NationStates Jolt Archive

The Tour de France kicks off tomorrow, winding its way from London down to Canterbury. The last time the race visited Britain was in 1994, and this is the first time that it's started here.

I'm sure that it will be an almighty spectacle, and people will come from miles around to say that 'I was there'. For me, though, it's a bloody pain, as the roads are closed all over the place and I'm going to have real trouble getting to where I need to be tomorrow morning.

However, my little problems aren't going to stop one of the greatest challenges the human body can be put through. Are you a fan of the Tour? Will you be watching any of it, either on the television or in person? And do you think that it is really possible for anybody to complete the race without taking performance enhancing drugs of some sort?

The Tour de France kicks off tomorrow, winding its way from London down to Canterbury. The last time the race visited Britain was in 1994, and this is the first time that it's started here.

I'm sure that it will be an almighty spectacle, and people will come from miles around to say that 'I was there'. For me, though, it's a bloody pain, as the roads are closed all over the place and I'm going to have real trouble getting to where I need to be tomorrow morning.

However, my little problems aren't going to stop one of the greatest challenges the human body can be put through. Are you a fan of the Tour? Will you be watching any of it, either on the television or in person? And do you think that it is really possible for anybody to complete the race without taking performance enhancing drugs of some sort?
I'm fairly sure that athletes have completed and can complete the tour without resorting to any kind of http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/Heroin.gif or http://www.studip.uni-goettingen.de/pictures/smile/pills.gif before they http://www.studip.uni-goettingen.de/pictures/smile/fahrrad.gif.

They simply won't win.

Although I do enjoy riding my bike - I've never been hooked on the Tour. Just not that interesting for me.

My highest respect goes out to those (apparently very few) athletes who have never felt the need or pressure to use any kind of doping.

Wow. I never thought the Tour de France went through England. I figured it mainly stuck to France. :p Nice that it changes course once in a while for variety. :)

Wow. I never thought the Tour de France went through England. I figured it mainly stuck to France. :p Nice that it changes course once in a while for variety. :)

I don't really follow it, but I believe that they visit a different European country every year. Like you, I'm not sure how this fits into the whole tour of France bit, but there you go.

Wow. I never thought the Tour de France went through England. I figured it mainly stuck to France. :p Nice that it changes course once in a while for variety. :)

I didn't know either. When the newsspeaker on the radio today said "London: The Tour de France kicked of today..." I was all "Uh-oh, someone misspoke and didn't even notice...".

I know they came through Germany for a couple days a few years ago but I just figured that was because they wanted to vary the route and we're right next to France so eh.

The Tour de Pharmaceuticals?

I know they came through Germany for a couple days a few years ago but I just figured that was because they wanted to vary the route and we're right next to France so eh.

We're right next to France too, you know!

The Tour de Pharmaceuticals?

I hear good things about Team Viagra this year.

I'm fairly sure that athletes have completed and can complete the tour without resorting to any kind of http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/Heroin.gif or http://www.studip.uni-goettingen.de/pictures/smile/pills.gif
Bonds and Armstrong smilies? :D

I shall not make the claim that I in any way excel in the French language. Indeed, I shall make a virtue of being devoid of any knowledge of that language, verging on the complete and consequential denial of its very existence.

Nevertheless, could one not assume that Tour de France could be translated as Around France (as in a closed path, Gaussian curve-ish thing), or indeed Out of France? I certainly can assume that, and thinking so gives me a comfortable peace.

Bonds and Armstrong smilies? :D

I thought there was no proof for Armstrong. Then again I don't follow it that closely

I'm fairly sure that athletes have completed and can complete the tour without resorting to any kind of [IMG]
They simply won't win.

Although I do enjoy riding my bike - I've never been hooked on the Tour. Just not that interesting for me.

My highest respect goes out to those (apparently very few) athletes who have never felt the need or pressure to use any kind of doping.


This year they will (IMHO). There's been so much hype and negative publicity that the drug tests are as rigorous as they can be made. Cycling at least acknowledged it has a problem and is taking steps to try and deal with it.



I thought there was no proof for Armstrong. Then again I don't follow it that closely

There wasn't. His teammates were and there was a lot of it around and more allegations than you can shake a naturally occurring wooden limb of a tree at. But no actual proof.

We're right next to France too, you know!
I so totally knew someone would say that. :p

And, well, come back once they can actually ride their bikes across that tiny little bit of watery doom that keeps the mainland safe from you guys, then we'll talk.

I so totally knew someone would say that. :p

And, well, come back once they can actually ride their bikes across that tiny little bit of watery doom that keeps the mainland safe from you guys, then we'll talk.

We could make them ride through the channel tunnel.

I so totally knew someone would say that. :p

And, well, come back once they can actually ride their bikes across that tiny little bit of watery doom that keeps the mainland safe from you guys, then we'll talk.

http://www.watergames.com/floating.jpg

We could make them ride through the channel tunnel.

Or how about a really big ramp? That'd be fun! :D