[tomtom]

Its interesting as my reading of the article was that he has supplied 'suspicious' but not illegal (etc..) samples. I think he's been banned/nicked as being part of this larger scale doping ring, where they have no fluid evidence, but I think some of the other cyclists involved have given testamony to the effect he was involved.
Thats a crap summary, but I've just got up

[webbo]

From what I read on Cycling weekly. The evidence USDA are using is the same evidence that State Department? had but they dropped their case against him as I guess they felt it wouldn't stand up in court. Also I read that Hincapie was now denying he had made a statement saying he was a witness to Armstrong doping. 

[cofe]

I haven't had time to check, but wasn't the Justice Dept's inquiry technically a fraud investigation? Can't remember the distinction. I'll try and look it up later when I've a bit more time.

[Stubbs]

I think the previous investigation was to see if government funds (through USPS) had been used to fund doping, and they didn't find enough evidence of this.  This new one seems to be more about the individuals involved, including the doctors, managers and riders.

[finbarrr]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/lance-armstrong-wants-to-tell-nation-something-but,17973/

"it's funny because it's true"

[mikester]

Quite a nice summary of the Lance soap opera:

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/8051461/usada-actions-lance-armstrong-start-series-events-strip-tour-de-france-titles

Shame that he (or rather, his controversy) overshadows everything else happening in cycling and triathlon. I notice that the WTC - the greedy, exploitative lot that they are  - dropped him like a hot potato when this new shit-storm brewed, just as they didn't embrace him until the former one had cleared.

[Duma]

so, break has 2 minutes with 80 odd k to go, should come together for the mall. but team GB have made all the running so far, will cav have enough left? surreal seeing all the british road signs when watching cycling.

[Duma]

fuck.

[rich d]

Following it on twitter as out with family, gutted we've lost it. This was the bit of the olympics I was looking forward to.

[richieb]

Gutted.  Equally gutted about the TV coverage which was pretty awful.

[tomtom]

Gutted.  Equally gutted about the TV coverage which was pretty awful.

+1 +1

[tregiffian]

1. There was no Plan B.
2. What happened to Froome?

[mr__j5]

1. There was no Plan B.
2. What happened to Froome?

5 people in a team isn't really enough to have a plan B and still have the best plan A that you can.

Froome did his job. He rode as hard as he could when he was supposed to, until he had no legs left. Even if plan A had worked, I wouldn't have expected Cav to have any lead out, because they would have all been spent from chasing the break down.

[mark s]

i have entered this www.legbreaker.co.uk on july 22nd.81 very hilly miles and i'm led to belive quite a few old school rock athletes are doing it.so i'm trying to get some fitness so i don't get my ass kicked.
however last weeks sessions of interval training resulted in the fitness gain of a chest infection.

a reply to a very old post,my uncle used to climb alot it the peak.he then moved to la palud and had a climbing shop.he came over for the leg breaker a couple of times,i think he did it with basher.
he rarely climbs now,spends all his time cycling.

as a teen ager,i did a fair bit of cycling.did a couple of hill climb races.
all the cycling on the tv at the moment has re ignited a flame,ive always enjoyed bikes though.i think id have to loose a few stone though to be competitive.

any recommendations for sites for finding second hand bikes?

[webbo]

In a reply to a reply. I know your uncle Pete well and at the Leg breaker I think your mum was there with him.

[mark s]

oh right,cool.he was over again a few weeks ago.he has got my mum obsessed with cycling,she watched every stage of the tour and all the mens road race.she hasnt riden a bike for years though

[Yossarian]

I'm not a big Vino fan, but local rider down this way wrote this - nicely balanced alternative viewpoint - http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/jul/30/london-2012-olympic-alexandr-vinokourov

I was desperately hoping for a GB win, but in retrospect I think the Olympic road race should be something that's won by a clever breakaway. If Gilbert's solo effort had happened later and stuck I would've been delighted. Poor Cancellara too.

The Women's race finished exactly how the men's ought to have done.

I wish we had a rider (or two) as good at classics style racing as Cav is at sprinting...

Mark - what's your budget?!

[webbo]

oh right,cool.he was over again a few weeks ago.he has got my mum obsessed with cycling,she watched every stage of the tour and all the mens road race.she hasnt riden a bike for years though

I heard he's been left millions by a forgotten aunt, so he can now afford trips back to the old country.
No longer will he be known as Hard up Harrop.

[fatkid2000]

I think the problem with Vino is that he still denies getting the transfusions. His win was what he is good at - a classic one day break away using his head.

At least somebody like Dave Millar is very up front about his past mistakes - at times abig too much .

I think it was too much to come to this type of race and think it could be won like a tour stage. For me le tour is a bigger deal - what Brailsford has done is remarkable and it looks like there is some future to the team with Froome. I think Cav will move - some are suggesting a green and yellow campaign is possible - I doubt it is with Schleck and Contador back next year.

[Yossarian]

I reckon you're right - I think Cav will announce a move by the end of the month...

[mark s]

just spent what seemed like ages trying to find the bike i used to have when i did alot of cycling.
it was a raleigh Elix.it was in the 1989 lightweight catalogue. ooh when i was a lad

[mikester]

Somehow missed this one, but Andy Wilkinson recently beat the 12-hour record with, wait for it...317.912 miles. Not bad for old man eh?! Most mortals are pretty chuffed with a sub-hour 25 mile TT, but the thought averaging over 26 mph for 12 hours makes me feel ill.  Legend.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/534256/wilkinson-smashes-12-hour-time-trial-record.html

[fatkid2000]

Well the post Olympic politeness of car drivers seems to have ended. Had a bit of an argument with some tosser who was trying to drive his car into my back wheel - coming down a hill at 25 mph. I was in traffic so try as he might there was no where for him to go!

During the Olympics everyone was so courteous when I was riding to work I found it a bit disturbing! 

[fatkid2000]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19364384

So is this Armstrong confessing that he was a cheating idiot - which I'm sure is how the French will see it.

Or has he just got sick and tired of trying to clear his name with the authorities?

[cofe]

Feels like he's still playing the game - tactics. He doesn't have to go to arbitration, USADA have to show their cards (I think), and it now goes to the UCI. He seems too aggressive/competitive, with a load of dosh and too much to lose to simply fold. Or maybe he has just folded? Dark day for cycling anyway.