Le Tour

[Cuenca 'ammer]

can't believe the race started today and we don't have a thread..


not up on anyone actually like I used to be...

however, even if you haven't got a clue about cycling, what is involved in the race or how even it's run with the teams of 9 riders...

probably one of the best spectacles on telly....

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

It's the only cycling I watch, but there's always that nagging doubt about if I can believe what I'm watching, and how many 'top athletes' have serious health conditions which coincidentally can be alleviated by performance enhancing treatments.

I wish I didn't think like that, but cycling only has itself to blame. Ditching 'theraputic exemptions' would be a start.

[Cuenca 'ammer]

I have always loved the tour......

I thought Armstong was a phenom and I read his books and that..

of course in one he went on about being the most tested cyclist EVER and why, after undergoing so many chemo treatments, he would put more chemicals in his body....

and of course I (and millions of others) felt so terribly let down............

have to admit I lost my love for the sport in general and like yourself only now await the announcement on the latest winner of a stage or the whole thing - guilty of performance enhancing drugs and the drugs actually winning the tour instead of a rider...shame really for the clean ones..if there are any....

:cry:


however the surrounding countryside is spectacular

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

.............................

however the surrounding countryside is spectacular

Agreed one hundred percent. It's the reason I'll be glued to the telly for the next three weeks. That and the comedy value of Mrs. Boots yelling at the spectators to get out of the way, only not quite so politely

[Bend it like Repka]

Lovely stuff Cav....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/48894293" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cuenca 'ammer]

cracking finish today...am still amazed that after 214Kms - these guys can wind up and sprint 50Kph+ to finish

fair play to the Yellow Jersey, led out for a team mate

[Clucking Bell]

Going to watch a couple of stages this year with Middle Bell. We'll hopefully catch the stage around Nimes and the following day up to Gap as well as the finale on the Champs.

Haven't been since about '85 or so and I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm also going to do the climb of Mt. Ventoux out of Bedoin. Bike rental is arranged and I've even got my daughter an e-bike because I figure that her having a replica David Millar replica Garmin-Chipotle jersey isn't actually a substitute for doing any training

Bernal or Thomas should win this and Adam Yates and Kruijswik will be close.

[Cuenca 'ammer]

bet Mrs. JBB was hoarse today shouting at the telly !!!!

good race.

whose bright idea to finish on packed dirt ?

great for the first 2 guys over the line but with all the supporting cars etc. a big cloud of dust for the pursuing riders !!!!!!




yellow jersey made it over the line and stopped completely - looked well cream crackered...

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

[Cuenca 'ammer]

brilliant day's racing..


can't believe that we have so little love on here..

think Bonehead is a big tour fan, but he doesn't seem to post these days..............perhaps work in France is keeping him busy....

shame really...

did have to laugh today - after you told me about Mrs JBB...

the entire peleton was coming around a blind bend uphill and some clown has one of those almighty flags covering over half the road waving it about..

I was thinking the Mrs would have been screaming insults at this idiot..

can't watch spectators close now without thinking about the JBB household !!!!!!



excellent race seemingly fairly open - Bastille Day tomorrow with a Frenchman in yellow...

tomorrow is going to be fantastic....got the tennis AND the bloody tour on simultaneously

[Cuenca 'ammer]

another cracking day not as exciting because the leaders were no threat and the French had no chance really today....

I can hear Mrs JBB screaming "Look at those bloody idiots, they're so close, they'll cause a crash here !!!!"

erm, they're handing out the food bags luv !!!!!!!!

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

Luckily she was out today, otherwise the cold compresses would have been fetched.

[Jasper]

Today was fantastic, absolute carnage in the crosswind.
If you have not seen it yet dont miss the highlights tonight.

[Cuenca 'ammer]

thought me and JBB were pretty much the only 2 watching (plus his missus of course)

seemed like they were flying today....

well deserved day off tomorrow....

Shirley they're in the mountains this weekend ?


mountains Thurs - time trial Fri, mountains Sat & Sun

bloody hell and we also have the British Open as well !!!!!!!!

[Bend it like Repka]

So at what point will the French press start asking Julian Alaphilippe about his incredible performance leap from last year's Tour?

Will French fans start booing him and throwing bottles of piss maybe?

Thought not.

[Bend it like Repka]

Or the fact Pinot is suddenly such a dominant climber?

Actually it is a great race. I really hope all these guys are clean.

[Cuenca 'ammer]

share your sentiments Bendy....

found this article today....

sound familiar ?

https://cyclingtips.com/2017/08/analysi ... orth-cost/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Companies interested in title sponsorships have traditionally been the lifeblood of the sport, but in recent years many have been driven away by the rapidly rising costs of sponsoring a WorldTour team. This is largely due to a small group of independently wealthy individuals and oil-rich countries funding teams with budgets up to three times the amount of sponsor-financed teams.

While obviously not good for the sporting value to have a wide disparity between team budgets, this trend is also a threat to the foundation and future of professional cycling.