Tour De France

Anyone else watching this? I love watching for the beautiful scenery of the French countryside. The endurance these riders have is unbelievable, putting in 100+ miles everyday.

Professional cycling is a tough sport. The TDF riders race hard enough to lose bone density over the duration of this event.

What other sport do you hurl a bony guy into the asphalt at 40mph wearing a styrofoam beer cooler on his head and little stretchy bits of lycra, then shout GET UP AND RIDE! GO GO (ALLEZ ALLEZ)!!

Wimps need not apply.

My favorite stretches are the big mountains and the rides through fields of sunflowers. What a beautiful country.

angela

it is interesting but i doubt if the single rider has a chance in hell. Those factory teams have 5 riders who pace one another, get burnt out and let the next guy go by and so on.surely a chess game on wheels.

There are no single riders in the TDF. They are all teams. They pick the leader for the team and race in support of that person.

It takes a great rider to win TDF. But without a great team, even the greatest rider has no chance.

angela

... which is a great metaphor for life.

Viva le Tour

I've been an avid follower of the TDF since the early '70's when I started racing bicycles (on a "Fiorelli", back then!!)

Watched through the Bernard Hinault days, the Greg LeMond days, the Eddie Mercx days and on into the Lance Armstrong days as I moved to a Takara factory "Professional" frame and then on to a Tom Kellog which I still ride, now with over 60,000 miles on it.

The coverage these days is remarkable and the high-def scenery is stupendous. And the DRAMA!!! It's like watching a soap opera!! The field is far more open to the younger riders this year. It's getting to be a hoot, though, to listen to Phil Liggit as he gets older and older and older and older.......If he didn't have Paul Sherwood to keep him straight we wouldn't know WHO the hell we're looking at!!

Remember my two friends from last summer who rode across America on their bicycles? THIS year they're over in France, following the TDF. Wish I were with them.......

TDF....BFD...I hate Bikers, all they do is get in my friggy way..

I second all of Gordon's sentiments, and for what it is worth:

I used to race, alot, but that was 70 pounds ago.

As a photographer, I covered many US races, the TDF, the Tour de Suisse, and others.

In 1984 I was in Paris & held Greg LeMond's bike for him at the completion of the last day. He finished 3rd, Lauren Finjon won).

I officiated at the Tour of America in 1985 which ran from VA Beach to DC.

It is true that riding the TDF can take 10 years off of your life.

Really diggin' Voeckler in the yellow jersey. Remember a few years back when he was a U-23 rider and got in a big break-away that yielded him the yellow jersey?

That guy rode his legs off to keep the jersey on his back. Truly inspiring, he rode WAY over his head to defend that honor. I couldn't believe it, I thought he was going to steal the whole show. Coeur de leon!

Wouldn't bother me at all to see this Frenchman win. In fact, I wish I could be there on the mountains and cheer for him!

You see the camera car that took out those riders on Sunday? NASTY! One did a pavement taste test and the other catapaulted onto a barb wire fence. Can't believe they both finished the day. Hope they both start tomorrow.

angela

Tom, what takes 10 years off their life is that they are all juiced..

I love seeing the spectators that dress up like giant water bottles.

Oh heck, the spectators are worth a show all by themselves, especially in the mountain stages - LOL! Those guys are NUTS!

I was watching some rough satellite feeds (instead of the finished program) on year and the camera operator was quite taken with the naked woman riding horseback through the fields! It was HILARIOUS! Didn't make the nicely cut program version, but was rio watch non the less. Can't believe how well the cameraman focused - LOL!

Speaking of cameramen - how about riding down the mountain backwards on a motorcycle with both hands on the camera while the rider tries to stay ahead of the pack that's moving at 50 mph plus?

I would definately have to wear diapers for that...

angela

and every year, in several places, is the wild, bearded guy in the red suit and tights, carrying a trident spear as he runs alongside some of the riders in the mountain hill climbs.

I heard it was a relative of vinces.

Actually it was Gerd, he never misses the TDF...
I prefer riding Ol Debbie, I almost never fall off....

Google amazes me.

Found the Trident guy. Damn! He DOES look like Vince!!!

Oh that should be Vince's new avatar - LOL!

Remember a couple of years back when some bat$shit crazy mountain biker JUMPED THE ROAD AND THE PELETON? It was absolutely the most awesome, stupid, insanely cool thing I've ever seen someone do on a bike. He launched off a cut in in mountain, cleared the road, all the riders, and had quite a bit of room on the otherside. I think he crashed shortly after landing (and shortly before the as$whupping from the Gendarmes).

Those Gendarmes dudes have no sense of humor. Couple of whistle blows, then they break out the beat stick and go to work.

angela

U KNOW U EAST COAST GUYS SHOULD BE PISSED
VINCE TRAVELS TO EUROPE FOR THAT DAMN BIKE RUN BUT WONT STOP BY CARLISLE

Those riders have got to be laughing. Imagine how tired they are going up those climbs then they see that wierdo just going nuts & running next to them!