Professional Cyclists

[harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,684]

Kim Kirchen suffered what seems to be a mild heart attack in the Tour de Suisse on Friday and was put into a coma for 24 hours. This will be big news in little Luxembourg, where he has been male Luxembourgish Sportsperson of the Year no fewer than six times. Hey, if Greg Rusedski can win it over here...

 

The race was won by his fellow countryman Fränk Schleck and I'm hoping Fränk's brother Andy can follow it up by seeing off the mighty Contador in the TdF next month.

[DevonDeathTrip 2,358]

This years tour as been pretty action packed so far, with multiple serious crashes taking place on all three stages. Here's the injury list from yesterday's race.

 

Lance Armstrong: Bruising to his elbow and thigh.

Alberto Contador: Abrasions and bruises on the right flank.

Andy Schleck: Cuts to leg and arm after falling.

Frank Schleck: Injuries to the arm and leg.

Roman Kreuziger: Severe back pain, extent of injuries unknown.

Robert Gesink: Crashed in to a pavement, ulna fracture

Jurgen Van den Broeck: Pains in finger and wrist. No fractures.

Bradley Wiggins: Abrasions on legs and arms.

Tyler Farrar: Finished 19 minutes adrift. Immediately transferred to hospital for further investigations, where an elbow fracture was found.

Christian Vande Velde: Also taken to hospital after finishing race. Two broken ribs

Mickaël Delage: Zygomatic fractures, broken wrist and collarbone.

Julian Dean: Hospitalised with unknown injuries

Alessandro Petacchi: Severe cut on the wrist

Paolo Tiralongo: Knee pain

Vasyl Kiryienka: Heavy bruising

Egoi Martinez: Multiple cuts and bruises

Niki Terpstra Custs to right arm.

Robbie McEwen: Very deep cut to the elbow

Vladimir Karpets: Hospitalised with unknown injuries

David Zabriskie: Knee pain after fall

Remy Di Gregorio: Knee pain after fall

[harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,684]

Well well well, so Contador wins the Tour by 39 seconds, which just happens to be exactly the time Schleck lost in the infamous 'chaingate' stage.

 

In DL news, there was plenty of illness and injury, but of course, no deaths. And no drug busts either, so far - they're getting quite respectable these days.

[welshman 31]

Well well well, so Contador wins the Tour by 39 seconds, which just happens to be exactly the time Schleck lost in the infamous 'chaingate' stage.

 

In DL news, there was plenty of illness and injury, but of course, no deaths. And no drug busts either, so far - they're getting quite respectable these days.

So far.. but lets hope Petacchi fails this investigation http://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/Tourde...-probe-20100720

[themaninblack 2,112]

I think its been a cracking tour.

 

Unless he decides to finish with a flourish and win at the Champs-Élysées, Contador becomes the first rider to win the tour without winning a stage

since Greg LeMond in 1990...

[Tomb raider 9]

I think its been a cracking tour.

 

Unless he decides to finish with a flourish and win at the Champs-Élysées, Contador becomes the first rider to win the tour without winning a stage

since Greg LeMond in 1990...

 

I think it's been a disappointing tour. The best riders had been more calculating than ever, most of the margin between Schleck and Contador had been brought about by 'chaingate' in the 15th stage and it had been clear since the Alps that no other contestant could match Schleck and Contador. The stages in Belgium were more exciting than the stage over Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque, that was won by Pierrick Fedrigo - a nice chap and an attacker pur sang, but certainly not one of the great champions. I think that says it all.

[Magere Hein 1,400]

Former Czech cyclo-cross world champion Radomir Simunek died yesterday.

 

regards,

Hein

[VSBfromH 74]

Jure Robič

 

"Jure Robič, the Slovenian cyclist who won the Race Across America five times has died in a traffic colision at the the age of 45"

[DevonDeathTrip 2,358]

Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has been suspended for testing positive for a banned stimulant.

[VSBfromH 74]

New Year's Eve saw the death aged 85 of Belgian classics rider Raymond Impanis. He finished 6th and 10th in the Tour de France in 1947 and 1948 (not 1957 and 1958 as stated in the article) then 8th in 1950.

[VSBfromH 74]

Riccardo Ricco seriously ill

 

"Top Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco is in hospital with an unspecified illness but has been taken off the critical list, doctors said.

 

Ricco, who returned from a 20-month ban last March after being caught doping at the 2008 Tour de France, entered hospital on Sunday after feeling unwell.

