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Surprise! A Tour de France That Doesn’t Feel Like a Fait Accompli
WSJ ^ | 3 July 2019 | J. Gay

Posted on 07/05/2019 10:35:59 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT

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To: DUMBGRUNT

I know just where you mean, I’ve camped in Busse Woods. Sadly a death is often the only motivation that works. We have a trail crossing over a not-as-busy 4 lane and they told us “wait til someone builds out there and maybe they’ll put in a traffic signal”. IOW, commerce is a more persuasive argument than safety.


21 posted on 07/05/2019 12:28:35 PM PDT by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust the Plan.)
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To: crosdaddy; Steely Tom
red/black in the front

I should be 1/4 way back drafting, but this was a Roubaix, a split asphalt gravel road race.

I needed to see the pot holes to navigate. It sucks when you hit them unexpected over and over because you can't see them coming. Best to have line of sight. We were coming up to a right turn onto the dirt

Lined my rims and tire with talcum powder avoid pinch flats.

https://barry-roubaix.com/about-1

22 posted on 07/05/2019 12:29:14 PM PDT by Eddie01
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Doping and TDF

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_at_the_Tour_de_France


23 posted on 07/05/2019 12:30:06 PM PDT by deport
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To: wrcase
... can someone tell me why there are always a small number of cyclists who get way ahead of everyone at the start?

Primarily to provide their sponsors with visibility on television. However, they sometimes win the stage which greatly upsets the peloton.

24 posted on 07/05/2019 12:32:06 PM PDT by Bug
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To: bigbob

Err, it was Bliss Woods I was thinking of, which is out by Rt. 47. The trail there is the Virgil Gilman Nature trail and it’s a rail trail that runs 11.4 miles in Kane and Kendall County. Probably prettier and safer - it’s got bridges and all. Maybe the new Gov. will spend some of his new pot and jacked-up gas tax money so we can have nice things downstate too ;-)


25 posted on 07/05/2019 12:39:05 PM PDT by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust the Plan.)
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To: IronJack

Nice!

Thing is Jack, slow is not a speed we understand.

Best of luck with your TT time!

Ed D


26 posted on 07/05/2019 12:40:02 PM PDT by Eddie01
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To: Hot Tabasco

There was another difference, however. Armstrong was a TdF ‘specialist’ in that he didn’t really compete in any other major world cycling event. This probably made it easier for him to tailor his training, drug intake and cleansing routines to culminate in that one single event each year.

He somewhat evaded the random training testing done during the remainder of the year.


27 posted on 07/05/2019 12:47:26 PM PDT by Tallguy (Facts be d@mned! The narrative must be protected at all costs!)
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To: Tallguy
e didn’t really compete in any other major world cycling event.

Actually he did. Here's a time line of his cycling history......

Lance Armstrong time line

28 posted on 07/05/2019 1:17:33 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (I'm in the cleaning business.......I launder money)
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To: DUMBGRUNT
"WSJ ^ | 3 July 2019 | J. Gay" Wow. Lame article. Waste of time. Who is the audience for this silly article? People who wish to learn about bikes and France? The Tour de France starts Sat 7/6. Mr. Prudhomme designed the toughest race in 25 years. The lead will change every day. The talent is huge. Instead of two good climbers and two good sprinters, there are ten of each. Very few people can complete the Tour de France in three weeks. All riders are amazing. Funny how no one talks about Lance. And everyone is celebrating Merckx this year. Thankfully, Mercks is in a good mood this year and enjoys the fans.

Politically, NBC Sports is pushing women's cycling which is a waste of time. The best lady cannot beat the worst male rider at the junior level. Celebrating women's cycling is simple patronizing and kind of insulting to women. "We know you suck at Grand Tours so we shall pretend that you are cycling all-stars and give you air time."

The old timers from 1903 to 1930 would cycle with pork chops and wine.
29 posted on 07/05/2019 1:19:39 PM PDT by Falconspeed
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To: Falconspeed

If you go way back Big O and his team dominated!

And Big O was not one to trifle with!
After a particularly long tour, he returned home to find some trouble makers moving into his neighborhood.
Suffice it to say, he commenced to kicking ass and taking names.
The man was a legend!
Well into old age.

Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.


