With the Tour running in France... is the copetiton diminished for the riders competing in the 08 olympics???

Question

I know the cycling in the Olympic Games is rather different than in the T.D.F. but I would assume some of the riders cross over.

So i guess the question may be, is the 08 Games worth more than competing in France?

I have more than one question buried in there...

SO What are your opinions on the subject?

Answer 1

The competition is diminished by doping allegations. It's sad;the greatest race in the world is a shadow of itself.

Answer 2

There is sufficient recovery time to do both.   IMHO, the tour is a perfect training vehicle to put a rider in peak condition for an Olympic road race.

Answer 3

Many of the riders in the tour are going on to the olympics (their names escape my mind at this moment...but i know it's a fact!!).

Answer 4

several of the tour riders have already qualified for thier nations olympic teams.  they will race both, and it depends on the rider.  some riders are not going to win the tour.  for them the olympics is sometimes thier most important event.

Answer 5

No, however if a rider who is competing in the Olympics finishes high or wins the tour that person would have a mental advantage.

Humm.... now if who ever finishes second in the tour and if by a narrow margin is also in the Olympics, he could now be more motivated to win and put in the extra effort.

Answer 6

well some are still riding the tour and are gonna do the Olympics afterwards. olympics start around 10 days after the tour ends. they should be pretty fresh. the tour de france is the biggest bike race there is. no olympic race is bigger,but the chance to win a gold is important. but again, many feel they can do both. other riders are skipping the tour so they can get ready for the olympics.

so sure the competition is dimished slightly but the omisssion of the astana team is more of a dimishment than what the olympics are doing.

i'd rather go to france than beijing...