Anybody following the Tour this year? I got into it last year, helped by the excellent commentary by Phil Ligget on the Aussie broadcasts.

Anyhow, this would be the thread for all things le tour. Discuss.

I'll be following the inevitable drug controversy. High drama I tell you.

Nah, the Tour's been largely irrelevant over the last 15 odd years. It's little more than a test of whose got the smartest doctor.

Aside from Armstrong every winner from 1996 to now has been disqualified for substance abuse, which is pretty damning.
If you want to see the best cyclists in the world, follow the UCI mtb world cup (complete with British champions in the Downhill) or the Time Trials.

fix-the-spade:
Nah, the Tour's been largely irrelevant over the last 15 odd years. It's little more than a test of whose got the smartest doctor.

Aside from Armstrong every winner from 1996 to now has been disqualified for substance abuse, which is pretty damning.
If you want to see the best cyclists in the world, follow the UCI mtb world cup (complete with British champions in the Downhill) or the Time Trials.

agreed. When last year the Meninite got DQ'd I was like, "Yup, this thing is just BS now".
This thing became too corporate, and what with all the "teams" and infighting, it's just a big bycicle wank fest.

While full of dopefiends, t'is fun to watch. Haven't really been into all the pre round leading up to the Tour, so no favorite for me this year.

The drug controversies are unfortunate, but they're the small minority at the pointy end of the field.

Anyhow, I just love all the tactical moves that go on.

I followed it a bit this year. Them tall mountains would probably kill me.