meb

I think he has finally got those two together now.

meb

Can he reinject himself with that?

gmason

I am not really sure. But perhaps when the novelty of the revolution wore off and sense reigned again, they decided to avoid the reminder.

I do know that in eight years of holidays, and over two and a half years of permanent living here, I have never, ever heard "Bastille Day" uttered once. Except by tourists, of course.

maalea

Thanks For the props but sometimes you get a feeling and it turns out correct. I just wish I had a few Euros on it. Probaly at least a 50-1 shot. Maybe I should take a ride up to Atlantic City. I didn't have Moncoutie on my fantasy team but I do have O'Grady and Garate, who both came in the top 10.

meb

What is the rational in removing Boonen from the Green Jersey point standings following his non-start as opposed to merely leaving his now frozen points on the board?

ZappCatt

Once you leave the tour, you are no longer competing in the event, why would they leave you listed as a current competitor?

They do the same with GC times. If you do not race that day, you no longer are a competitor, so are no longer listed on the standings.

meb

For a timed competition such as the GC or the White Jersey a missed stage leaves your time meaningless since you haven't competed the same course as the competitors.

But if accumulated point totals determine the winner such as for the green and polka dot jerseys, the points earned before dropping out were validly accumulated. Seems more appropriate to leave the points on the board and merely preclude the competitor from earning additional points.

ZappCatt

Nope, no longer competing, no longer a competitor on the board.

What would you do if Ras drops out tomorrow? He will "win" the KOM competition even though he did not finish the race? Do you have another rule that says you can't actually win the competition if you have the most points, even though you did not finish the race?

meb

Assuming his total holds yep (and at least a KOM podium if not)- after all he earned all those points.


Off course not-why complicate the system with a rule that has no apparent rational basis. He keeps his points and if they hold he gets the jersey. Boonen's points likely would have been enough for the 4th place he earned and deserves.

gmason

There are two rules that prevent riders from going to a race just to build up an insurmountable lead in some category and then leaving. Many sprinters would probably do that if they could. Cipollini comes to mind somehow.

1. To earn anything, you first have to finish (generic rule for all races of any kind that I know of except for some motor races - the Indy 500 for example - where every finisher recieves some part of the purse, which really makes it more like starting money).

2. If you quit a race, you may not participate in another until the first has been completed (UCI rule).

Simple, and makes eminent sense. But only for most of us, it seems.

maalea

Phil and Paul are still refering to it as Bastile Day on the OLN broadcasts. They said it today before the finish, in the context that Moncoutie has been the only French winner so far. Maybe it's an English language thing.

gmason

I think it is not so much the language as the inability, or lack of desire, of people to shake old habits. As well as the general tendency of most to ignore almost all of any culture that is not their own. The term Bastille Day was what you heard in fourth grade history, and that's it for the duration.

Dolomiti

So, do you guys still sing that song of bloodlust... 'La Marseillaise'?
I once tried to learn it so I could sing it while descending on the bike.

gmason

Of course! And we play it on July 14 - usually the Berlioz transcription that borders on opera.

Just a note, if I may. There is a hint in your reply, and that of others, that we may be French. I just want to point out that we are in fact Americans, who chose to live here for many reasons. Not complaining mind you, just making sure the record is straight.

Dolomiti

Ohh well if you live there, then you kind of are part of the nation but no I didn't know you were American. Actually now out of curiosity, how "French" do you (or your family?) consider yourself to be? I don't know what the attitude would be like from moving one country to another.

Not a bad place to go I'm guessing. I may move there someday if I can

gmason

First of all, I am actually the one who belongs here. I have no real ties to the USA, and will never go back. My wife, on the other hand, has a large family, with whom she is very close, so she goes back a couple of times a year.

Then there is the fact that I was an Army brat, and lived here (Germany 1946-8 and Italy 1956-8) before, while she never did. We had spent many holidays here, in Italy, and in the UK, so she did have a feel for things in general. It was a joint decision to retire here.

I do not feel French at all, but I do like most of the things over here in Europe. I could actually have lived in France, Italy, or the UK with no problem at all. Perhaps even Bavaria again. But the UK is too expensive to ever afford for us, and Italy was not familiar enough to my wife, so here it is. No regrets for me at all, but there could have been other choices.

As for moving here someday, I will say again what I said somewhere else in the Forums: if you want to badly enough, you can, and should do it. You only live once. Besides, it is usually not an irrevocable step should it not work out.