see them covering 55k today in a fraction over an hour after 3 weeks on the road was amazing.

I said that it was disappointing because I really really hoped that they would have been able to avoid the doping fiasco of last year. I was rooting for Floyd Landis last time and was hugely disappointed that he tested positive - though the subsequent posturing hasn't endeared him to many.

Watching Rasmussen on Wednesday this year reminded me of Landis's comeback stage win last year, and so I wasn't entirely surprised to see him pulled out afterwards (though for quite different reasons ostensibly).

But a great spectacle indeed.

Robert with respect, your post appears disingenuous. There is a major crisis in Le Tour and having been at a reception at the French Embassy last night, the majority French opinion was definitely that the view in Liberation was correct and that the Tour should be pulled for some years until the sport is cleaned up.

This may happen anyway as I can't believe that sponsors such as Rabobank, who are rumoured to have sponsored Rasmussen's team with $15 million, will be keen to carry on with an event that has become so tainted with drug scandals and the concomitant negative publicity.

Aeroman

Morning Brian, I agree that the Tour faces a major crisis in terms of Sponorship/Funding and this could have a major impact on next years event. Cycling is a sport enjoyed by millions including me. The Tour is not the only cycle race in the world and I'm sure the Tour and the Sport will survive.

I think there is a lot of hypocrisy concerning the Tour, because the 'wrong doing' is discovered during the race; what other Endurance Event lasts three weeks in the public view? In other sports it's 'old news' so lose it on the back page.

I for one still admire 'Tail End Charlie' whoever that maybe this afternoon, I donot believe that the commitment of the vast majority of the riders should be so lightly and cheaply dismissed by the Pundits.

I don't know about our friends in the 'CD', but the reports received from Madame, who with virtually the entire population of the Commune was present for yesterdays Stage, the local support and passion for the Tour remains unabated.........

As an on-looker with no real knowledge or understanding other than that picked up from the media, I feel that cycling seems particularly tainted by the drugs issues.

I also do not agree nor sympathise when faced with a 'the media always pick on us and its endemic elsewhere' type of argument. Common sense tells me that if it is known that 'a few' (as opposed to the odd one)are using banned substances in a sport then others on the cusp will also follow suit in the pursuit of that competitive edge. I am also conscious of the fact that the organisers whilst keen to clean up the sport will also be working hard to 'limit' the amount of negative publicity (as in most if not all other sports).

The crux of the matter is that whilst I (and the majority like me?) admire the fitness strength and durability of the cyclists (and Iron Men and boxers and sprinters etc...) I will always be sceptical and dismissive until this is more controlled.

All IMHO and just my 2p worth from an armchair casual observer.

BtG

Morning Robert, whilst I agree with much of what you say about cycling, the issue is Le Tour and the damaging effect that it has in general on the sport.

I feel that until the organisers have a clear zero tolerance policy on drug-taking, the Tour will continue to diminish in prestige and popularity. Rasmussen's 'wrong doing' was before the race in that he did not comply with the testing regime and yet he was allowed to start and it was apparently his own team-members who shopped him, and the Team manager did then act promptly.

British Cycling have shown what needs to be done and we now await a similar policy statement from the Tour organisers, so that it can once again take it's place as one of the great annual sporting events:

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/bcf/News2007/20070727_british_cycling_statement.asp

Incidentally, according to media reports there was a much reduced crowd in Paris and this accords with what the young French guy who works for us says happened in his village when the tour came through when he was on leave...

Evening Brian, nearly missed your Posting!

I agree with you in that the 'overall' publicity for the 'Tour' and Professional Cycling is not good, but who is to Blame at the end of the Day? The ICU who allowed Rasmussen to avoid the statutory testing and get away with it, the Danish Cycling Federation who allowed a 'Mexican' Registered Cyclist to represent their country on the basis of his 'Birth Right', but not subject to the same controls as his own Countrymen! The Team/The Organisers, The Sponsors? We all hear 'whispers' in our our Professional and Social Lives, but do we act on it ? No we consider the consequences of such an action.

You mentioned 'his team shopped him', I heard it was pressure from the the Sponsor; whoever it was surely the fact that 'people' are willing to take a stand, if belatedly, against the 'Cheats' is a Positive Sign. If 'Rabo' pull out next year, it won't be that much of a surprise considering the adverse publicity and their 'poor ranking' in the final results this year. The Team 'Directeur Sportif' will definately be looking for a another position.

Next week the similar format 'Tour of Germany' starts how much media attention will that attract? Exactly Zilch!.....

I believe the Tour has problems, but what other sport hasn't, whether Amateur or Professional. We can only learn from past experience and ensure that it is not repeated: the Tour as a commercial enterprise will I am sure take heed, but will the various 'politically' motivated governing bodies take notice that is another question! I would also include in that the 'biggest joke' of all the Olympic Committee!

As regards a 'fall in Spectator numbers', I can only go on the information received from my 'close sources which is, as far as the Charente is concerned, contrary to your information.

I close with Vive la Tour!

Kind Regards and lets continue this discussion over lunch in September ......................

Good idea, I'll be back for the commencement of your own 'Le Tour'.

Tour went past the end of our lane again - a local wag had changed a sign from 'Tour de France' to 'Bike Ride Through England'. General consensus from locals was that it was a 'fun' diversion, but a general feeling of 'is that it?' once the cyclists had gone past.

More focused feeling from those of us who are self employed / have own companies was anger at the way the county was bisected for most of the day. A friend was turned back from an event he was running by a copper from outside the area, plonked at a local crossroad. Before the tour had even started in London, he was preventing everyone from going across the route.

Funny thing was that the route itself was still open - my friend backed all the way up the single track lane, took a few turns and was able to drive back down exactly the same road he was prevented from crossing earlier (waving politely to the Woodentop on the way past)...