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The 100th Edition Of The Tour de France: Chirps, Opinions, News, Updates.


Pick the yellow and green jersey winners.  

305 members have voted

  1. 1. Who will reign in Yellow?

    • Froome Dawg (Sky)
      216
    • Contador (Saxo Tinkoff)
      53
    • A Schleck, Radioshack
      13
    • Evans (BMC)
      8
    • Uran (Sky)
      0
    • Tejay (BMC)
      3
    • Gesink (Blanco)
      0
    • Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp
      0
    • Valverde (Movistar)
      4
    • J Rodriquez (Katusha)
      2
    • Suprize package!
      6
  2. 2. Who will reign in Green?

    • Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
      178
    • Cav' (Omega Pharma Quickstep)
      104
    • Greipel (Lotto Bellisol)
      7
    • Bouhanni (FDJ)
      1
    • Goss (Orica-Greenedge)
      3
    • Surprize package?
      12


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Posted

Cavendish persona non grata at Dutch race

11 July 2013, 14:17

 

 

 

 

Britain's Mark Cavendish is no longer welcome at the Boxmeer Criterium in the Netherlands, Dutch news agency ANP said on Thursday, reporting that race organisers had withdrawn his name from the list of starters.

The decision follows a controversial incident in the 10th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday in which Dutchman Tom Veelers fell in the finishing straight.

Cavendish was accused of knocking Argos rider Veelers off balance with a shoulder during the sprint for the line, although he was given the benefit of the doubt by race commissaires.

Organisers of the one-day Boxmeer race, which takes place on July 22, the day after the final stage of the Tour de France, said, however, that they did not understand the decision.

"I saw the images of the sprint on the television and together with the committee I decided to withdraw Cavendish from our list of participants," organiser Twan Poels told NOS television.

"The jury may think that he was not responsible for Tom Veelers' fall. We think the complete opposite."

Some spectators vented their anger against Argos team rider Cavendish during the individual time-trial from Avranches to Mont Saint-Michel on Wednesday, with one spraying him with urine as he passed.

Posted

 

7. In the Tour of 1958 Andre Darrigade was in a collision with the then General Secretary of the Parc des Princes, Constant Wouters.

 

The Tour was finishing on the famous Velodrome when Wouters crossed the track to stop photographers encroaching too close.

 

The crash cost the life of Wouters. Darrigade cracked his skull and broke ribs, but was able to return and complete a lap of honour.

 

 

Wouter is not a good name it seems to have in cycling :mellow:
Posted

Why cant they find a km long straight for the race to finish on? Saw the boxmeer news but I think it might just be a publicity stunt.

Posted (edited)

Why cant they find a km long straight for the race to finish on? Saw the boxmeer news but I think it might just be a publicity stunt.

Ja, it is a little crazy... good test of riders skill and bravery, but chance for a crash must be significantly higher - and that puts everyone in jeopardy. With the Boxmeer race, if they are sanctioned it probably won't be allowed in theory as the UCI race judges found him not guilty? Edited by ChunkyMunky Lite
Posted

Ja, it is a little crazy... good test of riders skill and bravery, but chance for a crash must be significantly higher - and that puts everyone in jeopardy. With the Boxmeer race, if they are sanctioned it probably won't be allowed in theory as the UCI race judges found him not guilty?

 

Dont think those crits are sanctioned, up to organisers

Posted

After Cavs incident yesterday here is a list of 10 other incidents

 

1. The greatest ever - Eddy Merckx being punched in the stomach by a spectator on the Puy de Dome in the 1975 Tour. Watch on Youtube

 

2. Giuseppe Guerini being knocked off his bike by a spectator taking a photograph on the Alpe D’Huez during the 1999 Tour. Fortunately he picked himself up and still went on to win the stage. Video link Go to 1min 45 secs

 

3. The famous crash in Armentieres in 1994 when a policeman, again leaning out to take a photograph, was hit by Wilfried Nelissen, bringing down Laurent Jalabert as well.

 

The crash effectively ended Nelissen’s career. After this incident police were removed from those positions in the finish straight. Watch on Youtube Go to 21 mins 45 secs

 

4. Lance Armstrong crashing on Luz Ardiden in the 2003 Tour when his handlebar got caught in a spectator’s musette.

Go to 1min 10 secs

 

5. Tacks on the road is nothing new, making an appearance as long ago as 1903 when fans tried to sabotage riders. Similar incidents have occurred most recently in the Pyrenees last year. They also made a smaller appearance in Corsica last week.

 

6. Dogs make a frequent but unwelcome visit to the Tour, but none more dramatic than the 18th stage of the Tour to Angouleme in 2007.

 

Frenchman Sandy Casar was spectacularly felled by a wayward dog whilst in a breakaway. He remounted to go on and win the stage.

 

7. In the Tour of 1958 Andre Darrigade was in a collision with the then General Secretary of the Parc des Princes, Constant Wouters.

 

The Tour was finishing on the famous Velodrome when Wouters crossed the track to stop photographers encroaching too close.

 

The crash cost the life of Wouters. Darrigade cracked his skull and broke ribs, but was able to return and complete a lap of honour.

 

8. In 2006 coming into Strasbourg, Thor Hushovd, whilst sprinting to the line close to the barriers, was struck by a comically large sponsors cut-out-hand that you see fans waving.

 

The hand caught Hushovd on the upper arm causing a deep gash. Fortunately he still stayed upright and went on to finish 9th. As a result these huge hands were banned within the last 2kms of stages.

 

9. Strikes and demonstrations are also a frequent visitor to the Tour. Fortunately they are rare nowadays. Police intelligence has reduced the risk of the Tour being brought to a halt. However, historically it was an issue.

 

10. It was in 1983 in the Paris-Nice; in a break just coming off a mountain descent when the road was completely blocked by a demonstration of some kind. Bernard Hinault was in the group but he wasn’t going to let these people stop him, he ploughed straight into them, fell, got up and hit the first person he saw. The route was soon cleared and we were on our way again very quickly.

 

Of course it made headlines all over the world.

Cipolinni hitting the barriers in the '94 vuelta. I thought he was dead.

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