Professional Cycling For the Fans - Tour 2007

I know drugs have a stranglehold on this sport and everytime a rider test positive it just makes you sick.

However, as a fan of the tour, that has watched every stage for the last couple years, even before I owned a bicycle; I must say I really felt empty at the end of last year's tour. I believe it was the right thing to remove Rasmussen, but when they did it, there was a time trial and 3 flat stages left. I really think Evans & Levi made have riden much different races had they not been forced to chase a drugged up Rasmussen up the hills and instead just had to worry about Contador. Also Contador probably would have riden a different race if he didn't have use himself up chasing Rassmussen.

Also, I miss the team time trial. I realize that Discovery use to dominate it, but I thought it was a great stage and was fun to watch and showed the strengths of the teams. I know Discovery used to gain tons of time, but with them disbanded, I would like to see them bring it back.

Thoughts?

I love the TTT and will enjoy it at Road Atlanta during the Tour de Georgia. After following the Landis case and seeing how the Mayo case is being screwed with, I will never put any credibility on any testing done by the Chateau/Mabry lab. A bunch of high school students could do better with microscopes and slides. Also, those testing all have a position to gain or lose. Enjoy cycling for what it is, much of the drug ballyhoo is for headlines. Don't forget that the tour de France was created as a publicity stunt, it hasn't changed in 100 years.

I thought the '07 tour was really good, aside from the drug scandals. The race basically came down to the last 3 riders in the TT. Cadel was on fire and I thought he was gonna bite Contador in the arse for the lead.

Sure the race would have been raced differently w/out Rasmussen leading but hey, that's racing. You take the opportunites when you can. Before he was ousted it was a race for #2. Afterwards it was a race for the #1 spot by 3 exciting and determined racers.

I would have liked to see Levi finish 2nd but Cadel threw everything out on the table and almost got the overall lead. It was very exciting and I gained the utmost respect for Cadel. We'll see how it goes now that Disco is now Astana and Lotto has changed the makeup of their team.

Or moreover, will ASO allow Astana in the Tour or will they allow politics to screw them over?