| Tour de France 22:23 - Jun 27 with 15592 views | Ranger_Things |
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.
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| Tour de France on 16:47 - Jun 29 with 2669 views | Ranger_Things |
Brilliant, just brilliant. I’m so happy for him, and the green jersey to boot! | | | |
| Tour de France on 22:29 - Jun 30 with 2460 views | Ranger_Things |
| Tour de France on 18:24 - Jun 28 by R_from_afar |
When I went up the Ventoux, it was at a time when I didn't have a car and cycled everywhere. The previous year, four months of which had been spent living at the top of a hill in Austria, I had cycled 3700 miles in 12 months. I was incredibly fit and when we got to the Ventoux, we had already done perhaps five days of cycle camping through the Massif Central en route. We were in peak condition.
We had all the waterproof kit and warm gear as well, good thing too because as has been said, it was cold and windy up there. "Ventoux" actually means windy. The gravel in the bends made the descent a bit hair-raising but we were taking risks anyway as we enjoyed the thrill of it and we managed to outpace a car which had been just behind us for a few miles.
All the effort is well worth it because apart from the huge sense of achievement, there is an incredible, panoramic view from the top, supposedly the best in Europe.
A few years ago, we stayed at a place in Bonnieux, a village which looks out on the Ventoux. The owners of our accommodation told us of two groups of cyclists who had got into trouble on the Ventoux, having underestimated how harsh the weather conditions would be at the top. They had to drive over and "rescue" one couple who were close to the top but struggling with the cold. |
Very cool, respect.
Have you seen what Lachlan Morton is doing?
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jun/26/cycling-lachlan-morton-tour-de-fra
https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/stories/the-alt-tour | | | |
| Tour de France on 18:23 - Jul 1 with 2387 views | W14Hoop |
The great man wins another sprint stage, unstoppable.
Green suits him  |  | | |
| Tour de France on 11:54 - Jul 2 with 2257 views | BrianMcCarthy |
SPOILER!!!
Big break today. VdP, VA and 27 others.
Pogacar and UAE 3 minutes back, UAE tried to bring it back and couldn't.
170km to go. |  |
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| Tour de France on 12:07 - Jul 2 with 2241 views | derbyhoop |
Cavendish must be the best sprinter left in the race. He came in as late replacement for Sam Bennet who won green Jersey last year. Caleb Ewan also out, Greipel too old?
Van Aert and Demare only other contenders for sprints. |  |
| "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky |
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| Tour de France on 13:27 - Jul 2 with 2209 views | R_from_afar |
Very interesting stuff, thanks for sharing. I seem to recall that Nicholas Crane, the TV presenter, and his cousin tried to ride the entire route of the tour, starting each stage just after the actual race had finished. That was back in the late 70s or early 80s, though. It would not be easy given that there are sometimes transfers between the finish and the starting point for the next day's stage.
The Tim Moore books on cycling the grand tours are amusing and fascinating in equal measure. He tells you a lot about the history and lore of the races and the scene in the French pharmacy when he tries to dope himself is hilarious. For the Giro and Vuelta books, he rides a period machine. Anyone for cork brake blocks?  |  |
| "Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1." |
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| Tour de France on 16:47 - Jul 2 with 2151 views | hovehoop |
| Tour de France on 12:07 - Jul 2 by derbyhoop |
Cavendish must be the best sprinter left in the race. He came in as late replacement for Sam Bennet who won green Jersey last year. Caleb Ewan also out, Greipel too old?
Van Aert and Demare only other contenders for sprints. |
You could well be right about Cavendish. Sagan will continue to have a pop but wonder if he might need rolling terrain to make his mark. That said, Van Der Poel and Van Aert can easily match him when the road goes up. Cav is also benefitting from a brilliant lead-out train with Alaphillipe even joining in. |  | | |
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| Tour de France on 16:54 - Jul 2 with 2143 views | hovehoop |
| Tour de France on 11:54 - Jul 2 by BrianMcCarthy |
SPOILER!!!
Big break today. VdP, VA and 27 others.
Pogacar and UAE 3 minutes back, UAE tried to bring it back and couldn't.
170km to go. |
Just checked the stage results. Wonder at what stage, if at all, Jumbo Visma might reconsider who they back for GC. Van Aert has said he's too heavy to get over the mountains but he's got a decent lead on the main players for GC.
Also, shame VdP is leaving the race as he's having a good go so far. | | | |
| Tour de France on 16:57 - Jul 2 with 2142 views | hovehoop |
| Tour de France on 13:27 - Jul 2 by R_from_afar |
Very interesting stuff, thanks for sharing. I seem to recall that Nicholas Crane, the TV presenter, and his cousin tried to ride the entire route of the tour, starting each stage just after the actual race had finished. That was back in the late 70s or early 80s, though. It would not be easy given that there are sometimes transfers between the finish and the starting point for the next day's stage.
