Off Topic Tour de France

Great performance from Geraint Thomas to become the first Welshman to wear the Yellow Jersey. Looks a more open race this year with less 'killer' mountain finishes. Froome rightly favourite and should win but Richie Porte widely tipped as his main challenger. I expect Simon Yates to put in a strong performance once again so a good British presence in the race. Full classification here...

http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2017/us/classifications.html

 

And a few nasty crashes in the wet - esp. Valverde. I love watching Grand Tour cycling events - made for TV, IMHO.

 

Other than QPR (football) my 2nd love is Le Tour. I watch all the races and have gone and watched before. I was invited this year but due to other commitments reluctantly had to turn it down.
Yesterday was a bad day for injuries. They have just said 2 riders out with a broken back and a broken knee.
I would love to see Cav win a heat but due to illness I don't expect too much. Hopefully Froom will win again but watch out for my old favorite Martin who I expect to do well.
I cannot wait for it to get to France!

 

After a few injections one of the cyclists with a broken back will probably win

 

Sagan had a nightmare today using his elbow to take out Mark Cavendish in the final sprint. Gutted for Cav as he could have won that stage. Hope he is okay after his fall.

 

Sagan chucked out of Tour for that and Cav's Tour is almost certainly over, possible broken arm...

 

Par Bon

 

I'm not a big cycling fan, but I heard an excellent Mark Cavendish interview on Radio 5 earlier. Couldn't find a podcast, but this is a pretty good summary......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/33222937

Love the Jackie Stewart quote.

Got the podcast now...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08wn708

 

Froome takes over the Yellow Jersey following Stage 5...

 

Serious mountain stage today including Mont Chat which should sort the main contenders out at the top of the classification...

 

Tough one today

 

Thunderstorms and 40mph winds forecast as well, should liven things up...

 

Geraint Thomas crashes out of the Tour with a broken collar bone on a treacherous descent...

 

Horrific crash on final descent, Richie Porte goes down at over 40mph, his race is over. Dan Martin brought down in that crash remounts and crashes again further down...

 

After leading over most of the stage and a solo break over the final climb this was how Warren Barguil finished second by the width of a tyre, no wonder he was in tears...

 

Originally he was crying at the thought he had won - the marshals put him in the winners chair - imagine the crashing sense of despair as he realised he had lost.

Shame about Thomas... crashed out of the Giro at the same stage this year, again when he was in second, both times taken out by someone else.

 

Winning a stage on a single gear is well impressive!

 

It was just in the last few kilometres, the riders faffing about on the run-in gave him his chance, still a good stage to win though...

 

Oh yeah, it was a dramatic finish though!

 

English rider Stephen Cummings leading solo break on today's mountain stage 1m 30 secs clear...