Leader Rasmussen Kicked Off the Tour

BBC News ^ | 7/25/7

[The Pack Knight]

Amusing name association aside, it’s rather sad to see where this sport is going post-Armstrong.

[mmanager]

This is breaking news?

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

This is hügh!

[charming_harmonica]

It’s hardly worth following any more, all the top names are gone. Jan Ulrich, Lance Armstrong, Michael Rasmussen, Tyer Hamilton, Vino...I almost wouldn’t be surprised if they called off the whole thing.

[hardback]

Say it ain't so grand poulet!

[hardback]

Shocking that a man looking like this would be taking drugs!

[Voltage]

Perhaps 100 years ago Polka Dots were big?

[steveyp]

I haven’t followed as closely this year, but will Disco support Levi or that Contador fellow?

Both are positioned well to take the yellow.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I miss Merckx and Hinault.

[hardback]

It's all on the line in Saturday's time trial now...

New standings 1. Alberto Contador (Sp), Discovery 2. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, 1:57 3. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery, at 2:48 4. Carlos Sastre (Sp). CSC, at 6:02

[leilani]

Did you notice that over the years he seemed to have grown some real polka dots on his chest there?

[Leo Farnsworth]

It takes one tough mo-fo to earn the polka dot jersey - it’s worn by the ‘king of the mountains’ point leader.

Difficult work, that.

[Yossarian]

Hard core bicyclists often end up getting a “T-Rex” look: massive legs with shrinking chests and tiny vestigal arms....

[hardback]

Did I ever tell you that you are awesome!

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Hard core bicyclists often end up getting a “T-Rex” look: massive legs with shrinking chests and tiny vestigal arms....

---

Interesting image - good post!

[leilani]

Why, no. Didn't we just meet? When would you have had time? ;-)

I have the sneaking suspicion I know you from somewhere, but I can't put my finger on it quite yet......

[Steve_Seattle]

"I haven’t followed as closely this year, but will Disco support Levi or that Contador fellow?"

Since there are no more mountain stages, I expect the team will just play it safe and let both riders take their best shot against each other and against Evans in the final time trial. I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if Disco launched any kind of a serious attack in the remaining flat stages.

But if any rider is within a minute of the leader going into Sunday, we might actually have a race into Paris rather than the usual promenade.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

Oh, no. First Vino, now this. I feel sorry for whoever does win this year (young Contador, perhaps?) since there will always be that suspicion that they would not have been able to win if the “real” leaders had stayed in the race. A mess all around.

[Voltage]

Difficult is right! I bike about 1500 miles a year locally just to keep in shape and take off some weight. I can't even imagine where these guys get the energy to climb like they do...youth I guess.

Too bad there are so many 'drug' issues!