Basso, Ullrich kicked out of Tour de France

Associated Press via FoxSports ^ | 6/30/06 | AP Staff

[Carling]

STRASBOURG, France (AP) - A doping scandal knocked Tour de France favorites Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso out of the race Friday and threw the world's most glamorous cycling event into chaos.

The decision to bar Ullrich, Basso and others implicated in a doping probe in Spain also sent a strong signal that cheating, or even suspicions of cheating, will not be tolerated.

[MPJackal]

I was sort of pointing to the EU.

[commish]

WOW! It now looks like Vinoukorov May be out too. 5 members of his ASATA team have been implicated and if they are banned the team will have to withdraw as they will not have the mandatory 6 riders.

This is beginning to look more and more like Discovery might have a chance to run away and sweep the podium.

[fortunecookie]

LOLOL! I'll look forward to seeing you take the first mountain stage! Hey, great idea. I think I can borrow or buy a bike by Saturday... (don't worry, I'll be happy to take 2nd)

[winner3000]

;) I'll be easy to recognize. I'll be the one kissing the blonde and the brunette after I don the yellow jersey...

Oh shoot, it was only a dream. Darn it, I got tired just thinking about 2 minutes on a bike on one of those mountains!

[BaBaStooey]

[VaFederalist]

I'm not belittling those guys you listed at all. I am just doubtful that Americans will tune into watch.

If one or two can stay at the top for the first week then the media whoreds will latch on and the ratings will follow.

[BaBaStooey]

French chicks in yellow dresses rock.

[Moral Hazard]

"I just read the Vino is out too, so none of my favorites will be riding."

If Vino is out then that means that none of the top 5 from least year will be racing this year. The sixth place rider from last year will be racing though, and that's: Levi Leipheimer

[leilani]

LOL! This american was more likely to watch Basso because he's cute just standing still! Total bummer. But we have to remember: they've only been named as targets (along with half of western europe) of the ongoing doping investigation by the spanish police (the equivalent of 'persons of interest') so their respective teams can't let them ride per federation rules, regardless of guilt or innocence.For all we know, the spanish unit "investigating" this could be as much on the up and up as the prosecutor's office in Durham North Carolina. But I can be as shallow & fickle as the next woman, so now Hinkie's my new main man! We definitely know he's one of the good guys!

[Petronski]

Hoist by their own petard. Just dayum.

[Petronski]

Yes, OLN will have live coverage of every stage. Paul Sherwinn, Phil Liggett and Bob Roll will do the commentary, with appearances from Lance.

Those guys are great, and now Lance is joining the team?  Fabulous.

[Petronski]

Yes, OLN will have live coverage of every stage. Paul Sherwinn, Phil Liggett and Bob Roll will do the commentary, with appearances from Lance.

Those guys are great, and now Lance is joining the team?  Fabulous.

Repost to ping cyborg.

[cyborg]

thanks for the ping!

[nutmeg]

George Hincapie will win.

I would just love it if he won! :o)

[nutmeg]

Tour de France ping!

I'm sorry I am already hours behind the news. I'm sure by now many of you have already heard of this "earthquake" within the cycling world...

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my Tour de France 2006 list.

[Ciexyz]

Merde alors!

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

Ivan Basso ain't riding this year

My personal preferance would be for rising American stars like George, Floyd, and Levi to beat the best the world has to offer and then stand on the top of the podium. This year will be kind of like winning a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics when the former Soviet Union wasn't participating and the victory is somewhat hollow.

~ Blue Jays ~

[Steve_Seattle]

"I think the frogs are tired of foreigners winning their race."

Actually, no one benefits from this more than the Americans: Landis, Leipheimer, and Hincapie. They were projected anywhere from 3 to 12, and now they are definite podium contenders, and possibly there will be another American winner this year.

[Steve_Seattle]

Boonen and McEwen are sprinters; they are VERY unlikely overall winners.