The Tour de France is back again. For once, even the most ardent sports fan can be forgiven the thought that the tour was over with the retirement of Lance Armstrong. To say that he has dominated this event is an understatement. After all, it is a gruelling three week endurance test. A stage victory is what
most cyclists dream about. Lance has dedicated his life to the pursuit of success in this one event, and seven triumphant years are evidence of his stranglehold on the tour. The Discovery team has been developed with the single objective of enabling Lance win the tour. Admittedly, he couldn't have achieved all of his success without the dedication and selfless contribution of his teammates. Thankfully for them, Lance has retired and they can begin to race for themselves. So life shall go on at the tour, sans Lance.
This year a total of 176 riders on 20 teams start the three-week Tour, and ride over 3,657 kilometres before reaching the Champs de Elysee on July 23 in Paris. The original complement of participants included 22 teams and 198 riders. And then cycling was rocked by a doping scandal in Madrid. The Communidad Valenciana team was deprived of its invitation. Another, Astana-Würth, withdrew after it failed to put together a minimum of six riders, after loosing five of their nine riders to suspension. The biggest loser as a result was Alexander Vinokourov who will not participate in the tour,
for no fault of his. The tour does not allow changes to team composition, three days to the start of the race.
However, in a devastating blow to cycling, top contenders for this year's tour - Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso, Francisco Mancebo are among others suspended from the tour.
most cyclists dream about. Lance has dedicated his life to the pursuit of success in this one event, and seven triumphant years are evidence of his stranglehold on the tour. The Discovery team has been developed with the single objective of enabling Lance win the tour. Admittedly, he couldn't have achieved all of his success without the dedication and selfless contribution of his teammates. Thankfully for them, Lance has retired and they can begin to race for themselves. So life shall go on at the tour, sans Lance.
This year a total of 176 riders on 20 teams start the three-week Tour, and ride over 3,657 kilometres before reaching the Champs de Elysee on July 23 in Paris. The original complement of participants included 22 teams and 198 riders. And then cycling was rocked by a doping scandal in Madrid. The Communidad Valenciana team was deprived of its invitation. Another, Astana-Würth, withdrew after it failed to put together a minimum of six riders, after loosing five of their nine riders to suspension. The biggest loser as a result was Alexander Vinokourov who will not participate in the tour,
for no fault of his. The tour does not allow changes to team composition, three days to the start of the race.
However, in a devastating blow to cycling, top contenders for this year's tour - Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso, Francisco Mancebo are among others suspended from the tour.
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