We're a week into the Tour de France, and already the men are being separated from the boys.
The main heroes so far have been Podačar, Vingegaard, Simon Yates, and the tireless and heroic Wout Van Aert. I was still waiting for Cavendish to have his day; he came 2nd recently. Sadly he crashed on Day 8, and broke his collarbone. This was to be his final tour, so a very sad end to an amazing career.
I'm expecting either Podačar and Vingegaard to be on the podium in Paris. Some really spectacular cycling this year, which I'm sure will continue all the way to the Champs Elysée.
This short video will give some idea of the excitement. It also shows some of the 'fans' who make idiots of themselves by running alongside the riders, lighting smoke bombs, and throwing confetti at them.
Unfortunately all I got was "the uploader has not made this video available ".
ReplyDeleteI don't know why they do this. Just go direct to YouTube. It works OK here.
DeleteWe are soon the have the Tour Downunder here in Adelaide with roads blocked off and people unable to catch a bus at the usual spot or the bus trips take longer because of detours around the bikes paths. Still, it's only once a year and it's no hardship for me to avoid the city for a week.
ReplyDeleteOver here the best bit is the pre-race 'caravan', where all the commercial vehicles go past handing-out free gifts. I don't know if your tour will do the same, but it's worth going just for that. For the racing it's best to stay at home and watch on TV; that way you do get to see what's happening.
DeleteSeems much more exciting with a French commentary!
ReplyDeleteThey get very excited!!!
DeleteThis is the first year in many years that I forget to watch it. I'm probably too busy.
ReplyDeleteIt continues for a while yet, watch the final day in Paris; that's always fun.
DeleteCav's crash is very big news here. So many disappointed people.
ReplyDeleteWell, he IS a local boy. What a shame that he couldn't have had one more victory before retiring. Still, he does have an amazing record.
DeleteSports always seem to attract idiots.
ReplyDeleteWe have the cycle teams practising in the hills all around here during the winter months, and many are based in the local towns. Apart from the occasional ardent Tour fan, the rest of us find them a nuisance, and a danger. It's quite a common occurrence for a whole team to be spread out across the road using both carriageways, or they ride three or four abreast blocking one lane. The worst sight recently was a team splitting up and cycling round both sides of a traffic island (roundabout).
I hate seeing cyclists(of all sorts) behaving as if they own the road, and rules don't apply to them. I used to be a keen cyclist myself, and ALWAYS abided by the rules of the road.
DeleteI don't know much about The Tour de France. Do they allow tricycles and electric bikes in the race and do they give disabled riders a head start?
ReplyDeleteThere was a suspicion that a certain American cyclist used an 'assisted' bike. He was later accused of doping, and was stripped of all his accolades. Whether he used an electric bike or not will never be known.
DeleteWith the 6 hour time difference, I am up most mornings early to watch. Between the racing and the French countryside, I could watch every day.
ReplyDeleteI try to watch the last 15-20 kms every day, just to keep-up with what's what.
DeleteVery sad news about Cav. The race, landscape and spectators make for good viewing.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been nice for him to have had one final win. It was not to be.
DeleteI think everyone will feel for M ark Cavendish in his last Tour. He had a wonderfu career in cycling and would have been good to see him retire with a bang rather than a whimper - and a painful one at that.
ReplyDeleteYes, not the exit he had anticipated. Crashes for sprinters are common, but this wasn't even in a sprint.
DeleteThe last thing Cav. would do is whimper !
ReplyDeleteBut he might have used a few expletives!
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