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French riders
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Just wondering who was the last French rider to test posative, have a suspicion hanging over them, be suspended.Are they at present, along with the Brits , the cleanest riders, or should I say, totally clean, if there is such a thing.
Also wondering if the current global fincial crisis will affect major sponsorship
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Re: French riders
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As far as I can remember the last French rider to have a cloud of suspicion hanging over him was Jimmy Caspar with his asthma medication during the last Tour.
I think there is more of a culture of racing clean over there. Because of this the French public and the French teams are turning their backs more on the Protour and Grand Tour races and transferring their enthusiasm towards domestic competition, like their own French Cup. They're more confident that they're participating in, or witnessing, some credible racing. At least, this is the impression I've gleaned from my brief visits to France.
Maybe we should do the same - turn our backs on the big international races, and get more passionate about the Premier Calendar. Assuming, of course, that our own Brits are riding clean of course... 
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Re: French riders
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I may be wrong but I believe the French courts come down hard on drug cheats, so its not just a case of "well I can take a two year ban If I get caught" I think sporting fraud comes into it, so prison is a real posibility.
Perhaps if the rest of the cycling world took up this stance it may have detered some of the recent cheats who were prepared to risk the two year bans currently in place.
If the curent bans are not a deterent why dont the powers that be go for 3 or 4 years? If something needs fixing, do what it takes.
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Re: French riders
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And by pure coincidence, here's JR Bernadeau expressing his frustration with it all:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/oct08/oct10news2
(fifth item down)
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Re: French riders
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Read the Le Mond interview on that website. He's looking a little like George Bush these days!!
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Re: French riders
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I dont know how accurate the interview report was but it seems like Mr Armstrong only wanted to answer the questions he wanted both himself and his representative to be asked.
It sounded like he was patronising Greg, so no maturing of the Armstrong personality then.
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Re: French riders
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Quote:
I may be wrong but I believe the French courts come down hard on drug cheats,
It's a shame that the French public don't too. Even though Virenque cheated and lied through his teeth, they still kissed his arse when he came back!
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Re: French riders
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Virenque is doing well as a commentator on the telly as well, I believe.
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Re: French riders
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You can't predict public reaction, everyone though George Best was a hero and Paul Gascoigne was a drunken pr**k.
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Re: French riders
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Did you know George Best was the first player to be red carded when it was introduced in 1976 !! 
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Re: French riders
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Great story about George Best. He was in a hotel room in Manchester with a blonde girl and a bottle of champagne. The waiter came into the room and recognising George,who's footballing career was on the wane and the goodlife taking precendance asked,'George where did it all go wrong'
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Re: French riders
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Quote:
Did you know George Best was the first player to be red carded when it was introduced in 1976 !!
Yes.
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scm
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()
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12/10/2008 11:42
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Re: French riders
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Quote:
Great story about George Best. He was in a hotel room in Manchester with a blonde girl and a bottle of champagne. The waiter came into the room and recognising George,who's footballing career was on the wane and the goodlife taking precendance asked,'George where did it all go wrong'
I think Best was also quoted as saying he "... spent most of my money on women and booze. The rest I just wasted".
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Re: French riders
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How did we get to talking about G Best from French riders!!!
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Re: French riders
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I think he once road a french woman!
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