I wasn’t going to write, but I after today’s stage, I had to. MarcusR, Sean where are you!! Yesterday and today’s stage were amazing. I am pleased with the measured rides the leaders are doing.
Looks like a fun tour.
bump- Is no one watching? Or does anyone care any more?
I’m in. Have been a fan since the the early LeMond days. Go Isle of Man!!!
I just watched the replay of the final sprint in today’s Stage 13…Wow! I could hardly believe my eyes when Cavendish just popped out of the box and took the stage. It looked close from the ground level camera but when they showed the helicopter’s view it looked like he was a whole bike length out and still accelerating! Verrrry impressive. I actually kind of felt sorry for Robbie McEwen.
Do any of you find yourself riding better during the Tour? It seems like I have just a little more energy and am willing to push myself just a little bit harder on my 2 wheeled commute when I’m looking forward to watching the race replay that evening.
Ming
Well it could be the changing of the guard for Robbie. He’s been at thetop of his game for a long time.
I use the tour as an excuse to monopolize the TV for an hour or so.
We don’t have cable so I haven’t watched. I think Cavendish has a unfair advantage coming from the Isle of Man. He has like, another leg up on everybody. 
I don’t actually watch the race except if I see clips of wrecks but I have followed the doping stories since Lance Armstrong was accused. I don’t know who to believe.
I’m watching the race but it’s in bits and pieces
throughout the day. I have a good friend in
Luxembourgh so it’s nice to see Kim Kirchen and
the Schleck brothers doing well, so far.
I’m sure the riders aren’t very happy about the
continuing doping issues.
As an aside, it’s getting hard to find people wearing
the yellow Livestrong bracelets anymore. I was
wearing mine whilst getting ready for a medical
procedure and the nurse told me, “I guess you know
that a yellow wrist band signifies Do Not Resuscitate !”
Thanks for starting this thread. I’ve been enjoying the tour. Maybe it’s the absence of obvious stars, but there seems to be more focus on team interplay.
I’m not all that happy with the US coverage on Versus, though. It’s not only the annoying & repetitive ads for the network’s lineup of shows (the other sponsors deserve gratitude for making complete coverage available), but also the lack of real info in the commentaries, at least on the live AM broadcast (that’s when I can hijack the TV most effectively). Maybe it’s better on the prime time “enhanced” show. I’ve still got a lot to learn about this kind of race, and I’d be glad for more solid reporting.
Anyone else read David Walsh’s account of how blood-doping inflitrated the sport, “From Lance to Landis”?
Wait, you want MORE info and insight than the Phil and Paul show?!? What do you feel is lacking? Hell, Phil’s been covering cycling since the wheel was invented. To me there is a good balance of team tactics, day-to-day discussions, as well as Paul’s delving into local history.
BTW, where in Upstate NY are you? I grew up in the Mohawk valley and used to cycle all over the region.
Hey, Mark –
No offense intended to Phil & Paul. I’ve enjoyed them for years. But I think the stuff you mentioned–tactics, history–and more background on the riders, relationships of teams & sponsors, how the sport is actually coping with the doping issue could get worked into the commentary more fully and coherently if the program directors had provided a stronger research crew in the background (or if they though the viewers wanted this kind of info). Sorry if this seems like I’m trying to turn it into “PBS Goes Cycling” or something like that. Mostly I’m just glad it’s on at all.
I live in the Mohawk Valley, between Schenectady and Saratoga Springs. Lots of lovely back roads.
As my riding buddy said this morning, “If I ever see that Bacardi mojito ad one more time…”
I countered with “Hey, at least its not born from jets”
There was a wonderfully unguarded moment with Jonathan Vaughters. Given the brief, and entirely understandable adult language in JV’s response to what must have been a nuisance of an interview, I’m not sure I can post the link. But a youtube search for “Vaughters” and “Tour de France” will turn up a clip called “StaytotheleftDavid” or something close to that.
It seems to me a strange sport for spectators, anyhow.
cause you can’t see the race, only the moment when
the riders race by your little patch of the course.
So why go?
Must be exciting for participants. I used to run long-distance
races. Oh my that was great.
I’ve been watching since the Lemond days too, but I’ve lost interest with all the doping related stuff going on in recent years. particularly since Hamilton and Landis.
I don’t think I’ll be able to get into it again until the sport is actually cleaned up or at least evened out - what the heck, just let everyone dope if you can’t test for it accurately and in a timely fashion.
Ach, most main stream sports in general are mess these days. Bummer.
Loren
another great day for the Schleck family: Frank in yellow, Andy in white.
and aren’t they lovely?
Ah Claudine, a true Luxemburger- Yes, they did well today. CSC looked really good on the climb. My own hope, Christian Vandevelde didn’t faire that well. But that’s racing. Go ride your bike!
I like this tour, its close- no one has any real advantage until tomorrow or Saturday.
Hi Fel and others!
I’m watching (just spend less time on the internet) as much as I can of the tour this year, try to get time for the interesting stages between work and spending time with the kids. Love how it has unfolded this year in spite of the three EPO discoveries, Ricco was a real disappointment but not totally unexpected.
As a long time CSC fan this looks like to be “the year”. Fränk Schleck is riding very well and with Carlos 49 sec behind they will have two strong cards to play for the final stages. It is still quite open which is great for the race with good teams and some of my other favourite riders like Menchov and Vande Velde still within reach for the yellow jersey. And you should never count out Evans, if he can survive the 21 loops of L’Alpe-d’Huez today and hand hang on to Saint-Etienne he will be a real threat on the time trial.
Most impressive rider for me so far is Andy Schleck who has done some incredible work in the background for the CSC team. To see him ripping the peleton apart together with Stuart O’Grady, Fabian Cancellara and Jens Voigt gave me goose bumps. Then he continues to stay on, and even pull through the climbs. Amazing and this is his firs tour! I really hope that he will keep the white jersey, it is well deserved.
In a few hours I’ll sneak from work to watch today’s spectacle. I think we’ll see some strong rides by Carlos and Fränk with a joint effort to drop Evans and Kohl, Menchov will stick with them. If Valverde and Sanchez wants to be on the podium they also need to get their climbing gear out today. I hope Carlos Sastre will do well today and my bet is that we’ll see him in yellow when they arrive in Paris 
Hard to find any other sport that will give you so much excitement for so many hours over 21 days 
Best of all, is to go for a ride yourself just after you watched a stage.
Cheers all!
/MarcusR
Well Claudine, the bros Schleck did really well today. Andy has the white jersey locked up I’d say. Great stage on the Alpe. Anyone out there do the Alpe as sportiv?
Yes, great to see a contest like yesterday’s. And I have to recant my earlier complaint about the commentary–the coverage of the last few stages has been very complete and helpful.