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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2014 19:04:15 GMT
The route of the Tour de France was published today. Anybody coming to France next year with any interest in seeing one of more stages can now begin to make plans. imageshack.com/a/img673/9955/UNU4wy.jpgIf inspired, I might go to Amiens, Abbeville or Le Havre at the beginning, since they are all easy to get to from Paris. If I get enthusiastic, I might go to La Pierre Saint Martin in the Pyrénées, which is very close to the Gorges of Kakuetta which I wouldn't mind seeing again during a different season. Now this thread can go to sleep for the next nine months...
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Post by htmb on Oct 22, 2014 19:36:41 GMT
I never imagined I would enjoy seeing the end of the race, but was very glad to have experienced it in 2010. We were very caught up in the excitement and spectacle of the event.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2015 12:39:29 GMT
The Tour de France coverage on television can make even Belgium look beautiful. After yesterday's terrific storms in the Netherlands, the riders seem to be really appreciating a little sunshine today.
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Post by bjd on Jul 6, 2015 13:57:38 GMT
They are lucky not to be here in the south, with their synthetic clothes in this heat. It is supposed to be hot still next week.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2015 16:25:27 GMT
Ouch!
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Post by htmb on Jul 6, 2015 16:30:01 GMT
Awful!!!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2015 17:59:03 GMT
This was only the 5th time in history that the Tour was neutralised temporarily (for about 20 minutes).
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Post by tod2 on Jul 7, 2015 16:44:55 GMT
I haven't said anything about the Tour de France as yet. Been watching every day but what interests me more...or maybe the same, is the interviews and general chat about it the next day on NOS Dutch television. I can understand most of it but love the way they interview the 'not so famous' bike riders and take you behind the scenes. For example: this morning we saw mechanices balancing each wheel. One of the young mechanics was dressed only in socks and shoes - some short pants and an apron.....Gawd, why am I not thinking of riding a bike right now I just love this race but have only experienced being at the finish once. Mmmm.. time to think ahead! I adore the cobble stone road section. I reckon ( besides the high volume of dust) that is a good place to be when watching the Tour up close.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2015 17:01:23 GMT
I'll post yesterday's crash again since the other video was deleted.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 7, 2015 17:05:28 GMT
Certainly was a tense moment....the train has right of way not matter what!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 13:16:48 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Jul 9, 2015 13:53:40 GMT
Oh you lucky devil! I would like to know how you managed to get close enough to take photos...in other words did you have to walk a long distance. Was it a one day trip?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 14:15:58 GMT
At Vimy Ridge, since the roads were already closed, it was necessary to walk quite a long distance -- I'd say at least 4 kilometres, maybe more. In the village, we only had to park about 50 metres from the road the Tour used. It is often a matter of luck and for the second location, the luck was that the wind and rain had made the riders quite slow. The timings on the map I had were already past, but the riders suddenly appeared 5 minutes after we got there.
(In any case, we weren't going anywhere because the road in front was closed and other cars behind made it impossible to turn around.)
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Post by htmb on Jul 9, 2015 15:31:10 GMT
Kerouac can be quite modest. Of course he was a bit lucky, but he also followed his instincts and used his past experience to arrive at the little village just at the perfect time. The first stop was a great one, too. Not only did we get to see the product display (what's it called?) and the riders, but the setting was incredible.
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Post by mich64 on Jul 9, 2015 15:48:01 GMT
What a fabulous treat to be in the right spot at the right time to enjoy the experience of seeing the Tour de France in person! Wonderful you two!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 16:17:04 GMT
Yes, it was only 200km from Paris so it was an easy day trip.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 22:11:54 GMT
This time it was Tony Martin, wearing the yellow jersey, who fell and broke his collarbone just one kilometre before the finish line. Even though he still qualified for the yellow jersey after crossing the line with the help of his team, he had to abandon the race this afternoon. Tomorrow will be the first time in more than 20 years that the Tour will leave without a cyclist wearing the yellow jersey.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2015 11:13:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2015 17:27:06 GMT
It's starting to look like it's going to be Christopher Froome this year.
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Post by fumobici on Jul 14, 2015 17:35:18 GMT
He certainly looked like the class of the field climbing to La Pierre-Saint-Martin. Long way yet but I wouldn't bet against him.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2015 20:19:01 GMT
Hmmmm, Froome is now under suspicion for being a bit too energetic. And his team buses appear to be a bit too mysterious.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 17, 2015 16:56:49 GMT
I saw an interview this morning with Lance Armstrong almost defending Froome. I would be more shocked than shocked about Froome than I would be about Lance. I say "No Way Ho Say" is he in the same cock-up. My husband quipped that it was because he isn't French.....how the tune would alter.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2015 5:22:06 GMT
The French riders were the first ones ever to be caught back in the Festina days.
Now the French can't even stay on their bikes anymore.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2015 19:12:54 GMT
Somebody threw a glass of urine on Chris Froome today as he passed by. That is not nice at all.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jul 19, 2015 8:48:44 GMT
On the news this morning they were saying that some influential French journalists hate team sky (presumably because of Rupert Murdoch?) and have been stirring up the French public against them...hence Chris being doused in urine and accused of taking performance enhancing substances. He seems unphased by it all...I always thought that Froome was a good'un, he is generally presented in a positive light here but then the British press is sooooo biassed it's unreal sometimes.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 10:50:34 GMT
It would be interesting to compare the biases of the journalists of every single cycling country when they report on a race like this. I'm sure that their reports are all so totally different that it would be impossible to even recognise that it is the same event. As for Team Sky, the French journalists are suspicious because their buses have black windows and all access to them is impossible. However, certain Sky team members took some photos inside and it appears that the buses are equipped with high altitude chambers, which enrich the blood before the race.
Actually, the suspicion started during the Giro in Italy because the team leader slept on one of the buses instead of at a team hotel. This is exactly the sort of thing that Lance Armstrong used to do.
Sky promised to permit access to the buses, but I don't know what they have actually done.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 20, 2015 14:23:10 GMT
The last I saw this morning on BVN Dutch TV broadcasting to South Africa was shots of police at some place. I understand most Dutch but could not make out what was happening but I presume that throwing urine at a cyclist is considered a criminal offence and I suppose it's being investigated.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2015 16:16:44 GMT
Well, they have an excellent DNA sample. I wasn't able to see the Tour today since I was on the road. I did see in a recap that one rider missed a turn and went over the side. Tomorrow is a rest day and then the tough stuff begins -- the Alps.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 20, 2015 16:20:52 GMT
Yes, I watched him plummet over the grass verge but rejoin the race and catch up very successfully! I do admire Peter Sagan for his down hill chase. I thought if he comes off he is in BIG trouble.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2015 17:22:47 GMT
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