RC_spinner

The VERSUS "Take back the Tour"commercial that is running shows different sprints and finishes in reverse, and in one clip it looks as if a race director is taking the Yellow Jersey off of Floyd on the podium. Seemed funny to me anyway

dam6923

Hey,

I apologize because this isn't exactly related, but I didn't think it warranted its own thread. But something else that I thought was funny about this year's tour. I'm excited for the Slipstream team, (now Garmin-Chipotle) simply because I love their burritos. I have to admit though, when I first read about it, I had to re-read the name several times. I kept reading it as Charmin - Chiptole. What a great combo that would have been. In many ways it makes a lot more sense than GPS and burritos.

(Charmin's Website - Loads Flash, sorry!) https://www.charmin.com/en_us/pages/p...html?product=1

merlin55

I think it is a cheap shot by Versus. OK, I know he lost his victory, but no need to rub it in our face.

I may not even watch the TDF this year...given that the TDF has banned probably the strongest team and best rider. Seems like the TDF is going out of their way to appear as a bunch of jerks

rduffy

i think you have it all wrong merlin. astana was a mess and the tdf has every right to ban them. it is their race after all and astana, vino in particular, helped turn last years race into a farce. to assume that none of the astana people didn't know what was going on is foolish. okay, so astana turned over a new leaf and hired johan and are proving to the world that they are clean (we hope). but i still can't believe johan would associate himself with these sponsors. money talks.....**** walks.

roadrick

Agree that the commercial is in questionable taste by Versus and is really some wacked marketing spin overall. How does one 'take back the tour' by giving in to watching it full time and supporting the sponsers if you believe that the ruling is unjust?

I for one, love the sport and appreciate that the TDF is the biggest, most challenging, most important pro race for cycling (at least as far as U.S. viewers are concerned). It is however a privately run race, with organizers that make up their own rules and judgements sometimes. They also control their own 'in-house' test lab that can find whatever they want to find.

Sorry to say that I will not be following the TDF this year myself. Hate to see some other talented pro get kicked out & publicly ostracized based on the whims of the organizers. That's a better way to 'take back the tour' versus watching it on Versus (pun intended).

acape

I think you guys are missing the gist of that commercial. They are all riders that were involved with doping in some way or another, either admitted, charged, etc...Zabel, Ulrich, Vinokourov, Rasmussen, Landis, Millar.

Pedaleur

You need to learn not to take professional bike racing so personally.

Curlin

I'm with you on this

jaxgtr

This is really what it is about. Not a swipe at Floyd by himself.

roadrick

Guess you're right. So the commercial is an endorsement of the organizer's view that there's lots of dopers (can't say I disagree), but 'take back the tour' ? Should we acquiesce to the view of organizers being the innocent victims? IMHO, they are complicant and even worse, taking advantage of the overall situation to punish those they'd prefer to, while pretending they are the white knights. Vision of Casablanca in mind, with the chief inspector collecting his gambling winnings while confronting Rick with "I am shocked, shocked that there is gambling going on in here. You are closed until further notice".

What a crock

JMT114

I actually like the commercial. The race director is indeed taking the jersey off of Floyd - He's taking it back.

As for Astana, I don't think the ruling is fair, but think of college athletics when a program gets probation long after the coaches and players have all moved on. It's kind of similar.

Bacchusbill

I liked the symbolism of the commercial, but thought that Rassmussen got a bad rap in it.

jaxgtr

They could have show Rassmussen taking the entry out of his diary

embankmentlb

Hey rduffy, Johan is the reason Astana is not in the Tour. Look at all the "questionable" teams invited back. He is paying the price for all he got away with in the Dopestrong years. The tour turned a blind eye to USPS & now they realize they got duped.

lotek 

[admin mode off]
oh please, don't start that cr@p again. Whether he doped or he didn't
has never been proven. Yes there is a lot of circumstantial evidence, yes
it looks very suspicious, but until someone can prove it, it's not worth
the pixels on the screen.
[/admin mode on]

marty

bikegummo

Thank you. This was getting painful.

2wheeled

The commercial only shows negativity towards this sport. They could have came up with something a little more creative.

embankmentlb

I definitely prefer the light hearted Bob Roll commercials!

Gonzlobo

The Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys won't be happy until all non-Frenchies (especially Americans) are eliminated from the race.

Jashue

Sigh...

Do you have anything intellegent to say on the matter?

bac

It's a horrible commercial because it sends the wrong message. Show EVERYONE giving back all their wins, and perhaps it means something. However, pointing out those who happened to get caught ..... well, that's just plain silly.

... Brad