The protest . . .

[eriksbliss]

I saw video of the "protest" at the Tour this morning, with some teams -- the French and Germans -- holding back at the start to make a point about other teams' attitudes towards doping, but other teams starting on time, and the riders who left on time had to weave their way one-by-one through the staying teams who were sitting up on the line, so that you could see each jersey slowly pull through and away from the jerseys that were sitting still. And as I watched this parade of the morally questionable past the stillness of the morally stout, my overwhelming reaction was: "Wait, Française des Jeux is actually in the Tour this year? I wouldn't have known."

[adam]

More interesting is who was in that protest - Cofidis?

[Blaireau]

I think -- judging by the refreshingly angry comments of their managers -- Credit Agricole, AG2R; Cofidis.....

Also Gerolsteiner (sp.) I think joined a newly formed group of teams "for clean racing" or something like that.

I wish there was more coverage on this.

[Randomus]

The protest was great and all, but...

an Italian rider on a French team tested positive (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/news/?id=/news/2007/jul07/jul25news5) after stage 11. :rolleyes:

[Blaireau]

And as I watched this parade of the morally questionable past the stillness of the morally stout, my overwhelming reaction was: "Wait, Française des Jeux is actually in the Tour this year? I wouldn't have known."

What's funny is that by saying this you are making their point.....

[Blaireau]

The protest was great and all, but...

an Italian rider on a French team tested positive (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/news/?id=/news/2007/jul07/jul25news5) after stage 11. :rolleyes:


Yeah, the protest was tricky to watch, because at once I felt that it was a good thing that at long last the public was booing the teams that refused to join this anti doping demonstration. On the other hand, it is a given that many -- if not all -- of the riders who are protesting are also doping..... Cycling is really dialectical these days.... :)

[harlond]

What's funny is that by saying this you are making their point.....The point of the protest was that FdJ is having a terrible TdF?

[Blaireau]

The point of the protest was that FdJ is having a terrible TdF?

No. Their point is roughly, "We are not doping. Other teams are, its not fair and its killing the sport." If it is true that they are not doping, then this would explain why they are having what you call "a terrible TdF."

[eriksbliss]

What's funny is that by saying this you are making their point.....

Yeah, maybe. But the protest was ostensibly "led" by CA, and they've won a stage.

FdJ may be clean, but they also just suck.

[chipcom]

No. Their point is roughly, "We are not doping. Other teams are, its not fair and its killing the sport." If it is true that they are not doping, then this would explain why they are having what you call "a terrible TdF."

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Cofidis returned from their protest against doping to discover that one of their riders had been popped for doping. Nice. :rolleyes:

[ggg300]

ha ha!!

[Jinker]

Yeah, maybe. But the protest was ostensibly "led" by CA, and they've won a stage.

FdJ may be clean, but they also just suck.

Nice jerseys though. If you're not going to wear a leader's jersey, you may as well be stylin.

[harlond]

No. Their point is roughly, "We are not doping. Other teams are, its not fair and its killing the sport." If it is true that they are not doping, then this would explain why they are having what you call "a terrible TdF."That's a big if, and by no means a sufficient explanation. Moreni, after all, was two hours down. Was he at the protest?

[acoldspoon]

I thought the protest was a beautiful moment on an otherwise ugly Tour. I'm holding out a trace of hope that this may one day be remembered as a defining moment. The moment the riders who weren't doping, or didn't want to keep doping, took it upon themselves to clean up the sport. This is the only way professional cycling can really survive.

http://www.velonews.com/vntv/?Art_ID=1372

[donrhummy]

According to Voigt Cofidis organized the protest. VERY, VERY telling.