Tour de France

1,570 Views | 9 Replies | Last: 11 yr ago by Oogway
Dread Pirate Roberts
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Any of you watching the Tour?

I can't explain why, but I enjoy watching it.



Spoilers below in case you are recording this:





Stage 5 wasn't much fun with all the rain. The riders backed off after so many fell.
SpicewoodAg
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AG
For the first time in probably 15 years I haven't yet watched one minute of live TDF. I used to watch live if I could, or delayed at night.

Unless an American becomes a podium contender, I am burned out on the TDF post-Armstrong.
Furlock Bones
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AG
i loved it when you could watch the stream for free. $40 bucks though.
clw04
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AG
Spice,

There are actually two potential podium contenders among the Americans.

Both are super young (25), bu they are contenders this year. They are especially contenders after the favorite is now out of the race.
SpicewoodAg
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AG
I'll pay attention after the first mountain stage....
Oogway
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I have loved watching the Tour since I was a little girl. Our neighborhood was very hilly (think Ozarks) and I would pretend I was riding in a mountain stage. The endurance aspect and the thought of having to keep going day after day even when tired or behind the leaders by minutes captured my attention.

As i grew older and learned some of the history and tactics of bicycle racing, I still found it fascinating. It is what it is and I enjoy watching.

Spoilers below:


This years Tour has been exciting as I watched what happens when team dynamics and egos implode common sense. The wet cobblestones (and the rain in general) threw a huge monkey wrench at several teams and their plans.

Felt bad for Chris Froome but that is cycling: one year you're in, the next you're out...

Did anyone see Talansky's crash? I was relieved he didn't break any bones.

Does anyone else find the roadside fans who snap selfies annoying?

Peter Sagan is amazing. Only 24 and amazing.

Nibali does not have this locked up, but he and his team are looking pretty good.



[This message has been edited by Oogway (edited 7/12/2014 8:14a).]
jmoritz89
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Dread Pirate Roberts
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Responding to spoilers...







quote:
Did anyone see Talansky's crash? I was relieved he didn't break any bones.

Does anyone else find the roadside fans who snap selfies annoying?


I haven't been able to watch the last few days and didn't know about his crash. Does he still have a chance to compete or is he just hanging on to the race now?

The selfies are annoying. I was surprised though how much the Brits got bashed over it as opposed to the French. The French fans have been annoying for years, too. I think it was a combination of a different kind of annoying which threw the cyclists off and first time for most of the Brits to see this so they were more excited, less educated and did dumb things.
Oogway
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Talansky crashed twice (that I know about) over the first ten stages--the one to which I'm referring was near the finish line where he went down hard (Stage 8, I think). Although he later said his pride was hurt more than anything else, the brutal nature of the stages yet to come may do a little psychological damage unless he is able to take it one day at a time....as far as his placing, he is 14 minutes back so winning it (unless a whole bunch of other people wipe out --and with the rain, this is actually a possibility, albeit a sad one) is unlikely. If his manager lets him, he might want to fight back to gain more experience, perhaps??


Asfar as the selfie bashing--I agree, they were harsher with the Brits; the riders must get really annoyed sometime when the fans get too close...



Spoiler::

Contador is out after a crash yesterday. Porte looked okay, but he is not looking all that sharp compared to Nibali who looked very comfortable in the mountains...and the mountains aren't over...I don't know if the other teams have enough riders left to help their leaders the way Astana does, but you never know.
Oogway
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****More spoiler****





Woah, just saw Stage 11--day after rest day. You were asking about Talansky. He almost dropped out of the race. The stage was rolling with a few category climbs, and he got dropped by the peloton and looked to be having difficulty with his back. After talking with his team manager, climbs back on the bike and finishes the stage. Alone. (Within the time limit to finish, fortunately)

There is a time when you bottom out, hit the abyss and it looks like this was one of those moments for him. Glad to see he gathered his thoughts and kept going. Many of us have had moments like that (even if it doesn't play on tape in front of the world) and strength comes from having hope for something better.

Oh, and Gallopin won the Stage. The French have to be tickled about that...
Oogway
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****Spoiler****


Talansky is out. Guess yesterday took its toll. Good on him for finishing the stage.

The French riders are having a pretty good Tour thus far this year.
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