2/3 of the Way Done…..Here are the Big Stories
Tour 2/3 Complete, but Just Getting Interesting
12 stages are complete in the 2007 Tour de France, and there are only a few more chances for the leaders to show us what they have. So far it has been a race of attrition. The contenders have been content to just sit back and let some others crash out or do something to use up more energy. This tactic has worked well for Levi Leipheimer, Alejandro Valverde, and Cadel Evans. The problem is that this wait and see tactic has given hope to riders that should be out of the competition by now. Michael Rasmussen the current yellow jersey owner, has hopes of winning in Paris. Normally, he is well out of contention by now. Andreas Kloeden is still within striking distance. With a broken tailbone, the contenders should have put him out of reach by now.
There are only 5 more chances for the best rider to come out and show us who is boss. There are three tough mountain stages and two time trials left on the map. The time trial tomorrow is crucial, because it will determine how hard the riders need to work in the mountains. Good time means less stress in the mountains. Not so good time means that you must attack early, which is very dangerous. Watch out for Cadel Evans in the time trial. He is not the best time trial rider in the field, but he is very strong on hilly courses. Tomorrow is anything but flat, and Cadel could take over the race. Also, one of the strongest riders left in contention is Alberto Contador. He is fast. Tomorrow he will time trial in his white, best young rider’s jersey, but he will be hoping to trade it in for yellow at the end of the day. Don’t count him out.
Chicken Kicked Off of National Team
The chicken, Michael Rasmussen, has been kicked off of his national cycling team. This all comes from the suspicion that has followed Mr. Chicken for his strange training methods. He has been rumored to be one of the “Men in Black” that train in non-team apparel. The accusation is that the rider rides in non-identifiable gear, so that drug testers will not be able to spot him. He also seems to have a problem with informing the testing agency of his whereabouts. Rules state that riders need to submit a calendar that details where he will be training, so that testers can stop by for surprise doping tests. People are also confused as to why he was training in Mexico just before the start of the Tour de France. Chicken says it was because there are high altitudes to carry out his training, but other than Floyd Landis, I am not sure anyone has done last minute training outside of Europe. It didn’t work out so well for Floyd, so Rasmussen should be careful.
T-Mobile Reformed?
Is the T-Mobile squad really reformed? They have had a doping past, but they say that the new testing procedures have eliminated doping from the team. Maybe it isn’t as foolproof as they thought. They are the only team to have a rider suspended during the Tour for non-negative test results. Patrik Sinkowitz tested positive for synthetic testosterone. You can’t expect everyone to be clean in this sport, but my only question is why he was allowed to start the Tour. His sample in question was taken a full month before the Tour began. We knew about Floyd’s positive test within 48 hours after he won in Paris; why did it take 40 days to get results for Sinkowitz. Looks like T-mobile testing procedures are good………..but very slow.
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