Le Tour de France

[TakeWarning]

Starts tomorrow and I for one can't wait.

Last few years have been different without Armstrong's domination but still very much worth watching.

I'm going for Cadel Evans this year, and I think he'll win it; riders like Sastre and Valverde have been around for a few years now and have never really looked like they were going to win it, but Cadel has put in some really convincing performances over the past three years.

Who else is everyone going for and who do you think will win it this year?

[4yearpro?]

whoever does the first backflip will win

[Pebster49]

holy crap, I didn't know it was starting soon

[Alf™]

Yeah, rooting for Evans, just because he is Australian, and deserves it.

[Sunshine]

Goddamn do I hate the Tour de France.
But only 'cause my dad watches it in the morning and my mom at night, so for 3 weeks straight for 8 hours a day that damn bike race is on which means no music, movies, TV or playstation.

But no.
I'm actually glad Lance hasn't been in for awhile.
It gets kind of annoying OMGZ AMERICAN WINS AGAIN.

[Alf™]

Evans into 2nd now, very nice position for him.

[TakeWarning]

Great ride today from both Valverde and Evans. And Ricardo Rizzo, but he won't be too much to worry about for the race favourites.

I think Evans is in a very good position at this early stage. He has more than a minute on Valverde and Menchov, and although Kim Kirchen is ahead of him, I can't imagine him staying with Evans an the big climbers in the Pyrenees.

[Surtr]

I've been trying to watch this, but I keep sleeping in by accident and missing it.

[JohnXDoe]

i've been curious so i'll ask you guys who might follow the sport

are the riders "juiced?" have they been in the past? do you think Lance Armstrong was "juiced?"

maybe at first he would do it to help regain strength after his cancer. that i can understand. i think if that is so he may have seen the benefits / competitive advantage it might give him and kept at it even if he didn't need it

what is the word in the bike racing world? is the sport dirty or clean?

[Alf™]

The sport is pretty dirty. Lots of positive tests and disqualifications. But many riders are clean, it's the few that give the sport a bad name. The word is 'taking drugs'.

[Alf™]

Pretty interesting last few days coming up. Last time trial will make or break the winner. Go Cadel.

[TakeWarning]

Hells yeah.

He got 1:24 on Sastre on the first time trial. He needs 1:35 and tomorrow's time-trial is nearly twice as long, so it's looking good.

[Alf™]

Going to be a long night watching the tour, tonight :).

[Alf™]

Carlos Sastre to win the Tour, after his great ride in last nights time trial. Cadel Evans to again come second.