The Tim Moore books on cycling the grand tours are amusing and fascinating in equal measure. He tells you a lot about the history and lore of the races and the scene in the French pharmacy when he tries to dope himself is hilarious. For the Giro and Vuelta books, he rides a period machine. Anyone for cork brake blocks? |
Thanks for the Tim Moore recommendation. He's written loads. Is French Revolutions the one to get? | | | |
| Tour de France on 17:28 - Jul 2 with 2123 views | R_from_afar |
| Tour de France on 16:57 - Jul 2 by hovehoop |
Thanks for the Tim Moore recommendation. He's written loads. Is French Revolutions the one to get? |
I'd start with that one, that chronicles his first attempt to ride the route of a grand tour. The "Gironimo!" book is also tremendous and differs from "French Revolutions" in that he rides a period bike round Italy, whereas his ride through France is on a standard modern bike. Both books are good, as is the one in which he rides an East German shopping bike the length of the iron curtain (seriously, he does). I haven't read the the Vuelta one yet. | |
| "Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1." |
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| Tour de France on 18:17 - Jul 2 with 2103 views | Boston |
Was in a bar last night where a local sports radio station were doing a broadcast. They started asking questions to the drinking public, bloke asked me about the Tour de France lady, “think they should put up a line of some sort to keep the public back”’ he said? I told him that the French didn’t have a good record with lines holding back Germans. | |
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| Tour de France on 23:35 - Jul 2 with 2030 views | BrianMcCarthy |
Watched all of today's stage but had to postpone watching the last hour until now.
Incredible day and incredible week so far. | |
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| Tour de France on 23:04 - Jul 3 with 1925 views | Ranger_Things |
Forget drug testing the riders, I think Podacar must be a cyborg. What a great ride. [Post edited 3 Jul 2021 23:06]
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| Tour de France on 00:39 - Jul 4 with 1878 views | LythamR |
| Tour de France on 18:17 - Jul 2 by Boston |
Was in a bar last night where a local sports radio station were doing a broadcast. They started asking questions to the drinking public, bloke asked me about the Tour de France lady, “think they should put up a line of some sort to keep the public back”’ he said? I told him that the French didn’t have a good record with lines holding back Germans. |
To be fair they did a hell of a job holding the Germans up at Dunkirk which allowed so many of our soldiers to get back over the channel at great cost to themselves.
Not to mention Verdun and the Marne in the 1st world war |  | | |
| Tour de France on 00:43 - Jul 4 with 1876 views | CLAREMAN1995 |
Is it true that the person who caused that massive pile up is facing charges .I think I am in favor of this but it depends on the circumstances |  | | |
| Tour de France on 10:28 - Jul 5 with 1759 views | hovehoop |
| Tour de France on 17:28 - Jul 2 by R_from_afar |
I'd start with that one, that chronicles his first attempt to ride the route of a grand tour. The "Gironimo!" book is also tremendous and differs from "French Revolutions" in that he rides a period bike round Italy, whereas his ride through France is on a standard modern bike. Both books are good, as is the one in which he rides an East German shopping bike the length of the iron curtain (seriously, he does). I haven't read the the Vuelta one yet. |
Thanks for the book tips - have ordered both. | | | |
| Tour de France on 10:30 - Jul 5 with 1755 views | hovehoop |
| Tour de France on 00:43 - Jul 4 by CLAREMAN1995 |
Is it true that the person who caused that massive pile up is facing charges .I think I am in favor of this but it depends on the circumstances |
TdF initially said they'd bring charges, but subsequently dropped them and reminded the public to maintain a safe distance. | | | |
| Tour de France on 10:39 - Jul 5 with 1751 views | hovehoop |
| Tour de France on 23:04 - Jul 3 by Ranger_Things |
Forget drug testing the riders, I think Podacar must be a cyborg. What a great ride. [Post edited 3 Jul 2021 23:06]
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Last weeks TT result and Pogacar smashing everyone on Saturday suggests he has no competitors left in the race - providing he stays upright. I couldn't believe he rode up Colombiere in the big ring at the end of the stage. Carapaz for Ineos now 5min 30 behind Pogacar and no idea who will emerge for Jumbo Visma to try and lessen the blow. | | | |
| Tour de France on 14:43 - Jul 5 with 1686 views | derbyhoop |
Rest day today. Certainly needed for many riders.
Where did that ride from O'Connor come from. In the program he doesn't even get a mention in the write up on AG2R Mondial team.
Pogacar looks unstoppable, provided he stays upright.
Boardman was great on C4 highlights. Carapaz tried to break, Pogacar just looked at him slapped him and took off. | |
| "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky |
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| Tour de France on 16:35 - Jul 6 with 1590 views | Sott |
| Tour de France on 14:43 - Jul 5 by derbyhoop |
Rest day today. Certainly needed for many riders.
Where did that ride from O'Connor come from. In the program he doesn't even get a mention in the write up on AG2R Mondial team.
Pogacar looks unstoppable, provided he stays upright.
Boardman was great on C4 highlights. Carapaz tried to break, Pogacar just looked at him slapped him and took off. |
Cav does it again, rolling back the years |  | | |
| Tour de France on 16:38 - Jul 6 with 1585 views | hovehoop |
| Tour de France on 16:35 - Jul 6 by Sott |
Cav does it again, rolling back the years |
Brilliant. | | | |
| Tour de France on 16:40 - Jul 6 with 1580 views | BrianMcCarthy |
Superb race management. The finish seemed to be never in doubt. | |
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| Tour de France on 17:06 - Jul 6 with 1547 views | EastR |
Amazing
Despite all those stage victories he's only ever won the green jersey once before. This year must be the second time now | |
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| Tour de France on 11:15 - Jul 8 with 1439 views | BrianMcCarthy |
WvA imperious yesterday.
Today all set up for Cavendish, you'd think. | |
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