30 posted on 07/05/2019 2:06:44 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message.)
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To: bigbob

Maybe the new Gov. will spend some of his new pot and jacked-up gas tax money so we can have nice things downstate too ;-)

More like Gov Big Boy and his new best friends the unions, will snarf down the entire amount in a few quick bites.

Odd, that Gov Big Boy did NOT use union plumbers to remove his toilets for the tax discount?
Now they are BFF?


31 posted on 07/05/2019 2:14:51 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message.)
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To: Steely Tom

Surprise! A Tour de France That Doesn’t Feel Like a Fait Accompli
Oh, this is important.

Since you took the time to comment, perhaps you could tell us about the activities that you find important?

A short list would suffice.

Thank you.


32 posted on 07/05/2019 2:20:29 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message.)
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To: ifinnegan

Sponsored by Amgen.

Better living through chemistry.


33 posted on 07/05/2019 3:04:23 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message.)
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To: KC Burke

Oldest son and his wife are riders and I worry about them despite their very safety minded attitudes.

I know about the kids riding.
Our son has ridden a couple of solo coast to coast unsupported.

He was riding from Dupage Il to Huston Tx.
In Arkansas on a winding road after dark, a local fire chief pulled him over.
Told him too many cyclists are hit on this stretch of road.
And offered a ride into town, not a fire truck but a red Suburban with lights.
After seeing the road, he was very glad to have been given a ride.

Lately, he is more into running and mountain climbing, so less to worry about and way less than his USMC Infantry trips to Iraq.


34 posted on 07/05/2019 3:27:21 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message.)
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To: IronJack

I only saw the last one on your list (TeeJay), and:

Joseph Rosskoff
Chad Haga
Benjamin King


35 posted on 07/05/2019 3:29:15 PM PDT by Cecily
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Thanks fro this article. I would *love* to read it, but... do you know how to get beyond the stupid WSJ paywall?


36 posted on 07/06/2019 1:04:02 PM PDT by nutmeg (democRATs: The party of Infanticide, Open Borders, Crime, High Taxes and "Free" Sh*t)
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To: Ms. AntiFeminazi; Cecily; DUMBGRUNT; Bug; Eddie01; IronJack; KC Burke; Jolla; Hot Tabasco; ...
Looks like only a handful of us are posting about the TdF now on FR. Wish there was a daily thread like in the old days. (Sorry, I can't create or contribute to a daily TdF thread like I used to.)

Did anyone see yesterday's TdF with Phil and Bobke very enthusiastically interviewing Lance Armstrong?? He appeared on screen via satellite from Aspen, CO. Armstrong and his pal George Hincapie now do a daily (?) podcast about the Tour de France. Hincapie was apparently sitting next to Armstrong during yesterday's appearance on NBCSN.

Lance and George (and other Americans found guilty of doping, etc.) were *shunned* -- at least on air -- by the NBCSN crew for years. Lance Armstrong was Persona non grata.

Now the NBCSN crew is advertising Lance's podcast, and he appeared for a rather long interview during yesterday's race. I'm really puzzled by that.

Also: Does anyone know why this year's teams only have 8 riders? Didn't they have at least 9 in past years? Thanks.

37 posted on 07/10/2019 2:35:00 PM PDT by nutmeg (democRATs: The party of Infanticide, Open Borders, Crime, High Taxes and "Free" Sh*t)
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To: nutmeg

Lance Armstrong is a disgusting human being.


38 posted on 07/10/2019 2:43:32 PM PDT by Vision (Obama corrupted, sought to weaken and fundamentally change America; he didn't plan on being stopped.)
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To: nutmeg
It's too bad the European cycling competitors weren't subjected to the drug inquisition that Lance Armstrong was by the USADA.........

Whatever means that Armstrong was able to pass the many drug tests that the rest of the professional cycling community has had to under go, you can bet they used the same process to evade discovery.

Only the United States was able to bring down its own greatest TDF cyclist ever.............

39 posted on 07/10/2019 3:12:21 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (I'm in the cleaning business.......I launder money)
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To: Vision
Lance Armstrong is a disgusting human being.

Oh really? Why?

When you can tell me how many European cyclists were subjected to our own USADA to the extent that they finally discovered that Armstrong was using PEDS, then get back with me on how disgusting Armstrong is..........

The history of the European cyclists is rife with drug abuse.

40 posted on 07/10/2019 3:21:51 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (I'm in the cleaning business.......I launder money)
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