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Post by BigIain on Mar 31, 2009 7:35:25 GMT
I know I am way early, but I have just been looking at the course for this year : www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/COURSE/us/le_parcours.htmland I note 2 things immediately: 1... the Team Time Trial returns (probably at the insistence of Armstrong as this was one of the main reasons for 3 of his wins) in Montpellier area 2... the Tour visits the ugliest town in France, La Grand Motte. For anyone who has been in the Montpellier area, LGM is the seaside town with those awful appt blocks.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2009 7:40:47 GMT
It will be considered a treasure of 1970's architecture some day. I'm sure you know that the stopover cities are sold to the highest bidder, as this creates a huge revenue boost in the city coffers.
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Post by BigIain on Mar 31, 2009 7:49:09 GMT
To be fully appreciated, the viewer has to be either returning on the road from The Camargue, or else either coming or going from Montpellier airport.
Its kind of compulsively ugly.
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Post by BigIain on Apr 1, 2009 8:36:25 GMT
I am trying to decidewhen to go see a couple of stages. languedoc is the obvious answer but I fancy a change really. I was spoiled last year because it passed through Roujan when I was still living there. I am thinking 18th and 19th July when the tour travels through Alsace and then on to Verbier in Switzerland. I have never travelled through Alsace before.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2009 8:48:44 GMT
A few years ago I caught a stage not too far from there on a long slow climb in the Jura region. The long slow climbs are good for getting a better look at the riders since they can't go as fast.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2009 7:14:23 GMT
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Post by BigIain on Apr 3, 2009 7:57:04 GMT
Thats pretty poor! I did have a quick guffaw.
You are most fortunate to have this great race finish in your city each year. Do you ever visit the finish? The TV coverage here is on Eurosport UK and we only get the last 2 or maybe 3 hours of each stage. It is compulsive viewing for me if at all possible.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2009 8:08:58 GMT
Yes, I have watched the finish a few times, or rather, I have gone to watch the first five loops or so, and then I run home to watch the finish on television where you can see everything better.
I just love the coverage on France 2 and France 3 but unfortunately I can only watch it on the weekends because I'm at the office the rest of the time.
I might combine my annual trip to Avignon with one of the stages in the Alps. In recent years I have been taking the TGV down to Avignon where I rent a car, and then driving back to Paris, so I can take any suitable 'detour' on the way back.
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Post by hwinpp on Apr 3, 2009 9:59:45 GMT
I can't get Eurosport in Phnom Penh. Hope the French channel carries it.
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Post by BigIain on Apr 3, 2009 16:16:14 GMT
Oh, Kerouac! They are doing Mount Ventoux this year, I think its one of the final stages before paris. Could be perfect for you.
I love Avignon and the surrounding area
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2009 16:44:44 GMT
I know, but that is probably too late for me.
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Post by BigIain on Apr 3, 2009 20:23:24 GMT
Hey Kerouac, you can go to the beautiful La Grande Motte for the end of that stage from Marseille, then on to Cap d' Adge for the start of the next. A nice afternoon on the nudist beach and then a 60 minute drive up to chateau Faz in the evening!
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Post by bazfaz on Apr 4, 2009 20:32:25 GMT
In 2007 we had the tour going along the D908 just at the bottom of the hill where we live. So we took a couple of grandchildren down to join the spectacle. The circus that came first really caught the fancy of the kids and they picked up lots of the goodies that were thrown. There was then a hiatus while they went back to our house. I just lay in the shade of a tree and waited for the next excitement. Yes, Mrs Faz brought the kids back and we waited. Official cars started coming. And press cars. And TV vans. And police. And firemen. And gendarmes. And ambulances. And motorbike outriders. And two men on bicycles. Hello? How did they get in? But it turned out they were the front runners. A couple of minutes later the pack came - whee - and disappeared out of sight. Thirty seconds and they had gone. So I have seen the Tour de France on the ground. I think it must be better on TV.
