Boonen almost certain to participate in the TDF

Caroline_ie · 23-06-2009 9:25am #1

http://www.velo-club.net/article?sid=53251

That's a French article - basically it says that Boonen was speaking to Flemish TV that he was almost certain that he'd be starting in Monaco on July 4th.

Even tho ASO forbid him to, Bonnen says that he's convinced his appeal will be successful.

He says he is bitter and unhappy with the lack of dialogue with ASO and think that is a question on Principles that he should be there at the start among his team mates who are his friends.

He says: If the appeal works out and he gets an entry fro the prologue, he would be 'half satified', he hates having to do it this way, as he would have prefered a dialogue with ASO. he says the tour would be dificukt as he is not welcome and if he manages to get a prize under these conditions, that would be a great achievement.

...

lukester · 23-06-2009 9:38am

I hope he's there.

If he rides the prologue surely he'll ride the Tour?

RobFowl · 23-06-2009 9:46am

If he does win a stage/jersey how would he celebrate :rolleyes:

Diarmuid · 23-06-2009 9:50am

Related to the TdF:

New anti-doping test for Tour de France

A new drug test will be introduced to this year's Tour de France by the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) in the on-going fight against dopers in the pro peloton.

Read the rest

So is this a bluff?

bcmf · 23-06-2009 9:57am

First of all......yaaay. He is a great rider. What he did was stupid but in terms of the cycling laws he did nothing technically wrong AFAIK
Second if he did get a start he would need to at a mim get to Paris. but ideally taking a green jersey and a few stages to boot and in a perfect world handing Cavs arse to him as well.
I'm not asking for too much am I?

RobFowl · 23-06-2009 10:07am

Diarmuid wrote: »

Related to the TdF:

So is this a bluff?

AFAIK it's true and the first of many

Chips Lovell · 23-06-2009 10:22am

Diarmuid wrote: »

So is this a bluff?

Yes and no. They introduced the CERA test last year without telling anyone and really achieved something. I think by saying that they have more new tests they're going to get riders second guessing themselves, wondering if whatever they are using might be picked up now.

Raam · 23-06-2009 10:57am

I'd like to see him ride the tour. I like him as a rider. Last year I was dissapointed that he wasn't let ride, but I still agreed with the principle behind why ASO didn't want him.

This year, I don't care. He's a classy rider and is always worth watching.

nochainnoni · 23-06-2009 1:51pm

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19062009/58/tour-de-france-boonen-banned-tour.html

he's been banned! and rightly so. he does nothing for clean sport! he's just acting the "rockstar" ill agreee that he is a fabulous cyclist but no he made his bed. he should be banned!

Junior · 23-06-2009 1:55pm

nochainnoni wrote: »

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19062009/58/tour-de-france-boonen-banned-tour.html

he's been banned! and rightly so. he does nothing for clean sport! he's just acting the "rockstar" ill agreee that he is a fabulous cyclist but no he made his bed. he should be banned!

No he hasn't - Court to Decide on Thursday

Chips Lovell · 23-06-2009 1:56pm

nochainnoni wrote: »

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19062009/58/tour-de-france-boonen-banned-tour.html

he's been banned! and rightly so. he does nothing for clean sport! he's just acting the "rockstar" ill agreee that he is a fabulous cyclist but no he made his bed. he should be banned!

That story is from Friday.

Caroline_ie · 23-06-2009 2:01pm

nochainnoni wrote: »

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19062009/58/tour-de-france-boonen-banned-tour.html

he's been banned! and rightly so. he does nothing for clean sport! he's just acting the "rockstar" ill agreee that he is a fabulous cyclist but no he made his bed. he should be banned!

Old news - Keep current please.
I don't thing we need to start the argument again about Boonen. Lots of threads about it. Noone agrees.
He is a great cyclist, and what he does outside the race is his own business and should never have been out in the press. He is a super cyclist to watch and very talented.
I hope he wins his claim.

lukester · 24-06-2009 5:02pm

Don't think this has come to light so far, it appears ASO approved Boonen for the TdF but subsequently came under pressure from French sports minister Bernard Laporte to exclude him. It's part of a case Quick Step are bringing tomorrow in Nanterre to appeal the decision.

More here, it's in French, can't be bothered translating it, Google translate or Babelfish will do the job.

Makes sense, I thought the ASO statement sounded fishy.

Boonen almost certain to participate in the TDF

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