Posted on 07/19/2007 2:00:42 AM PDT by Aeronaut
Tour de France ping!
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“Versus” TV schedule:
Stage 11: Thursday, July 19, 2007 - Marseille to Montpellier
8:30am to 11:30am: LIVE Daily Coverage
12:00pm to 2:00pm: Race Action Replay
2:30pm to 4:30pm: Race Action Replay
5:00pm to 7:00pm: Race Action Replay
8:00pm to 11:00pm: Expanded Primetime Coverage
12:00am to 3:00am: Race Action Replay
Have they accused the American of cheating yet? ;)
No, they’ve only accused a German of cheating, just like they did Jan Ullrich (Germany), Ivan Basso (Italy), Bjarne Riis (Denmark, admitted), and a host of Spanish riders. I don’t buy into the excuse that the French are trapping the American riders; on the contrary, read Greg LeMond, Andy Hampsten or other American commentators on this topic.
It was meant more as a joke than anything. Watching the Tour helped keep me sane while recovering from a broken leg. I have no intent to disparage it.
I don’t mean to be your social or athletic “better” (I’m probably not on either case). Its just that when riders like Tyler Hamilton and Floyd Landis are accused of doping and cheating (I’m convinced in the former case and it sadly appears probable in the latter), the first thing they do is invoke a cheap nationalism that they are being “targeted” as Americans by the French officials.
The ‘defense’ is a natural reaction given the circumstances. It’s no excuse.
11.4 K neutral zone for today’s race. Start time at 1:10PM. About 30 minutes.
Dang, work gets in the way of so much.
Its almost time for Levi to Leapheimer the field.
LIVE RACE TICKERS:
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Tim Maloney, Cycling News's European Editor says:
Stage 11 is a classic Tour transition stage that heads due west from Marseille along the Mediterranean coastline to Montpellier and the heat and wind will likely play a role. A break should go early but the sprinters' teams will smell blood in the final 50 kilometres for a bunch gallop in Montpellier.
Climbs:
Km 38: Côte de Calissanne: 1.7 km climb @ 5.6 % grade / 4th Cat.
Sprints:
Km 31.5: La Fare-Les Oliviers
Km 96.5: Arles
Because they didn’t know where Rasmussen was three times he’s banned from the national team?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/6907568.stm
Hmmmm.
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