in case anyone missed it...huzzah for Slipstream Chipotle
The Tour de France organisers have chosen the teams that will constitute this year’s field. Twenty teams, of which each will nominate nine riders, are invited for the 2008 Tour de France, which will begin in Brittany on July 5 and conclude on the Champs- Élysées on July 27, three weeks later.
However, this selection is being announced subject to each of the teams respecting the ethics and honesty that must prevail in cycling.
GERMANY
Gerolsteiner (GST)
Team Milram (MRM)
UNITED STATES
High Road (THR)
Slipstream Chipotle (TSL)
FRANCE
Bouygues Telecom (BTL)
Credit Agricole (C.A)
Cofidis Le crédit par téléphone (COF)
Française Des Jeux (FDJ)
AG2R - La Mondiale (ALM)
Agritubel (AGR)
GREAT-BRITAIN
Barloworld (BAR)
ITALY
Lampre (LAM)
Liquigas (LIQ)
NETHERLANDS
Rabobank (RAB)
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
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there's gonna be a little something missing without levi...
voltman
there's gonna be a little something missing without levi...
A bald spot?
wearyourtruth
i'm sure the 'stashes of slipstream-chipotle will more than make up for that ;)
JaRow
I'm not very happy that Astana isn't in but I doubt my opinion matters a whole lot.
Green Jager
It is great news Teams that cheat need to pay a price and Astana is they got caught and then caught again. The fact that have a few new riders does not let them off of the hook. There has to be a price and to be honest a few other teams should probably be bounced.
JaRow
So then what happens to the new riders? I agree that teams that cheat need to be punished. It's just the fact that you have riders that were not involved in that being punished. It's upsetting.
SpeedNut
It is great news Teams that cheat need to pay a price and Astana is they got caught and then caught again. The fact that have a few new riders does not let them off of the hook. There has to be a price and to be honest a few other teams should probably be bounced.
They didn't yank T-Mobile/High road last year, and they had a long history of offenses. I think it comes down to a team based out of a country that doesn't have enough world clout and can't scream bloody murder enough for ASO / France to care.
FriendlyFred
It is great news Teams that cheat need to pay a price and Astana is they got caught and then caught again. The fact that have a few new riders does not let them off of the hook. There has to be a price and to be honest a few other teams should probably be bounced.
If Astana got bounced then Rabobank should be gone, as well. I have no problem with cleaning up the sport, but doing it in this very arbitrary manner doesn't breed confidence, it breeds suspision and contempt. No one on the current Astana team was on that team last year when they had the problems. the same can't be said of other teams (hello, Rabobank). How does anyone justify that as fair, in any way, shape, or form. The defending Tour champ can't defend his title this year and he's not been found guilty of anything. extremely arbitrary enforcement.
JaRow
If Astana got bounced then Rabobank should be gone, as well. I have no problem with cleaning up the sport, but doing it in this very arbitrary manner doesn't breed confidence, it breeds suspision and contempt. No one on the current Astana team was on that team last year when they had the problems. the same can't be said of other teams (hello, Rabobank). How does anyone justify that as fair, in any way, shape, or form. The defending Tour champ can't defend his title this year and he's not been found guilty of anything. extremely arbitrary enforcement.