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Post by onlymark on Apr 5, 2009 5:01:59 GMT
In my early years as a Policeman I was detailed to work one day on the old Milk Race in the UK. My duty, my area was quite rural, was to block traffic coming from a minor road onto the main road out in the countryside. This was in the dip after a long downhill section. I stood there for two and a half hours, was told via the radio they were on the way, blocked the junction, the whole kit and kaboodle shot past at 80km per hour within 10 seconds, I unblocked the junction and then had to stand there for a further hour until I was picked up.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2009 5:26:42 GMT
The Tour 2010 starts from Rotterdam, if anybody wants to start making any plans.
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Post by BigIain on Apr 20, 2009 18:26:13 GMT
Lance has been confirmed as part of Astana's team for the Giro d'Italia so it is almost a certainty that he will start the Tour for them also.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2009 19:48:15 GMT
I am wondering how he managed not to be suspended after his latest doping incident.
Actually, I am not really wondering at all, because the cloud of suspicion builds more interest and brings in more money.
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Post by BigIain on Apr 21, 2009 10:02:20 GMT
I am sure that the anti-doping authorities will be taking on new staff before July to "accomodate" Mr Armstrong.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2009 20:11:08 GMT
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Post by BigIain on Apr 24, 2009 22:21:25 GMT
Yeah, I heard about this earlier this evening. He is going to be pestered by suchlike stories all summer, I fear. Have you had any thoughts as to if and where you would see a stage this year? I am going to struggle to fit one in this year actually. Also there are none which really seem attractive. Last time I looked at the site, it had not got detailed daily routes published yet which makes it impossible to plan.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2009 22:29:45 GMT
I set up my Avignon dates, and they won't fit with seeing the Tour... maybe next year. But of course I'll at least see some of it in Paris.
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Post by BigIain on Apr 25, 2009 20:43:33 GMT
Do you tour for a week or so back to paris? in 2002ish I helped an American set up a brewery in Roujan/Marseillan, one of his suppliers for componants was in Sourgues just North of Avignon. No trip to the supplier was complete without a spot of sampling in Chateauneaf-du-pape village!!! It used to be a long day as I recall
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2009 21:24:43 GMT
Basically, I just stay in Avignon during the festival and see about 4 plays a day. When the Tour has been in the area, I have devoted a day to it. Once my hotel was even invaded by sexy yellow-clad Crédit Lyonnais girls who were working on the Tour, which was passing just 20 km away.
Anyway, I'll be in Avignon from July 13 to 19, and I have booked TGV tickets already (for the past few years, I had driven back up to Paris in the rental car, which allowed me to divert over to a nearby Tour location, but not this year) -- so my car rental will just be in Avignon.
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Post by BigIain on Apr 25, 2009 22:23:05 GMT
well you will at least have the chance to see one of the best Bastille day feu artifices displays. I have been in the campsite on the island right opposite the old bridge on the 14th many years ago and was treated to this wonderful display from one of the best positions to view from.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2009 22:29:42 GMT
Yes, I was there on the 14th a few years ago and enjoyed the fireworks. I'll almost certainly go again this time. Naturally, the Paris fireworks will always be more spectacular, but the Avignon fireworks atmosphere along the Rhône was so much more relaxed. I think it's the difference between a crowd of 800,000 people in a small space and a crowd of 50,000 people with a lot more space.
And of course a balmy Provence evening.
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Post by BigIain on May 3, 2009 10:13:28 GMT
finally the Letour website is starting to populate detailed information on the individual stages drop down menu! I was looking at the Andorra -la-Vella stage and the full route is now in there. This is one that I quite fancy going to see because I love the foothills on The French side. Most of them are not yet done.
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Post by hal2000 on May 4, 2009 16:49:04 GMT
Somebody should post the map of this year's event, so I will.
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Post by BigIain on May 4, 2009 21:07:43 GMT
link to map is in the OP, old boy!
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Post by BigIain on Jun 21, 2009 0:31:50 GMT
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Post by BigIain on Jun 24, 2009 9:02:21 GMT
some of the teams selections are starting to take shape. I, like the whole of the cycling world, am delighted to see Armstrong's name on the teamsheet for the Astana team (kidding) which will prevent a young rider from getting his chance. I think he will be a pantomime villain this time around. www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves2009/20090624_091654_les-equipes-engagees.htmlIts in French, which is fime since only Kerouac and myself will likely care!!! It looks like I will not manage to get to any of the course this year.
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