Thought we should have a thread for the World's Greatest sporting event... According to some. Fascinating year where several riders have Rio in the back of their minds. Cav seems to suggest Sagan can't be beaten for the Green, due to the intermediates, so it looks like he is only riding for stage wins... And he is close to the record. Froomy is in top form, and I think he has to try and stop the other teams working together to isolate him. A lot to come, and I know how brutal it is having done some of the Pyrenees climbs. For me, I hope Cav can win today and finally get Yellow to complete his Palmares. Don't rule out Griepel, Kittel, or a kick ass pile up!!
Whens it start, are the Welsh going to win it, can the Germans be beaten. you're new to match threads arent you Mr Shoes. With this lot you have to capture them too please log in to view this image
I've spoken to friends who live in the Pyrenees and they tell me the weather there is almost identical to here. Torrential downpours, lightning etc.. Could be really interesting. Of course about 10 days before they reach there..
Not the same without Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen commentating, but the world moves on. Last few days in the Alps look key. Fancy Qintana if he is still in the mix when the last week starts.
Are they stood down? Retired? Always been a choice between ITV4 and Eurosport, but the ITV highlights program is essential viewing. And it is well worth a trip to see it live, as Yorkshire is well aware. Weather could be key... There is a lot of descending this year and it could get nasty!
That will shut a few up. First time in yellow. And he did it himself. Great race instincts. And the poor sod who got spun in the barrier caused some chaos!
Great and emotional speech. He will be a true ambassador for the days he wears it. Could teach a few footy players a thing about honour and passion in victory.
Definitely. Have been to French Alps a few times and latterly Yorkshire. There is a compromise between viewing location and how interesting the racing is at that point. If you're stood approaching the top of a mountain, it'll be crowded and may be difficult to reach. If you're on a flat, straight section, you'll proabably have space to spread out with seats, food and drink but the whole group will probably pass in a couple of minutes. We opted for the latter in Yorkkshire, hiring a Camper Van : basically a three day party with a the cyclists streaming by now and then. Had a brilliant time.
Saw it go up a first cat in the Pyrenees after I'd ridden the same and done the Tourmalet. Get in a damn steep hill and you can run alongside the riders as they crawl up. It's amazing you are literally inches away. On he flat there will be a noise and they will appear and flash by. It's not just the race, it's the huge caravan (meaning float parade) that rolls by in advance. And the atmosphere. And the neighbours. And the wine. And the sheer scale of it. And the helicopters. Etc. It is genuinely incredible.
Agreed, grew up with them back when it was on channel 4. Apparently ITV binned them but can still be heard in NBC.
Yes I went with Guvnor66 Excellent day and the beer is excellent ...actually in hindsight that might have been because we were in Masham, it's possible the beer in the Pyrenees might not be as good !
Qintana is class and i would like to see him win it one day but be good to see another win for Froome. Be interesting to see how Porte can do this year as his support in the mountains for Froome last year was immense.
Porte was very unlucky today getting a puncture at a bad time, which has dented his chances of winning. Both Froome and Qintana look strong, and a good win for Peter Sagan today to take the Yellow jersey.
If only we'd learn't how to put up the tent properly / it hadn't rained, a lot ... luckily my clean / dry set of clothes soaked up all the water in the tent ... very good beer, good food & the greatest cycling event
I go on a VW campervan forum and there was a chap on that site that had his van parked on a 10 metre wide grassed section (like a central reservation) in the mountains and the TDF riders passed him on both sides. When the peloton came past it was like he was engulfed by cyclists!
