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Anyone following it? A couple of big crashes on the first day, including one caused by a fan. Then today a stunning ride and win by Van Der Poel. This is shaping up to be a great race.
From what I know about the Tour De France you don't get carried away in the early stages by anything. Having said that it was very impressive finish by van de poel.
Is the course particularly challenging this year? I've not studied it.
Last year was the first year that I followed all jerseys races, and that makes every day fascinating.
Disappointing from an Irish point of view that Bennett is injured, but there's still so much to look forward to - the racing, the scenery, the history, the sprinters, the punchers, the climbers, the young breakers, Jonathan Harris-Bass's recipes, Sean Kelly's quiet sarcasm, Carlton Kirby's bubbling enthusiasm, Bradley Wiggins calling every race wrong - Eurosport coverage is pure quality.
"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
So many involved in the crashes had nasty injuries but were back patched up and on their bikes the next morning. They make footballers look like the cry baby weaklings that so many of them are. These riders are tough and don’t strut around with ridiculous tattoos on display like they are hard nuts and then go down whining and rolling around with minimal contact.
I love cycling and the races within a race that the multi-stage tours throw up. Go read the stories of Firorenzo Magni at the 1956 Giro or Bernard Hinault at the 1980 Liege-Bastogne-Leige (a one-day monument) rechristened Niege-Bastogne-Niege. Just a couple among countless historic accounts of the bravery and toughness of these athletes who to even have modicum of success have to be able to suffer.
I love football but can’t stand the overblown use of the words courage and bravery attached to so many things they do which may be acts of skill, guile or artistry. Just wish we could watch matches without all the histrionics.
Likewise. Ineos can dictate stages to a fashion but no longer dominate as before. I think the racing has improved with the rise of teams like Jumbo Visma and EF and others getting in the mix.
Agree with that Brian. Love the Eurosport coverage. And the scenery. Shame for Bennett as he was effectively ousted by Bora in favour of Ackerman (I think), so it's been great seeing him get over that and win for Quick-Step instead. Though I think there's a suggestion of Bennett moving team again, after this season.
I'm looking forwards to seeing how the other teams manage Pogacar this time round and I doubt Jumbo Visma will allow him to hitch a ride, as before. That's if they can stop him. And already we've seen Roglic looking for vital seconds here and there.
For great scenery, it's also worth tuning into some of the early season day races. Strade Bianche is one of my favourites. And that course is perfectly suited to bring out the best from Alaphillipe, Van Aert and Van der Poel.
Fair play to the Tour for the great parcours so far. Great seeing the world's best puncheurs duking it out for yellow. Can't see past Caleb Ewen today, if they all stay upright which they may well not with storms expected.
I'll be at the first mountain finish on Saturday at Grand Bornand. Also hoping to tag on with Lachlan Morton on Sunday if the timing is right: https://alttour.ef.com/
Suspect you're right about Ewan. He apparently lost weight to have a serious go at Milan-San Remo this year and the commentators speculated his sprinting form might suffer because of it. But it doesn't look as if that's materialised.
Enjoy Saturday and getting out on that ride. Only mildly envious!
There was another event documented in a film called Le Ride? in which they re-created the 1928 route but using vintage bikes from the time. They had serious issues braking and from memory, one of the bikes handlebars snapped and fell off!
Van der Poel may as well go for it. I hadn't appreciated he's leaving the race early to focus on the Olympics. Shame as it would be good to see him for the entire race. Was looking forwards to seeing Van Aert, MVDP and Alaphillipe and maybe Sagan compete with each other. But we don't know yet if Van Aert has license to do his own thing.
Hats off for riding L'Etape. I think it's the toughest sport too.
Don't mind Carlton, but it's the pro coverage I'm interested in and how they see and explain subtleties in the peloton and Miller is good at that. I like Boardman's analysis too.
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