The Tour de France

So, the Tour started last week. I am going to blog my thoughts out whether I am the only person I know that cares or not. Issue 1: Should the organizers of the Tour (ASO) have allowed the Astana Team to compete? Perhaps; I think that French Nationalism won out along with the covetous, overbearing attitude the French have towards their Grand Boucle (which no Frenchman has won since The Badger, Bernard Hinault, in 1985). Issue 2: What bearing does Manuel Beltran's positive test for EPO have on the Tour? Only good news for the American Squads. Both Columbia and Garmin-Chipotle have conducted their own testing controls in addition to the standards set forth by the Governing bodies of cycling since their respective inceptions. The fact that riders from their squads inhabit four of the top ten positions shows that clean teams can overcome the dirty riders. Manuel Beltran was placed 37th, almost 3 minutes behind when he was kicked out of the Tour, obviously no threat for overall GC victory, so why cheat anyway? And, oh yes Ryan, I am watching everyday.