You may have heard this today but several of the Pro Riders are in France training for the TDF. Mainly up in the mountains but one of those riders ran into a spot of bother today. He was up in the Alps training on part of the TDF route and he was stopped by the local Gendarme for having no lights on his bike. Hang on-- Middle of day and a Team car behind him- Just a normal occurence at this time of year and even Normal French cyclists would be doing this at any time of the year. Without the team car of course.

But the rider was not French--It was Contador. Glad to see the French can still bear a grudge.







The road apparantly had a few tunnels on it and Contadour did fail a drugs test lat year but the Spanish authority has not banned him as it was not his fault.

I probably shouldn't have laughed... but I did.

I don't know why that doper is training. Aren't we still waiting for a decision by the UCI or a judge or some other organization?

If the rider had been French, or riding for a French team, he probably wouldn't have been stopped.

That's my guess anyway.

Good to hear that Alberto is out there doing his homework though!

Rick / OCRR

Key word: "French". Enough said.
If the French want a French winner...................................................... quit inviting all those darn foreigners

French will never win..............they give up too easily.

Contador's hearing was postponed, so he is able to ride in the tour, which he will dominate.

Contador wasn't stopped for riding in daylight without lights. He was stopped for riding in tunnels without lights. I myself have been stopped by the police (in the US) for riding in the dark without lights.

Fortunately they didn't give up at Yorktown in 1781.

stapfam, I hadn't read about this, good to start a day with a smile! All-in-all just good publicity for AC.

Brad

You know in reading this thread, the one thing that kept popping back into my thoughts was this.... how nice must it be to have a team car following behind you? The entire thread on "First Flat" https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...703-First-flat would be rendered meaningless.

Well.........OK...........once. Got us there.

Hmmm...
Mavic, Huret, Time, Look, Chistophe, Hutchinson, Stronglight, Simplex, Ideale, Michelin, Lyotard, Nervar, Peugeot, Motobecane, TdF, Paris-Roubaix, Hinault, Longo, Jalabert, Anquetil, Robic, Fignon, etc.... seems they've done a bit for cycling. But hey, let's just go ahead and judge 63 million people based on the actions of a few.

Having lived in France- I understand the French-And the gendarmerie. And that sport called Cycling- The french love it and anyone doing it. They will physically assist anyone involved in the sport or any other sport for that matter. But do not upset the Gendarmerie- they will pay you back and very easily aswell. As I know too well.

He should have done this... (see at 1 min mark)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX6rtYP3exY

You've at least got to give the French cops some points for trying.

Capone was done for tax evasion, so perhaps we can get Contador for something else too!

My money's on Chris Horner.

Any takers?

Chris is looking very strong, definitely a possible podium contender. But Contador looks like the strong favorite for the top spot. Andy Schleck has not shown me anything this year. I'd wouldn't be surprised to see him out of the top ten. Frank will likely finish higher. Bradley Wiggins could be on the podium this year. Should be an interesting Tour.

Just seems like you need to followup that comment with a "Bru-ha-ha-ha-ha"! evil laugh!

After watching him give away stage wins in the Giro, my money (and support because he showed class) is absolutely with the evil Mr. Contador.


I think this will be a relatively PED-free TdF, due to the perception of improved testing, and AC needs it less than other contenders. I don't think it will be close.

I'll go with Horner for 2nd, and agree Andy looks weak, despite his saying he is right on track.

I will agree that Contadour has to be favourite for the TDF. Don't think he will get a friendly response from the Fans though and the "Old" trick of a pump in the spokes may be attempted. But Cadell Evans. He seems to have a new lease of life with BMC and he "May" have the riders to back him up. His performance in the Dauphine was pretty good but I just feel that he was holding back Wheras Wiggins seemed to drop a bit of performance on a few days.

I may have spoken too soon.

Or cattle on the course.
Remember. It was reported that Alberto claimed that the French beef was no good so he had a friend bring some to him from Spain.
Now of course the French cattle farmers were outraged.

If you watched Stage 6 of the Criterium du Dauphine you saw two very large cows come up out of a gully and sort of join the race. Causing a number of riders to crash.
Was that training for the cows to enter the TDF as Alberto pedals by? Will the French farmers take revenge?

Meh... I've been stopped by the police in the US for riding in the dark without pants.