Should this years TDF winner have a * after their name

The_Special_One
The_Special_One Posts: 108
edited July 2008 in Pro race
Just like there was talk of this years Open golf champion having a * after their name to donate there was no Tiger Woods playing.

Should this years winner of the TDF have a * to donate they won without Contador been in the race.

Comments

  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    No. There's always someone missing. And Contador only just won last year (by three seconds without time bonuses), he's not some unbeatable superman
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • musto_skiff
    musto_skiff Posts: 394
    No; you can only beat who turns up ...
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    Should all Contadors results not have a * beside them given his near miss with puerto, working with manalo saiz AND the Postal/Discovery/Astana set up?
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    No.

    Apart from the fact he's nowhere near as dominant, Woods is out due to a nasty injury, Bertie becuase he chose to sign for a team with a recent history of extensive dopong problems.
    ___________________

    Strava is not Zen.
  • Eurostar
    Eurostar Posts: 1,806
    It's 'denote', not 'donate'.
    <hr>
    <h6>What\'s the point of going out? We\'re just going to end up back here anyway</h6>
  • FullFrameRob
    FullFrameRob Posts: 188
    edited July 2008
    musto_skiff wrote:
    No; you can only beat who turns up ...

    And i think thats why people should give Evans a break, i do find him a wee bit dull to watch but if he wins this years race by doing very little what does it say about the rest of the riders in this years race.

    I know its a little off topic but why should Evans bust a gut and launch some attack when he has no need to.

    Back to original question, there should be no * as already quoted you can only race whoever turns up.

    Im sure Padraig Harrington couldnt give a t*ss that Woods wasnt in Southport last week.
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    It's possible the Spaniard could have had a bad month, been busted for doping or just crashed out even if he was allowed.

    Indeed, Cerador could have ridden if he wanted, he could have signed a deal to ride for Agritubel for July and brought temporary sponsorship of $1m from some Kazakh oil or mining company, so it becomes Agritubel - Kazakhmys for a month. It was only the Astana team that was banned. But he didn't.
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    Cerador. I see what you did there. What a comic genius.
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • greeny12
    greeny12 Posts: 759
    I'm convinced that Contador only beat Evans last year because he had Rasmussen to share the mountain attacks, only for Ras to get kicked out once he'd pretty much secured the maillot janue for himself.

    On his own I doubt Contador would have gained anything like the time he did on Evans in the big hills, and Evans did him fair and square in the TTs, as he would have done this year.

    But of course it's all conjecture....
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  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    When I saw the title of this thread, I thought, "Ah, another one on doping."
    I see I was right.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • claudb
    claudb Posts: 212
    Why not put an '*' against all of Cav's stage wins too ?
    Lets face it, there was no - Petacchi, Boonen, Bennati, Napolitano, Haedo, etc. etc.
    Or put an '*' against Contador last year because Rasmussen had to go home !!
    No, you win against who is there - not who is not !!!
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    greeny12 wrote:
    I'm convinced that Contador only beat Evans last year because he had Rasmussen to share the mountain attacks, only for Ras to get kicked out once he'd pretty much secured the maillot janue for himself.

    On his own I doubt Contador would have gained anything like the time he did on Evans in the big hills, and Evans did him fair and square in the TTs, as he would have done this year.

    But of course it's all conjecture....

    You're not alone in thinking this.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    nypd wrote:
    And i think thats why people should give Evans a break, i do find him a wee bit dull to watch but if he wins this years race by doing very little what does it say about the rest of the riders in this years race.
    All he's done is ride around France for 3 weeks after all. :roll:
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    No - silly idea. Would you put a * against Armstrong 'cos Merckx wasnt riding ?

    You have to be in it to win it.
  • deal
    deal Posts: 857
    how about every winner since the development of EPO gets one too ? :roll:
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    Groan.

    I suggest anyone who thinks riding round France 'following wheels' for 3 weeks is easy should try even 1 day of it and see how they get on. Evans despite being unexciting in a fireworks-in-the-mountains sense is showing what a good rider he is.

    You don't have to like him, or his record in the Tour but you can't change it. CSC have tried and failed in that regard. Assuming Sastre doesn't suddenly time trial like Armstrong.
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    Sastre's record in time trials isn't that bad - it'd be a shock if he put in a faster TT than Evans but not shocking in a suspicious way if he managed to limit his losses enough to hold on to yellow.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • lloyd_bower
    lloyd_bower Posts: 664
    RichN95 wrote:
    greeny12 wrote:
    I'm convinced that Contador only beat Evans last year because he had Rasmussen to share the mountain attacks, only for Ras to get kicked out once he'd pretty much secured the maillot janue for himself.

    On his own I doubt Contador would have gained anything like the time he did on Evans in the big hills, and Evans did him fair and square in the TTs, as he would have done this year.

    But of course it's all conjecture....

    You're not alone in thinking this.

    100% Agree with that view
  • Sfelt
    Sfelt Posts: 55
    The_Special_One wrote:
    Just like there was talk of this years Open golf champion having a * after their name to donate there was no Tiger Woods playing.

    Should this years winner of the TDF have a * to donate they won without Contador been in the race.

    Or to denote they won the most boring TDF ever, at least the drugs induce a modicum of aggression, :lol: I am finding it harder every day to pick just "one" future giant in the sport? :(
  • Sfelt
    Sfelt Posts: 55
    Sfelt wrote:
    The_Special_One wrote:
    Just like there was talk of this years Open golf champion having a * after their name to donate there was no Tiger Woods playing.

    Should this years winner of the TDF have a * to donate they won without Contador been in the race.

    Or to denote they won the most boring TDF ever, at least the drugs induce a modicum of aggression, :lol: I am finding it harder every day to pick just "one" future giant in the sport? :(

    As an after thought what does Tiger weigh? :)
  • knedlicky
    knedlicky Posts: 3,097
    The_Special_One wrote:
    Should this years TDF winner have a * after their name
    Not quite what you meant with "have a * after their name", but the mayor of the village from which Sastre comes has said if he wins, they'll have a road or square named after him.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    But only if he wins? Bloody hell, that village must be awash with top-notch sporting talent if,after all his achievements in cycling, only a Tour win would guarentee him a square!
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    You are a disgruntled goat :lol:
  • steviedonut
    steviedonut Posts: 69
    The_Special_One wrote:
    Just like there was talk of this years Open golf champion having a * after their name to donate there was no Tiger Woods playing.

    Should this years winner of the TDF have a * to donate they won without Contador been in the race.

    how utterly ridiculous.the above was meant to be a joke,right?
  • FullFrameRob
    FullFrameRob Posts: 188
    steviedonut wrote:
    The_Special_One wrote:
    Just like there was talk of this years Open golf champion having a * after their name to donate there was no Tiger Woods playing.

    Should this years winner of the TDF have a * to donate they won without Contador been in the race.

    how utterly ridiculous.the above was meant to be a joke,right?


    I think there was talk about the * after the winners name at the Open, no doubt it was a bit tounge in cheek, sort of saying yeah you won but what if Tiger had been fit and was playing.

    Intresting to hear Bruyneel's comments when interviewed by Eurosport. He said something along the lines of this year winner will only have won cus Contador wasnt around. He didnt say thoses exact words but i think thats what he was coming across as saying.
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    Yes, and of course he's completely objective.
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