[nutmeg]

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.

[Vision]

Lance Armstrong is a disgusting human being.

[Hot Tabasco]

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.............

[Steve_Seattle]

There are only 8 riders because they changed the rules; why, I don't know. To save the teams money? For a less-crowded field and fewer crashes?

As to why Armstrong and Hincapie are being allowed to emerge from exile, perhaps it's because American participation in the Tour is at a 30 or 40 year low, and they are trying to build the American television audience.

[IronJack]

The UCI cut back on the team sizes this year. Supposed to make it more competitive.

I watch Armstrong's podcast every day. It's mostly a lot of gibberish, with no organization and a lot of rambling. Which is interesting enough in itself, but doesn't add much to the overall sense of the Tour.

And Phil Liggett has always been an Armstrong fan, so it doesn't surprise me that he and Bobke brought Lance on for that interview. Lance will never fully redeem himself, but he's clawed his way back into some semblance of respectability for most people.

And love him or hate him, he knows bicycle racing.

[llevrok]

I was surprised by the Armstrong interview. It seemed very awkward on Phil and Bob’s part. I question why they had him on as an expert for the race. It just seemed strained and strange.