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Tour de France - Stage 13

Tour de France
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British sprinter Mark Cavendish won Thursday's 12 stage to complete his treble

So far it has been a Tour of hat-tricks, one refreshing and unique, the other all too tired and familiar.

The light has come from the electric Mark Cavendish, who became the first British rider to win three stages in a single Tour when he flew to victory in Narbonne on Thursday.

The shade in the 2008 edition has come in the form of three failed drugs tests, with Riccardo Ricco on Thursday the latest to join the Tour’s long list of drugs cheats.

The Italian joins Manuel Beltran and Moises Duenas as the 2008 additions to the roll of shame.

Friday’s stage, the 13th, takes us 182km from Narbonne to Nimes on a route roughly 20 miles inland of the Mediterranean coast.

Australian Cadel Evans continues to lead by a single second from Frank Schleck, with three other riders within a minute of the yellow jersey.

Evans said after Thursday’s stage: "It's hard to stay up front in the peloton all the time but it's important to do that because there's the risk of being caught up in a crash.

"Another day, another yellow jersey. I’m happy enough with that."

So what are your views of the day ahead?

Will Cav have anything left to try and add to his tally of stage wins, or is today a day for a long distance breakaway?

Maybe the stage is set up for David Millar to try his luck?

Let me know who you are tipping today and join in the debate – it is going to be a long day in the saddle.

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posted Jul 18, 2008

Ka-zing.

Tom Steels, right. Who also won 4 stages, but I think that was slightly earlier. 97 or 98? I can't recall.

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posted Jul 18, 2008

Minali!!

I phoned a friend. Is that allowed?

It was definitely another butch Italian in muscle-defining blue lycra.

I'd have shagged him, anyway, or more likely been happy to let him shag me.

I wouldn't disqualify him for ANYTHING.

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posted Jul 18, 2008

I can't recall Minali, but is this the one you mean?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2000/feb00/NicolaMinali.jpg

http://www.velo-club.net/nicolas/minali2.jpg

And tell me you're a girl...

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posted Jul 18, 2008

Tom Steels won 4 stages in ONE Tour?

Wow. I don't remember him for that.
Come to think of it, the only Tour stage I remember him winning is the one he won on the Champs Elysees.

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posted Jul 19, 2008

In '98 apparently. I don't remember him for that either, but I know he won 9 in total.

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posted Jul 19, 2008

DRUG TEST HIM!!!

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posted Jul 19, 2008

Who, Tom Steels? laugh

I remember it, funnily enough. He was the power sprint man on the tour that year, and had a very good lead-out as I recall. I have a video somewhere of highlights from that race, so I'll have a look at some point and refresh my memories.

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posted Jul 19, 2008

Was that the sprint where Steels got done for throwing his water bottle at someone?

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posted Jul 19, 2008

Nah, that's two different incidents. Great guy, that Tom Steels winkeye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzTZV0TYG-U
that's crappy eurosport footage of the bottle throwing (his nickname is Tom Bidon btw)



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