July 17, 2003

BOVE BLOCK

What have Jose Bove's supporters got against bicycles?

Lance Armstrong shrugged off a disruption caused by demonstrators to retain the lead in the Tour de France after Dane Jakob Piil won the 10th stage on Tuesday.

Armstrong had to cope with a protest organised by supporters of the radical French farmers leader Jose Bove, who blocked the peloton for two minutes by sitting on the road.

Such unseemly disruptions wouldn’t occur if Tour de France competitors rode these.

Posted by Tim Blair at July 17, 2003 04:25 AM
Comments

Nah, just equip the bicycles with turreted machine guns ala Car Wars. Now if they did that, I might even watch. Bike Wars? Woot!

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at July 17, 2003 at 04:41 AM

I was thinking more on the lines of James Caan in Rollerball.

Posted by: Roger Bournival at July 17, 2003 at 04:42 AM

Tim:

There would be more protests since the Tomahawk is a big 'ol American bike. They probably wouldn't let them on French soil but try to make some bizarre French version with a wine glass holder.

Posted by: The Meatriarchy at July 17, 2003 at 08:54 AM

Two more plusses, no more sweaty cyclists and the race all over in a few hours, and Ozzie riders mulch the Euros into the ground.

Bring on the rule change: a bicycle is defined as pedal powered things for Euro ninnies, and 500cc rocket for anyone else.

Posted by: d at July 17, 2003 at 12:28 PM