Susie what is 'keenly' ? I meant you are really enthusiastic and seem to know all the facts and figures..............it was a compliment! It is on very late at night here, so we only watch a small portion and mostly read the papers. I also think it would be fun to go and follow the tour. Poor Gilbert..........saddle sores? OUCH!! (I'm told by friends who cycle that riders must wear dry and clean gear to avoid sores. ) Talk over here is Sanchez is the one who got caught.He won the yellow jersey day one. Will he be disqualified or what? Susie D.

Hmmm! After a quick search I couldn't find anything about Sanchez being accused of doping, but it does appear a fellow Spaniard - Manuel Beltran has been accused of using a substance called EPO. I hope not too many riders are found to be using illegal substances. How disappointing would that be?

Yes indeed Gaff, it is Beltran who is accused for taking Epo. He is a member of the team Liquigas. What a stupid man. He is 36 and at the end of his career. Why take Epo ? Lucky for the other riders from Liquigas. They may stay in the Tour but Beltran was sent home. Thank you Susie for the compliment. I will certainly remember that word 'keenly'. Susie what a pity that you can not follow the Tour very well. In the stage of today Cadel Evans felt but I think it is not bad. Gaff have you seen the stage today and the new favourite from Italy Ricco (born 1/9/1983). What a rider. Here they call him the 'Cobra' and the new Pantani (Pantani is his hero).

I woke up too late for the live feed which starts about 4:00AM here. :blink: :coffee. So, I'll watch the replay while I'm cleaning the house later today. Too bad about Caudel! I hope he's able to continue riding. I always want to see a good fair race.

Oh so it was Beltran who got caught, sorry for the confusion..............was he sent home? Cadel is ok. "Superficial" fortunately................... Got up this morning to hear the fab. news today!! Cadel won the yellow jersey stage 10 and is JUST in first place!! Go AUSSIE! :clap: :clap: Susie D

Yes Susie, Cadel is number one for the moment. He is strong. Congrat. to Australia. And yes Beltran was sent home. Who will win the Tour ???

It sounds like Cadel Evans is well set up. Christian Vande Velde is also doing quite well. I know days off are important for the riders, but once I get involved in the Tour De France, I hardly know what to do with myself :whistle :excited: on the days off just waiting to see what will happen next.

Gaff, I am like you. Yesterday was a boring day. I am also so involved in the Tour de France that I missed the riders yesterday. But in the evening there is 'Tour 2008' on television with the repetition of the stage. And every evening there are two guest. It is a life broadcast from the place in France where the last stage took place. It is very interesting and we also learn something of the several places in France. And of course the la-*test*-('") news of the riders. Yesterday there was an interview with Ricco, the young Pantani from Italy. And yes Christian Vande Velde is doing very well. And his name, it is like Flemisch ! So Gaff today on the bike again !

The la-*test*-('") news : a new dope scandal. The Spanish rider Duenas (Barloworld) is been accused of taking Epo and must leave the Tour. The Tour will never be clean.

Yes Frances, and that is not the only case. All those who take Epo or something else, are immediately banished. Look at the Tour from 2007. Two big names : Rasmussen (Rabobank) and Vinokourov (Astana). But the worst thing is that their teams are banished from the Tour this year. Consequently Contador from Astana, who won the Tour in 2007, will not win it this year.

Perhaps the banning of teams will help. If a rider knows getting caught will not only effect him, but his whole team maybe in the ensuing years there will be more pressure to remain clean. I know that's wishful thinking, but if that kind of pressure causes riders to drug, maybe it will cause them to stop. I just hope that those who have spoken out about making the sport clean remain strong. I'm watching repeat coverage right now and Moinard is in the lead at 15KM, but he is being chased down. We had a special on yesterday also which does help. The rest of television is mostly repeats, so not much interesting. Although, I did watch America's Got Talent which is sometimes enjoyable, sometimes painful.

Actually, I'm afraid that doping is more widespread in sport that I would like to think. Banishing a whole team from a race because of just one person found guilty of taking illicit preparations is hard, but I guess it can be considered an effort to prompt the honest to isolate the dishonest and send the message that individual actions reflect on the whole team, if you belong to one.

It will definitely cause a disruption for a few years, but it will force teams to police themselves more carefully. I think if the team is eliminated from the race they are currently in and the rider from several races. All must have a clean -*test*-('") before the next race. If a rider gets caught again - a longer ban. I agree, it does seem extremely widespread problem in all sports.

I'm watching repeat coverage right now and Moinard is in the lead at 15KM, but he is being chased down. We had a special on yesterday also which does help. The rest of television is mostly repeats, so not much interesting. Although, I did watch America's Got Talent which is sometimes enjoyable, sometimes painful Gaff, you wrote me this message at 17H18 Belgian time. The difference in time is 6 hours. So you wrote this message at 23H18. Here you can watch the Tour live on television from 14H. If you could also be able to watch the Tour live, then it will be at 20H. Am I wright ?