Daideron

I first saw this thread this morning, having not seen it before. This has been the most entertaining read I have had in a long time! It really has! Mtbaaisklist (Barry) thank you for your honesty. It was very refreshing to read, and gives a lot of insight into how these drugs work and how long they stay in your system. That in my eyes should be a deterent to any cyclist or athlete competing with hopes of furthering their career in a sport. However, you took the substances by your own admission, and the rules are the rules. My suggestion is this, surely you will be called to a disciplinary hearing before CSA? WADA/SAIDS? Surely there you can address the fact that you have admitted guilt, and that you will accept the fine, but seeing as it is not your profession and that you never had any claim to prize money, this fine should be wavered. I can understand the fine for a pro or an amateur, but in this case I personally feel a ban should suffice. I think the fine is (albeit the rule) uncalled for. Just my 2c You were a naughty boy Barry! Now tell me, I am now in my mid sixties and struggle with Arthritis in my hands, will Decadurabolin help with this? (Please see the humour in this, as I would hate for you to be the estate agent we will be using for my sons home in Brackenhurst!)

Pleasure!

Froome on Carte Blanche tonight according to the show info guide

Is this in Cape Town? And how did you go this morning if the dates are monday and tuesday? Sorry if I sound silly or have missed something

Good for you! The mind boggles as to how people just dump these beautiful animals. Marsie sounds quite appropriate, but without sounding like a whinge, just make sure its the last chocolate bar she has!! You have just found a loyal friend for life! Heartwarming!

Thank you Swissvan

@Swissvan, never a more true word has been spoken! Very true. Pardon my ignorance but has the list been made public?

RIP Joe, condolences to the family.

Do you really believe these guys obey the 'must have prescription for drug supply' rule?! They get them from dodgy chemists or suppliers. Reps have access to drugs as well. It could come from a whole host of places.

Now that its all raced and won, and before he does the 94.7, I would love to see Chris Froome as a guest on Top Gear! Have been secretly hoping they would have had either Sirs Hoy or Wiggins, but if Froome was a guest he could show some of his Joburg driving skills around Dunsfold!

He had a long and fruitfull career and was a great rider to watch. Loved his Paris Roubaix victory.

If I can just weigh in on this Cadel Evans debate...personally I am not a fan. He has never shown initiative like other great champions. In my eyes he almost seems to panic the second he see's the front of the race in the mountains. He always looks reluctant to pace, can follow wheels better than anyone and never seems to really commit to any attack. That said, the only year he never did any of these things I have just mentioned, he won the Tour. He rode aggressive and tactically. He actually took control and led the charge and forced the pace on the relevant mountain stages. Since the 2011 Tour, he almost seems like a weaker more frail rider. And I agree that from BMC's side, hiring all the big guns was not the way to go. Gilbert this year voiced up and spoke of his unhappiness at BMC. And rightly so, because he is a true champion. Why should he be left waiting at the finish of a stage because Evans is more important? Their (BMC) approach to their riders is sad. Tejay needs to get dropped on the mountains, have stages stolen from him in the last kilometer and suffer bad days. Because thats the only way he will learn and develop a hunger to be a decisive and dominant winner. Was the Alpe D'Huez stolen from him? No. Because that will never happen to him again because he will never let it happen, and it was a great lesson for him. The biggest lesson for BMC is that a big budget and fancy names does not guarantee a Tour win. They didnt even win a stage. Argos, AG2R and other small budget teams where the riders are valued and praised succeeded because of this very fact. Orica have this "matemanship" approach, and look how well it worked. Daryl extended his contract when he could have demanded a higher wage somewhere else. Gerrans' gesture of making sure Impey wore yellow was astounding! Would Evans have done the same for a teammate as a gesture? I think not. Nobody can criticise SKY for making the most of what they have been given. The got every pence worth of their budget if you ask me. My 2c

Happy Martin, I am wondering the same thing! Brailsfords comment during the interview last night about Froome, saying that he should have won last year, makes you wonder if there is a leadership problem there. Personally I was happy Wiggins won last year, but it was honestly a once off deal. The stars aligned and made it easier than most Tours by way of a lack of mountains for someone like Wiggins to win. Had he ridden this year, Wiggins would have been ridden out of contention on the first mountain stage, IMHO. SKY have incredible riders, and Froome has shown humility and tackled issues head on, in contrast to Wiggins who only did interviews when it suited him, threw his toys out of the cott if anyone dared ask anything about drugs and seemed more interested in trying to portray himself as a bad-boy Mod Rocker. So who will lead SKY? Froome looks able to repeat his victory, while Wiggins looks vulnerable and scared of downhills. (Not a good thing if you want to win Grand Tours) Another thing I noticed, and maybe I am just reading too much into this, but the guys on SKY seemed happier this Tour. Froome, Porte and the rest seemed to smile a lot more, and showed a good rapport within the team. Wiggins rarely smiled, and it seemed to filter down through the team. Butbagain this is just my opinion. Will be interesting to see what happens from here on in. Here's hoping Froome establishes himself a multiple tour winner, and Wiggins returns to the track and does what he does better than most, destroy records and win titles

Brailsfords comment regarding Froome, "he should have won last year" in the post race interview must have really upset Wiggins (if he was watching)

So are we taking bets as to which teams deck their bikes and riders out with flashing lights? Will SKY use yellowy spoke lights? It would be priceless if they all used flashing rear lights!!

Terrible terrible news. Whoever it was, may you rest in peace. May your family and loved ones know peace and comfort in this time. So sad.

Navardauskas if the break is not caught. Thats my pick for the stage. But Sagan if the bunch reels them in

I find the guys who run alongside and inbetween the riders and official cars/bikes incredibly annoying. By all means stand and cheer, but this running alongside and screaming in their ears is dangerous. Just look at Froome, he spends most of his time with his head down. I just worry that someone causes an accident, which will possibly effect the outcome. But it will never stop. As long as they climb the Cols the spectators will be there! Thats why we love the Tour!

They will need a calendar to work out how far back the sprinters are

Well done Froome!

I agree Christie, Froomes constantly looking down! I just cringe when he is looking down riding through those crowds.

ChunkyMunky, I agree with you, but I just switch off to be honest. I just saw comments about doping and I would have to go back to see who they were referring to! I could care less. If someone returns a positive test, it wont spoil my life or my enjoyment of the sport! I agree that people seem more interested in fighting than just enjoying it. Sad really. It is afterall just a bicycle race!

At least Cavendish can see the funny side of it all

Worry about the doping if it happens. Not before. Its their loss, not ours if they do. I feel like more people are concerned with the negative. Just enjoy it for what it is, sport. Dont make a scandal before there is one. Thanks for the Boep insight! Must be some big lungs!!

Did anyone esle notice Contadors chunky belly in the TT yesterday? At first I thought I was seeing things, but several of the side shots showed he is carrying a boep! I had to look twice but he definately had some extra weight there. Must be clean these days, the Clenbutorol seems a distant memory as does his ability against the clock. Think they are related?!