There's a 'Great Summer of Sport' coming up!

[LMcD]

Well done, andy!

[gurnemanz]

Exciting finish on today's stage. Thrilling victory and comeback triumph for Manx maestro, Mark Cavendish.

[LMcD]

Just out of interest - why, or how, do messages posted in capitals (for emphasis), like what #76 was, become decapitalized?

[vinteuil]

just out of interest - why, or how, do messages posted in capitals (for emphasis), like what #76 was, become decapitalized?

... yes - it's a regular frustration when you type in something that shd be in caps - nato, fr'instance - and it comes out (as here) in lower case

N A T O works, but NATO doesn't

... oops - it just worked!

ANDY howzat

.

[Serial_Apologist]

... yes - it's a regular frustration when you type in something that shd be in caps - nato, fr'instance - and it comes out (as here) in lower case

N A T O works, but NATO doesn't

... oops - it just worked!

ANDY howzat

.

I find if you type as desired, and it comes up lower case instead, if you the go back and re-capitalise, it works - or has done, for me.

[french frank]

I've NEVER noticed that! This is certainly correct in Preview (just testing)

Just checked the No Shouting option. It was set to allow up to 4 consecutive capitals (I don't think I have any special permission but at last count NEVER has 5 characters). I've increased this to 6 letters, but the main problem was when people used all caps for thread titles as a ploy for making their threads stand out. Best is to use bold/underline, rather than caps, for general emphasis.

[LMcD]

I've NEVER noticed that! This is certainly correct in Preview (just testing)

Just checked the No Shouting option. It was set to allow up to 4 consecutive capitals (I don't think I have any special permission but at last count NEVER has 5 characters). I've increased this to 6 letters, but the main problem was when people used all caps for thread titles as a ploy for making their threads stand out. Best is to use bold/underline, rather than caps, for general emphasis.

Thank you! I shall follow your advice!.

[johncorrigan]

Exciting finish on today's stage. Thrilling victory and comeback triumph for Manx maestro, Mark Cavendish.

Never thought I'd see Cav do that again, gurney. It was great watching him in the intermediate sprint practicing the lead-out. It's going to be quite emotional seeing him in the green jersey today; and hope to see another couple of wins from him before this tour is finished.

[LMcD]

Fine win by Dan Evans yesterday. Andy's back in action today - mind that slippery patch, son!

[Sir Velo]

Three amazing stages in three days. There's nothing quite like Le Tour!

If only you could believe that the results were achieved through fair means.

Having grown up watching the tour in the 80s and 90s (and continuing to believe against all reason in the 00s), I can't think of a single tour winner left untainted by the stain of PEDs.

The problem is that cycling, more than any other sport, is almost totally reliant on physical stamina and speed, all of which attributes are vastly improved by means of blood doping; EPOs etc. The fact is that anyone who beats a convicted cheat is capable of doing so either by being almost superhuman or by cheating themselves.

Sorry to be a wet blanket!

[johncorrigan]

If only you could believe that the results were achieved through fair means.

Having grown up watching the tour in the 80s and 90s (and continuing to believe against all reason in the 00s), I can't think of a single tour winner left untainted by the stain of PEDs.

The problem is that cycling, more than any other sport, is almost totally reliant on physical stamina and speed, all of which attributes are vastly improved by means of blood doping; EPOs etc. The fact is that anyone who beats a convicted cheat is capable of doing so either by being almost superhuman or by cheating themselves.

Sorry to be a wet blanket!

Not at all, Sir. I understand completely. I've also watched the Tour since the mid-80s and in the process have seen some of my heroes fall; and others get away with it, I have no doubt. However, I do think cycling has done more to try to clean up its act than almost any other sport, although that may be because it was starting from a long way back. David Millar, who is in the commentary box for ITV, has talked openly about his position and the pressures he felt to conform to the drug culture within the sport; if he was going to succeed then he had to cheat, and then he had to take the punishment when he was found out. Pro Cycling is still not without its issues, but I have to believe now that the people I love to watch are operating above board, and I hope they are. I never cared for Armstrong and was not surprised by his fall; but I was devastated by the fall from grace of Marco Pantani, and hope that the new young heroes coming through are able to resist the pressures. And every year I turn up dutifully for the three weeks run through France to watch some great sport despite the niggle at the back of my mind.

[LMcD]

A good day for the Brits in the gentlemen's singles down in SW19, culminating in a further display of Magnificent Murray Magic. For as long as he can keep going, every point is to be treasured!
'Easily the most vibrantly exhausting evening's telly of the year so far- even more dramatic than the preceding item what we watched - Wallace & Gromit's 'The Wrong Trousers'.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Not at all, Sir. I understand completely. I've also watched the Tour since the mid-80s and in the process have seen some of my heroes fall; and others get away with it, I have no doubt. However, I do think cycling has done more to try to clean up its act than almost any other sport, although that may be because it was starting from a long way back. David Millar, who is in the commentary box for ITV, has talked openly about his position and the pressures he felt to conform to the drug culture within the sport; if he was going to succeed then he had to cheat, and then he had to take the punishment when he was found out. Pro Cycling is still not without its issues, but I have to believe now that the people I love to watch are operating above board, and I hope they are. I never cared for Armstrong and was not surprised by his fall; but I was devastated by the fall from grace of Marco Pantani, and hope that the new young heroes coming through are able to resist the pressures. And every year I turn up dutifully for the three weeks run through France to watch some great sport despite the niggle at the back of my mind.

Thanks for posting this, John. It sums up my feelings too as an armchair Tour (and Giro and Vuelta) fan. I share your hopes regarding the new upstarts, and also that niggle - let's face it, it will always be there while pushing things as far as they will go and a bit more is part of the scene.

[LMcD]

I gather that initial sales of tickets for 'The 100' have been strong, with one fifth going to under-16s. If this competition is a great success, will the desire to expand it, with all that could mean for the already somewhat beleaguered traditional county structure, prove irresistible?

[ardcarp]

Absolutely breathtaking women's tennis on Court 2 this afternoon. The Kerber v. Tormo match. It could have gone either way (I won't do a spoiler) but
I don't think I've ever seen such a brilliant (and exhausting) 3 setter.

Should there be...is there?.... a dedicated Wimbledon thread?