me and our lass parked up on the climb to Col d foix fry,been a fantastic spectacle so far with team cars and major sponsors all passing through dishing out tee shirts,key rings,hats etc,anybody even thinking about taking the tour in at some point then do it,atmosphere has been amazing,booze,music and fantastic hosts,we were even here for the World Cup final and boy do the French know how to party
Are they doing it twice again this year or just the once. Ive no idea how they cover the distances they do with gradients like some of the climbs. I was in France last week and actually drove over the Col du Lautteret ( past the Alp D'Huez road) but didnt get to see any of the tour. I have driven to Alp D'Huez on a ski holiday and its tiring in a car never mind on a bike. Some of the decents are lethal as well - I actually got overtaken on Saturday by a cyclist driving down from the Col du Galibier ( another regular TDF route) cyclist taking the corners faster on a bike than i dared in the car
Just once, they did it twice a few years ago, but it was because it was the Tour's anniversary so it was a special one off. I can't watch the descents. Seen too many people over the years come off and it scares the crap out of me. I was watching live a good number of years ago where a rider died after he came off and hit his head on a concrete block at the side of the road. They made helmets mandatory soon afterwards. Love the race even if there's a lot of doping going on.It's always been
The descents are tough to watch. Richie Porte’s crash last year was horrendous & there’s been some incredibly lucky escapes like Thomas a couple of years ago when he went off the side & down the banking & somehow got up relatively unscathed. No doubt there’s still a bit of doping going off but the race is a lot more competitive now which gives me more belief. Wasn’t so long ago it seemed to be just 3 or 4 teams like Astana, T-Mobile & CSC / Saxo Bank dominating who had organised doping programs. Seeing French riders competing for general classification is a good sign to me. They were always also rand during the 2000’s after it was made a criminal offence to dope in France
Just seen " Barnsley FC " written across the road on a climb 85km from finish of today's stage. Anybody going to own up?
it were me pal,along with the castleford tigers and the coal not dole num 1984-85 ,finished up watching three stages,fantastic!
After reading this it's something that I intend to do next year. Saw a roadside banner, "Le Tarn - Le Tour" was that you?
Wouter Weylandt was the rider who was tragically killed if I’m thinking of the same incident as I remember watching it thinking that it looked proper horrific when they accidentally showed a shot of him with blood pouring from his nose and mouth.
I remember that but it was this I was thinking of https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tour-rider-killed-in-mountain-crash-1592228.html
Stage 21 Houllies to the Champs -Elysees being shown on ITV now. Well done Thomas the Flank Engine. A truly brilliant achievement.