le Tour Shakeup .:. grubbykid.com

le Tour Shakeup

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I was all set to write my yearly post about the start of Canal le Tour - the Tour de France - but today I'm not in the mood. Seven riders were suspended from competition for being on the Operación Puerto list in Spain. Most ominously, two favorites to win this year. Ivan Basso (CSC) and Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile), and one sentimental favorite Francisco Mancebo (AG2R), are on the list and have been sent home.

This doesn't even come close to what happened in 1998, when a car for the Festina team was found with literally a trunk full of illegal and controlled substances.

Part of me wants to call bullshit on this whole matter: if the Spanish who are running Operación Puerto want to try the riders in a court of law or by arbitration, fine. But everything which has come out have been leaks from the Spanish timed precisely for the start of the Tour. Yet, the Spanish authorities are handing over documents to the authorities as we speak, I cannot wholly discount any of this, and this makes me sad. I'll still be watching Saturday morning, but this is insane.

But....

This changes the race completely. Look at the current gambling line, which gives Alejandro Valverde (ILL) a 6.4 to 1 chance of winning! But I would not be counting the Americans out - this change of events gives Floyd Landis - the Mennonite star (Phonak), George Hincapie - who is the nicest rider in the peloton (Disco), and David Zabriskie (CSC) who rode in the Maillot Jaune until he crashed during the TTT last year a chance at podium this year. I would watch what happens on Saturday's Prologue to see who's the most in shape, and has the mental game on.

As usual, the best commentary is from the TdF Blog, you can follow the race on EuroSport (where the often have an audio feed), and check out the official website for stage by stage information, and of course, watch the damn Tour on OLN - check out the TV Schedule.

le Tour Shakeup

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