Trackz

Wasn't it a similar unfounded comment by an Italian that got Mr Rasmussen kicked off the Tour de France? Seems discrediting and badmouthing is the next big thing in cycling ... only they are way behind ... its been happening on TheHub for ages!

What a shock. RIP and condolences to the family.

Whatever you do please also contact Clint Curtis from Finish Line Cycles @ 011 391 6912. Ryan lived in this area, I often saw him on the roads here and Clint coached Ryan through his junior years and has maintained regular contact. Sure they'd be keen to be part of something.

Good points for imagination but riding up the Galibier, Aubisque & Alp d'Huez ... is not the same as riding up Kowyns Pass.

This has to be the best publicity stunt in the history of the TDF. Rabobank has got what they wanted out of this tour already. Fantastic exposure from chicken in yellow for half the tour, the team on the front of the peleton every day all day and now the crowning glory to prove how ethical they are ... withdrawing the tour leader on suspicion. They couldn't have gotten better publcity if they had planned it. Off course the risk of letting chicken continue and turn the TDF into a Floyd farce again would have damaged Rabobank tremendously ... who cares about the win in Paris ... they got what they wanted ... publicity.

At this rate I hope we have riders left for the final stage!!!!

The organisers are in a tight spot. They will look silly if they don't ask Cofidis to go. It will only lend credibility to the myth that the press & organisers go out of their way to expose or discriminate against non-French teams. Can't wait to see what L'Equipe reports on this one!!!

Please forgive my pessimism on a lovely day but unless the local guys go live and race in Europe they will never get to the same level. Its a very different ball game over there. Barloworld will probably take the young talent from SA and base them into a "development" squad in Europe (like many of the other top teams) and if they good enough they will make their way into the big races. You can't go train Suikerbosrand and expect to even survive any of the Cat 2 climbs in France. You gotta ride those mothers every day!

Absolutely brilliant. Few have worked harder for their glory than this man. When the dust settles tomorrow consider how he moved to Europe to follow his dream in his early 20s ... he knew the only way to make it a reality is to go where the best race the best. Today he achieved that dream. What a story for him and Team Barloworld. I'm starting training again tomorrow!!!

He has no doubt worked bloody hard for this moment and deserves every accolade coming his way, especially considering how fantastic he rode for Landis last year with nothing to show! Somehow justice has been served!!! Robbie you biscuit!!!

Well done Barloworld and thanks to the commentators for reminding everyone its a South African team! No doubt this will put an extra 2 yards into Robbie's legs for the sprints the next few days! PS: I rode the Telegraphe & Galibier in 2006 and it took me more than twice as long to get to the top. These guys are amazing!!!

16:15 CEST It would be good for the riders to have some distraction, like a turn ... ... now that defines BORING!!!

I've gone to ride & watch the past 2 years. Most awesome experience!!! Missing this year due to investing too much leave into Cape Epic and taking the family to the US (blame Cape Epic). Will be back in the Alps 2008 for sure!!! I wing it. Rent a car (aircon a must during July), stay in cheap hotels (last year I nearly died without hotel aircon) and live like the locals out of Carrefour stores. Ride mostly MTB into the forests & mountains around the race route , ride some of the big & famous climbs (on my MTB ... very hard work but I klap the roadies on the decent) and then join the TDF circus for a day or two. Plan my trips in detail on Google Earth & my trusted GPS. PM me if you want more info ... I think I have loads more fun than the official tour groups but I do tend to live a bit like a bergie when I travel.

Whatever you decide ... she's going to have an awful lotta fun!!!

The latest LX is probably not much worse than XT from 2 years ago. My son has LX/XT on his GT and has the smoothest most reliable changing I've seen. For what its worth I would question the hardtail decision though. We all have our brand preferences (Spaz man here) but you need not look any further than GT/Raleigh for best value for money.

really? do you use a/an AN in front of an abreviation like MTB? :-) sorry trackie ... English is my 3rd language.

The pre-selected teams were already announced in Dec 2006 and one can only suspect the doping issues that kept the team out of TDF 06 were still in the air, negatively influencing a pre-selection. With Vino & Kloden in the team they are difficult not to include as they will no doubt be looking for stage wins hence I believe them to be an obviously "late" entry.

... only one problem ... they won't fit a MTB ... Looks stunning!

Stuff the bikes they ride ... what a TDF feast we have in stall this year ... hopefully a cleaner tour, a SA sponsored team, hopefully at least 2 South African riders (most ever), a great contest like in the Giro ... and off course the stunning Alps ... I can't wait!!!

Guys you gotta go ride those mountains to know what its like. I can't see any local boys making inroads on those climbs. If you interested in seing for yourself ... PM me ... looking to go join LeTour for the 3rd year in a row ... Pyrenees this year!

I respectfully disagree with those learned people here ... IMHO ... and after seeing this on the big hills on Epic ... running and especially hill training is very beneficial to cycling strength to the extent I would suggest cyclists replace a cycling session with a hill running session. I have seen several strong runners (Nick incl) klap cyclists on the hills with little cycling training. I have a theory on this ... I read the comments on LAT yesterday and not being able to get a 2nd session as hard as the first. My theory is that not everyone, few in fact, can push themselves to the levels on the bike required for proper strength training. Firstly due to not being able to endure the pain or burn and secondly because there is always another gear to rescue us. In hill running there is no escape ... you burn and you suffer to the top without escape. IMHO ... get out those running shoes and hit the hills once a week. At least give it a go and see what diffs it makes. I suspect we'll all be surprised. Bikemax ... how about you take a couple of average cyclists of similar ability and have half the group do hills on bikes and the other running hills and compare power gains after 4-6 weeks? So next time you see a bloke in cycling bibs running up hills in Pretoria ... stop and greet me!

I see the T-Mobile doctors are now also off that team. I think the guys are onto something here ... the message could not be any clearer... if there is even a hint of a suspicion ... you're the weakest link ... goodbye!

The sport of cycling and the big Tours are simply way bigger than any doping crisis or any individual - you just need to go ride in Belgium, Holland & France to see this. Some sponsors may get cold feet from being associated with drugs (and understandably so) but there are many others waiting (in Europe) to lap up the exposure & TV coverage they can get from sponsoring cycling teams in the big races. As for me ... I couldn't care less if the dopers didn't race. Look how exciting it was last year without the big names. I'll still be in France every July to join the biggest sporting circus on earth!!! Vive Le Tour!!!

... sneak past in the neutral zone to where you think you belong ... after Day 1 you'll settle into your proper group ... then I again I'm thinking MTB multiday ... I guess with roadies you need a wheel to suck onto and tactics matter. Oh well .. have fun and say hi to my favourite cycling lady ... Fiona.

... probably lets a bike shop service the bike as well ... now thats taking trust to a new level