 

"His condition was initially critical but he has now improved. The prognosis remains reserved," Italian media quoted a statement from the hospital in Modena as saying.

 

Rubinho Ricco, Riccardo's father, said his son had suffered "kidney failure" after a training session on Sunday. with further reports also suggesting the rider was struggling with intestinal and lung problems."

[Magere Hein 1,400]

As already mentioned, Dutch cyclist and Olympic champion Fedor den Hertog dies, aged 64.

 

regards,

Hein

[VSBfromH 74]

Riccardo Ricco seriously ill

 

"Top Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco is in hospital with an unspecified illness but has been taken off the critical list, doctors said.

 

Ricco, who returned from a 20-month ban last March after being caught doping at the 2008 Tour de France, entered hospital on Sunday after feeling unwell.

 

"His condition was initially critical but he has now improved. The prognosis remains reserved," Italian media quoted a statement from the hospital in Modena as saying.

 

Rubinho Ricco, Riccardo's father, said his son had suffered "kidney failure" after a training session on Sunday. with further reports also suggesting the rider was struggling with intestinal and lung problems."

 

Sacked

 

"Italian rider Riccardo Ricco was sacked by his Vacansoleil team on Saturday after a botched self blood transfusion led to him spending 12 days in hospital. The 27-year-old, who returned from a 20-month ban last March after being caught taking drugs while finishing second at the 2008 Tour de France, is also facing disciplinary proceedings from Italy's anti-doping body."

 

Silly boy!

[Anubis the Jackal 77]

Azizulhasni Awang won bronze in the Cycling World Cup Kerin race despite beng involved in a mass pile-up and ending up with ths splinter through his leg.

 

That's got to smart a little

 

[Guest Guest]

Former british cycling champion Ray Eden has been murdered at the age of 42

[VSBfromH 74]

Belgian cyclist Wouter Weylandt killed in crash during the Giro d'Italia.

[Spade_Cooley 9,515]

No longer walking: Wouter Weylandt (subs check this joke works?)

[Spade_Cooley 9,515]

Apparently Lance Armstrong did a shitload of drugs? This is certainly shocking news to me.

[VSBfromH 74]

Xavier Tondo

 

32 year old pro rider killed by a freak accident when a garage door fell on him. Another minute's silence to be observed before the next stage of the Giro d'Italia .

[Davey Jones' Locker 1,324]

A local girl (never heard of her though) has come a-cropper:

 

http://www.news.com.au/world/cadel-evans-t...i-1226089545312

[harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,684]

Not much DL action this time around, in a drugs/death-free but riveting Tour de France. Chapeaux from 'arry to Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck, Tommy Voeckler, Thor Hushovd, Mark Cavendish, Boss Hog, Pierre Rolland, Sammy Sanchez and Fabio Sabatini.

[themaninblack 2,112]

Not much DL action this time around, in a drugs/death-free but riveting Tour de France. Chapeaux from 'arry to Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck, Tommy Voeckler, Thor Hushovd, Mark Cavendish, Boss Hog, Pierre Rolland, Sammy Sanchez and Fabio Sabatini.

 

 

One of the best Tours ever IMO...

[philheybrookbay 439]

Not much DL action this time around, in a drugs/death-free but riveting Tour de France. Chapeaux from 'arry to Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck, Tommy Voeckler, Thor Hushovd, Mark Cavendish, Boss Hog, Pierre Rolland, Sammy Sanchez and Fabio Sabatini.

 

 

One of the best Tours ever IMO...

 

Totally agree, it could have gone to any of the top 8 finishers at one point.

[Magere Hein 1,400]

Not much DL action this time around, in a drugs/death-free but riveting Tour de France. Chapeaux from 'arry to Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck, Tommy Voeckler, Thor Hushovd, Mark Cavendish, Boss Hog, Pierre Rolland, Sammy Sanchez and Fabio Sabatini.

One of the best Tours ever IMO...

Totally agree, it could have gone to any of the top 8 finishers at one point.

Indeed.

 

Unfortunately the Dutch were shite again, with the possible exception of Johnny Hoogerland, who's a hero in the Netherlands now, due to his battle with a barbed wire fence, which he drew.

 

regards,

Hein

[themaninblack 2,112]

Congratulations to Mark Cavendish who becomes the first man from the UK to win the green jersey.