The MN peloton heading for the Alps and then Paris. The TdF thread. Hopefully we're not on drugs. Actually, do nicotine and alcohol get you banned? In which case I'm buggered...

[ariadneoliver]

Starting tomorrow in Utrecht

The stages



1 Individual time trial Saturday, July 4th Utrecht / Utrecht 13.8 km

2 On-line Sunday, July 5th Utrecht / Zélande 166 km

3 On-line Monday, July 6th Anvers / Huy 159.5 km

4 Hilly Tuesday, July 7th Seraing / Cambrai 223.5 km

5 On-line Wednesday, July 8th Arras Communauté Urbaine / Amiens Métropole 189.5 km

6 On-line Thursday, July 9th Abbeville / Le Havre 191.5 km

7 On-line Friday, July 10th Livarot / Fougères 190.5 km

8 On-line Saturday, July 11th Rennes / Mûr-de-Bretagne 181.5 km

9 Team time trial Sunday, July 12th Vannes / Plumelec 28 km

• Rest day	Monday, July 13th	Pau		<br />
  

10 Mountain Tuesday, July 14th Tarbes / La Pierre-Saint-Martin 167 km

11 Mountain Wednesday, July 15th Pau / Cauterets - Vallée de Saint-Savin 188 km

12 Mountain Thursday, July 16th Lannemezan / Plateau de Beille 195 km

13 Hilly Friday, July 17th Muret / Rodez 198.5 km

14 Hilly Saturday, July 18th Rodez / Mende 178.5 km

15 Hilly Sunday, July 19th Mende / Valence 183 km

16 Hilly Monday, July 20th Bourg-de-Péage / Gap 201 km

- Rest day Tuesday, July 21st Gap

17 Mountain Wednesday, July 22nd Digne-les-Bains / Pra Loup 161 km

18 Mountain Thursday, July 23rd Gap / Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne 186.5 km

19 Mountain Friday, July 24th Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne / La Toussuire - Les Sybelles 138 km

20 Mountain Saturday, July 25th Modane Valfréjus / Alpe d’Huez 110.5 km

21 On-line Sunday, July 26th Sèvres - Grand Paris Seine Ouest / Paris Champs-Élysées 109.5 km

www.letour.com/le-tour/2015/us/overall-route.html

Teams

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/11693097/Tour-de-France-2015-teams-and-riders.html


Hope you've all got bottles and musettes filled for the long haul!
Allez MN Peloton

[goodiegoodieyumyum]

I was looking forward to going to Utrecht with my kids tomorrow, but it is way too hot plus mum husband had his tonsils out today. We are all looking toward following in my house.

[ariadneoliver]

Shame you had to miss it, but it would be tough in this heat.

[Glitteryfrog]

Squee!
I'm excited :)

[lapsedorienteerer]

Here's a Chat thread that should be in Sports (Tour De France)

[AnnPerkins]

Marking my place for tomorrow.

Thanks for the very comprehensive introduction ariadne.

[Cumberlover76]

Not sure which thread to be on so will mark my place on all! Going to stick our stage map up tomorrow and watch with a few French stubbies! Maybe a bit of brie and bread!

Can't wait, and as I mentioned on the chat thread, we are going to Paris for the finale!!!! Sooo exciting!

[FelixFelix]

Cumber I'm so jealous!

[CoolWheelsGreenEyesPan]

Is there a push bike race happening?

[CoolWheelsGreenEyesPan]

and many thanks for the push-start ariadne!

The more I ride my the less interest I have in watching it being done.

Though as said on prev. thread, I will still be in the mountains for the Pyrenian stages, just not sure exactly which.

[Glitteryfrog]

The coverage has started on ITV4.

[MooMaid]

Just checking in!

[CoolWheelsGreenEyesPan]

It does seem odd, doesn't it, it was a year ago to those glorious 2 days in Yorkshire, with a sniff into the Peaks?? One rider exclaimed after stage 2 York to Sheffield "It was like riding through a night club".

Here's a 3 min highlight, in Yorkshire sunshine if anyone missed it . Very happy days indeed.

[BearPear]

I was in Utrecht on Thursday, sadly not for the team introductions. Every year I suffer the ITV TdF theme music which DH has as his ring tone, sadly he is tone deaf but insists on "singing" along!

I'm hoping Cav does well this year and will be rooting for Alex Dowsett in the TT today.

[DoctorTwo]

Cheers ariadne, and thanks too for incorporating part of my thread title. Top work.

[DoctorTwo]

My thread got deleted! That's the first thread I've ever had deleted. It was deleted as a 'copy'. W(ednesday)T(hursday)F(riday)? Mine was first... :o

[FelixFelix]

Ooh Doctor you rebel, you!

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

Just marking my place for later. We were right in the middle of it all this time last year, walked to see the first two stages. Will have to follow on the telly this time.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

. Evening all!

[CoolWheelsPan]

hi everyone again!

[ariadneoliver]

First day over. I thought Quitana had blown it, but far from it, measured start by the big favourites.
Had to keep that thread title Doc!

[ariadneoliver]

Quintana

[Cumberlover76]

evening all, just watching highlights now, but know what happened. TTs are OK, but I love all of the beautiful scenery on the long stages. So excited that it's started.

Anyone watched in Paris before? Any tips for watching, what's it like?

[DramaAlpaca]

Ooh goody, we have a TdeF thread!

Hello again, all

[FelixFelix]

Poor Cav, he looked gutted!

[CoolWheelsPan]

Hmmm..I suspect Tony Martin could be slightly more 'gutted' than Cavendish....watching live it looked like they went far too early and Greipel said 'thank you v much for the ride'.