Tour de France 2009

Only your piss. Something about all the garlic you eat, I think.

We all speak french at Herne Hill and Palace...

but really, has it changed? granted that there are more anglophones, but don't they have to "fit in or fuck off?" oh, I forgot about Lance.

It's 'mondialisation' innit? Encouraging countries like China to get involved in cycling isn't going to get very far if they have to learn French as well. At the Tour the old must-speak-French rule applies a bit but only there.

So, I kinda think English used to be the language of the forum but, in a reflection on the real world, it's been replaced by "like" American now and shit..

Fixed

We all speak french at Herne Hill and Palace...

but really, has it changed? granted that there are more anglophones, but don't they have to "fit in or fuck off?" oh, I forgot about Lance.

Have you seen the Procycling feature this month on the 50 most powerful people in professional cycling? His highness is number one, with Pat McQuaid second. Both native English speakers.

Teams like Rabobank and Saxobank both operate in English. As teams become more diverse in terms of nationalities then English becomes the most commonly understood language.

I get procycling on subscription, I never read it.

His Highness is number one??

Blimey, well done Winston.

It would be funny if Euskaltel opperated in Basque.

I get procycling on subscription, I never read it.

well then can I have your copy every month so I can stop buying it?

It would be funny if Euskaltel opperated in Basque.

Euskara is spoken in the Basqueltel team all the time

well then can I have your copy every month so I can stop buying it?

yes, but don't tell my GF who bought it for me for Xmas.

Ok; and I won't tell you that she never reads that Top Gear annual you bought her.

It would be funny if Euskaltel opperated in Basque.

They quite possibly do, not sure of the current make up of the team, but they used to be 90% Basquais, so wouldn't be surprised if that's the language they speak amongst themselves

Edit: Wikipedia says only 1/3 of Basques speak it. but can't figure out the percentage in the Spanish part of the Basque region which is where the team comes from....I think.

Euskara is spoken in the Basqueltel team all the time

Not as a first laguage though surely? All thier riders are Spanish so it would make much more sence speaking spanish, plus Basque is not acutally spoken by as many Basques as you would believe. They've only started speaking and teaching it again in school after about 20 years

Not as a first laguage though surely? All thier riders are Spanish so it would make much more sence speaking spanish, plus Basque is not acutally spoken by as many Basques as you would believe. They've only started speaking and teaching it again in school after about 20 years

As a tactic? have you tried to understand it?

Yes, the problem is the DS doesn't realise his riders haven't a clue what he is saying when he gives them instructions. It explains their less than impressive performances.

Yes I have tried to understand it. Its a joke how hard it is. No reation to any other language in the world. Thats why the Spanish call it 'the language from the aliens'

They only take on riders who are Basque, have Basque heritage (Unai Extebarria was from Venezuela but his ancestors were Basque), or rode as an amateur for a Basque team (like Samuel Sanchez).

I wouldn't be surprised if that nice man and impressive linguist Mr David Millar speaks it Biarritz was his home town for years.

xt is pronounced ch, like in church. That's really all you need to know.

Etxebarria...how do you say that then?

a would highly doubt millar speaks it. Its very rare to come across anyone is France who speaks Basque, especially in Biarritz as its modern and a bit posh

I called it here and I think the aussies I'm with are upset I'm going for cav.

Did peyresourse today and did much better than tourmalet.

Worked jason over and won the stage again :)

Col addict.

Agnes tomorrow. Drinking shitloads of beer here. Found a local one - plume bierre blanche from st girons. Bit too tart. Lots of hard stages left. Will cav make it? Will any of the losers like cadel etc work over astana to give one of them a chance?

Etxebarria...how do you say that then?

Et-chay-barr-ea

well in that case, in Spanish Basque it must be welll above a third who speak it as the wikipedia quote included the french Basques.....

Etxebarria...how do you say that then?

etch e barria

like Etxe Ondo clothes. I have a an old school Etxe Ondo Euskaltel Goretex jacket in the lovely red white and green color scheme. Sensible offers...