<i>Amgen Tour of California</i>

I love that the makers of Epo sponsor a bike race!

<i>Perhaps France is atypical, but it has never been obsessed with the idea of a French cyclist winning. There is pride when a Frenchman wins a stage, but the French are very excited about various cyclists of other countries, and you will find them rooting for all sorts of &quot;foreigners&quot; that they like. Are Americans incapable of this?</i>

The French aren't obsessed with winning it because they know they won't. Americans don't need to borrow champions.

I thought they met when he was ill. I think she is an alumnus of Miami (OH) where I also went to school.
Anyway read the Times today also that he will rejoin Bruynell, although they quote Astana as saying nothing is signed.
And Roll can really speak pretty good French--his Toor D France is a joke pronunciation.

I suspect Versus told Bob to end the joke. Judging from the look of this year's commentators and the shows host, there's a resdesign of the coverage...less cute, more professional.

&quot;The French aren't obsessed with winning it because they know they won't. Americans don't need to borrow champions&quot;.

Neither do the Chinese !

<i>Americans don't need to borrow champions.</i>

It looks like some of you are going to be <b>so unhappy</b> when you can't shriek &quot;USA #1 USA #1&quot; anymore. Is there nobody in that country who appreciates individuals for their worth and who does not put nationalism ahead of it all?

I did like the way kinda that Bob would roll out of his mouth that &lt;Tear day Franz&gt;

I'm not sold on that it was a joke

Why does even the most innocuos thread turn into a transatlantic p*ssing contest?

I hope Lance Armstrong does not return to the Tour. Why? Because he is already a legend - he has nothing to prove. His name will always be near the top of the greatest riders ever - and that ignores his fight back from Cancer.

I have no idea as to his personality, his marital relationships, his alledged affairs or whether he is a nice guy or not - all I know is he is one of the greatest cyclists of all time.

&quot;It looks like some of you are going to be so unhappy when you can't shriek &quot;USA #1 USA #1&quot; anymore. Is there nobody in that country who appreciates individuals for their worth and who does not put nationalism ahead of it all?&quot;

Wow - What a stereotype! I'm not sure what Americans you've been talking to but I don't know anyone who shrieks USA #1 or any sentiment like that. If you're looking for someone who appreciates individual worth and merit regardless of nationality you've found her. And I'm sure there are more Americans who will chime in.

I heard that the team he was supposed to be signing for says it's all rubbish.

But honestly who cares? The Tour, and all that type of cycling, is even more boring than snooker or golf and that's saying something! We get wall to wall coverage of the tour and any other road race going. Grim, really grim.

From the Beeb: http://tinyurl.com/6x4coj

&quot;Shallow turd, all he does is date movie stars and go to premieres now.&quot;

bozama, if you would care to put your money where your mouth is, and for a worthy cause, click here
http://www.muhcfoundation.com/en/lance

My brother Dan is one of the riders, but support anyone of them.

JQ

<i>It looks like some of you are going to be so unhappy when you can't shriek &quot;USA #1 USA #1&quot; anymore. Is there nobody in that country who appreciates individuals for their worth and who does not put nationalism ahead of it all?</i>

a) It was a joke, and

b) Don't be ridiculous. The French are as arrogant as any American about things they are competitive at. So are the Brits. And if I have to hear one more Dane talk about team handball (the one sport they are good at), I will scream. That one cheers first for their countrymen is nothing uniquely American.

Or do you mean to tell me that every Frenchman was cheering on the Americans in the swimming relay because they wanted to see Phelps win 8 Golds? Or that, come World Cup time, the French would prefer to see a transcendent Brazilian squad win in dominating fashion, rather than a French team win ugly and by sheer luck? No offense, but your claim is kind of silly. Sports fans are pretty much the same all over.

The fact of the matter is that the French aren't very good at cycling. Which is why they cheer for others. But, if a Frenchman was to win the tour, they would be building statues in his honor.

Why do people who don't follow pro cycling or think much of Lance Armstrong even contribute on threads like this? Really, if you don't care (as you say you don't), then why waste your time? Then again, if you sadly have nothing better to do....

BTW, I don't think the USA chant is heard in pro cycling. The USA doesn't have many top riders, and the teams are comprised of guys from too many other countries.

BTW #2, in the TdeF, I cheer for riders from many countries because there are so many categories of competition within the race. Heck, I even cheer for the poor Lanterne Rouge.

I think i remember American tourists or residents of France chanting USA USA USA when Lance rode by at times but not sure.

Jean,, I piped in cause Lancey is a pop star isn't he, I mean being at all the movie premieres and in People , Us and other tabloid gossip mags..

Wow, bozama. Three posts on Lance. You must really, secretly like him.

bozama, perhaps you would like to respond to my post.

JQ

&gt;&gt;in People , Us and other tabloid gossip mags..&gt;&gt;

And also the latest Time magazine.

Stu Dudley

JQ,. relax, I'm getting to you. I am supporting my childhood friend, who has survived breast cancer, closer to home.. in many ways. Also, I support here at home, for Canadain research and treatments. Why would I support and American branch of anything, we have all the same diseases here,, LOL

Lance is still a shallow turd JQ,, I mean, I guess with him donating that money I should be nicer,, wait, does he donate all that money?? LOL

Jean,

Yes,you caught me,, I like airhead jocks.. lol

bozama,

What gets to me is your inability to read. If you had actually clicked on the link you would know that this money is being raised for the Cedars Cancer Institute and the Cancer Care Mission of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal (Canada, no?).

Here's a pat on the back for being so generous.

JQ

PS. You posts are simply proof that ignorance has no borders.