patentcad

Not that ecktomorph from hell Rasmussen. I don't care if he wins the Tour by 10 mins.

It's Vino of course. The Khazako Whacko is now a Tour Legend and he may never win a Tour de France. you gotta love that.

40 Cent

let's hope it's not the same as the big story from last year's tour.

VanceMac

I don't know about the big story, but the big lesson is that most people love sprinters, like all-arounders, and can't stand climbers. It reminds me of a relief pitcher winning the Cy Young, or even Steve Nash winning the MVP. It's just not sexy to the masses.

reef58

I think the big story is don't let GC hopefuls go on a breakaway until they are no longer a threat. If Rasmussen was not allowed to go away the podium would look much different.

Richard

SunSwingsLow

The big story is Alberto Contador.

patentcad

Incorret.

That's the 'Story of the Futcha' (pronounced like 'Chef of the Future' from Honeymooners). The Big Story is Vino, Vino, Vino.

Alberto will have his day in the sun. If he doesn't get snagged doping of course.

vik 

+1 Disco looks to be set to dominate next year even if they don't win this year....

plainsdrifter

Barloworld.

2 stage wins.

U25 #2 Soler, #3 Siutsou.

Mountains #2 Soler.

Points #2 Hunter.

Overall #14 Soler, #26 Siutsou.

Pretty good so far and it wouldn't surprise me if Hunter picked up another stage.

godspiral

I think Rasmussen is a bigger story than vino, but vino definitely stirs up the drama.

Jet Travis

I invited a houseful of mostly non-cycling fans over to watch yesterday's stage. Quite a few were transfixed by the color, the drama, the spectacle and the sheer athleticism of the cyclists. Despite scandals, bad press, the tour can still weave a magic spell to those who are open. When you think of how battered the tour's image has been in recent years, that strikes me as a bigger story than any single rider or team.

NomadVW 

I'm so sick of hearing about Vino. He's a footnote for the tour this year, imo. A should've been, could've been, or whatever. Yeehaw. Saturday... "My legs felt good" Sunday.. "My legs didn't feel good" Monday... "My legs felt good."

edited: fixed the days

Keith99

The story of this years Tour?

Perhaps that some people want to write the ending before it has happened!

Until it is over I won't know. Actually we may not know for a few years yet. This is the first big showing for several riders. If one really comes through nad has several TDF wins then that rider may be the story. If Rasmussen gets Yellow and Polka Dot that is the story, but it has not happened yet. And ALMOST getting two gets lost. If Rasmussen gets no Jersey that will be a big part of the story, but if it is because someone else crushes him in the second ITT it will be the crusher that is remembered more than Rasmussen.

McSpin

By far, it's the realization that Contador will win multiple tours before he quits. I doubt many of the general public thought that before this race. Runner-up: Barloworld's success. Distant third: Rasmussen's TT improvement.

VT Biker

Well,

the story is always about the Yellow Jersey winner.

But the best sub-story:

Tied between Astana/Vina and Barloworld.

NomadVW 

Ok, someone tell me what is so great about a team who has two contenders show up to a race. One gets hurt so bad he's out of contention and instead of riding for his teammate who COULD have won (as much as any of the other top 5 are in the "could have" right now) - the self-serving "team leader" (new definition of leader, methinks) rides for his own stage wins?

Yes, that's a big story.

VT Biker

I am not sure whether even explaining this to you would insult both of our intelligence. But here goes:

The entire Tour for Astana, almost each stage has been creating one giant Shakespearean story-line. From the tragic (the crash and the final realization by Vino that his dreams were over) to the vindictive attacks (the Stage 11 attacks) to the inspirational riding by Vino while bandaged.

I agree - there is no winner necessarily in the Astana story line, but to watch arguably the nastiest, most courageous rider in the last decade lose his last chance at greatness, is great theatre (which sports is at its very best). Ever wonder why the Astana boys and Vino basically have told Kloden to take a back seat? Because Kloden has next year. Vino - this was IT.


Lets put it this way: the Tour is going to be a whole lot less interesting without Vino.



Unfortunately, there are way too many Levi's in these races, and not enough Vinos.


Levi actually may be the worst story-line of the entire race. Seriously - can you point to one moment of the Tour where Levi did anything? Anyone? Anyone? He just like that one poker buddy everyone has who folds unless he has at least a full-house.

McSpin

The thread is about "the big story". Vino does this stuff year after year. Interesting - yes, but what's the story in that? I could have predicted this based on what he's done in the past. "The big story", would be something unexpected. Something nobody would have guessed that affects the outcome of the race.

vpiuva

Love Vino, but also love that there are multiple attacks and multiple teams that seem to care in the post-Armstrong world. The last few Lance years were dull.

DocRay

+1,

and Barloworld -proving that the UCI team selection methods suck (i.e. Unibet).

SunSwingsLow

How fitting.

gfrance

There's a new big story out now!!!! Wish it weren't so, but the big story is once again doping.

See ya next year.

VT Biker

Yup - sad but true. All that goodwill from Barloworld's run, Astana's attacks, Contador and others - wiped out by Rassmussan and Vino.

My interest is quickly receding with this race.

The only good news is that with:

- Barry Bonds getting snubbed by his own commissioner
- Michael Vick showing that football players really are lower forms of life
- The NBA in a full fledge mob gambling ring with potentially more players and refs involved


This news will not make the headlines it normally would have.


2007 is the Year of the Sports Scandal.

Weeks

Man Steven Nash winning MVP was awesome to me...I don't even like basketball!

SunSwingsLow

While the bad news in the press will overshadow this, the damage it will do internally is not minimized.

ps. MV shows nothing about football players. He is a person devoid of a moral compass and he will never play football again.

merlinextraligh

Ironic how it's correct that Vino is now the story of the Tour.