to watch every moment of the Tour de France

[stubbornhubby]

No, Wait!

...with the man Cavendish in real contention for Green, a British team for the first time in yonks, and Bradley Wiggins capable of getting on the podium, and a route that takes the peleton up the tourmalet not once but twice..

IASNBU

Lance Armstrong starts in 25mins...

I think it is a shame Tyler Farrar has gone. He must have incredible stamina and endurance to race so well/so long with a fractured wrist.

And I do think he was prevented from challenging Cavendish on the final sprint a few days ago, thanks to Renshaw (no idea if it was intentional).

Hmmm... that Time Trial is looming large. COntador looked pretty strong yesterday.

I am so enjoying the Tour this year.

Yeah! It is pretty good this year. I'm loving it!

I think Renshaw was guilty of deliberately taking out Tyler.

I know what you mean, I mean that cobbled stage that he just cycled through, I mean, above and beyond the call of duty or what?

They are so amazing.
Machines not men.

(With beautiful skin)
(And lovely tanned, shaved legs)

Must stop drooling!

Easywriter - aren't they a bit chicken-looking? Seriously? I love the tour but I prefer my men to be a bit more solid.

Anyone else happy to see Vino take a stage? I have to admit that even though he was doped and who knows what he is now, I still love to watch him because he's such an unpredictable, agressive, and exciting rider. You win the tour with control and planning, but Vino makes me smile everytime...

Yep, I was happy with today's result. To be honest I'm usually happy whoever wins so long as the stage is exciting without serious injuries occuring.

Lance Armstrong is going for a comedy award!!

I know what you mean about them being a bit chicken-ish, but I lurve men like ... ... Louis Theroux, Morrissey so you see what I mean?
I think the worst thing is their teeth. I'm really picking about teeth and most of them have "perfect" teeth as they've obviously gone over the top of their bike. Soooooo bad.

Forgot to say, the reason I'm not rooting for anybody in particular is that I wanted one of the team sky guys to win, Bradley, Geraint, I'm not fussy. I don't think that's going to happen unless something really interesting happens!

One thing that MrsLSG has learnt very well over the past decades: do not interrupt me whilst watching the TdF.

Unfortunately the kids have not yet learnt this......

DD2 has created her own sign for bicycle. Her first word was "football".

It would appear that she's been exposed to A Lot OF Sport this summer.

YASNBU. I love the cycling. Blardy football and golf has taken over the telly this year with DH, I have to fight to get Eurosport on or the highlights. That and Peppa Pig for DS.

Easywriter am with you as Vino's style does contrast with his doping history. Interesting article In sunday times about the race and also what a disappointment wiggins has been. I had forgotten how negative he is- although he has made some good points and held his ground , kimmage does come across as relentlessly negative in the Sunday times pieces he does.

Renshaw was out of order (although I think dean was off his line but no excuse for what he did to farrar). That said this disqualification seems to be Harsher than they used to give... Although htc moaning about its always us but seem to remember mcewen was no stranger to the commissaires attention back in the day so if you sprint hard , you will cut it fine on the race rules.

Off to see finish in paris - only a week to go.

Which teams are doing best?

Are any of the teams turning out to be a big surprise, or a big disappointment?

I'm following the Tour much more closely this year than in the past, and must say I'm unimpressed with Armstrong. On the one hand, I can understand the lack of effort on his part if he's no longer in contention for the podium. However, what has happened to the legendary fighting spirit and determination? Thought we'd at least see him attempt a stage win (maybe still will?), but at the moment, looks as if he's on a cycling tour of France instead of taking part in a race.

Am envious you're off to Paris Poppy. I asked DP if we could go aves les enfants and he said "Non!" followed by gubbins about having used all his hols up.
Booo!
Haven't read the paper today, been at a school fayre. (Way too much cake consumed!)

avec!

Now it looks as if I can't speak fluent Franglais!

Part of me thinks Armstrong back as obligation to sponsors and also if it raises the profile of his charity-also I think after his bad first few days where it became clear no top position this year(and he was amazingly gracious about this) he sort of gave up. That said I wouldn't write him off for a stage win. In same way I like to think cav will keep the green jersey alive into Paris.

Saxobank are doing well but I think French riders and some of French teams(wasn't winner today an ag2r guy- need to go over highlights when am not trying to cook and watch over a toddler). French riders Doing well
Makes a nice change from usual half arsed break away on 14 July.

Good few articles there for later easy and have picked a spot on run in So can see caravan then watch finish on
Tv (camping out on champs not an option with a lively 2 year old).

Am watching the tour from America, and every other telly advert features Armstrong - Nissan cars, Radio Shack, light beer, Trek bikes, etc. And then there are his 'LiveStrong' cancer spots..........he is incredibly visible in the media here - that is, everywhere but in the race itself.

what a great weekend!
both days very exciting for different reasons, the schleck contador battle is intriguing.

I like schleck! his self-deprecating style and dry sense of humour in interviews is wonderful. Is he the exact opposite of Cav?

This week is going to be great.

Renshaw - I think it was harsh. The management seem to keep HTC on a very short leash. The butting seemed to be justified, to me, and blocking tyler was bad, but you do see that a lot.

Water Bottle in the spokes - when I made that remark I wasn't even aware that it has actually happened once.. It was the reason for the last time someone was sent home from the tour, in 1997. Here's the video. Amazing

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzTZV0TYG-U

rubyrubyruby how did your DH het on??

They showed that clip on the round-up on ITV and I thought of this thread.

What was that Schleck/Contador stand-off on the last climb? They practically stopped to hiss at each other. Wierd.

And whoever it was up thread supporting Vino clearly tipped the cosmic balance of power!

What bloody bad form from Comtador!!

I hope Andy has a safe descent (I'm assuming that this'll be one descent we actually get to see.

Blimey! Even Lance Armstrong waited for Ullrich when he had a mechanical failure.

The Spaniard has just nose dived in my esteem!

Contador is an ass. That's horrible.

(leaves space to calm down...)

It's ruined an otherwise perfect stage because I love Voeckler - I fit right in with all the French housewives who love him to bits - he was so wonderful when he defended the yellow jersey for 10 days in 2004 and he's just got a lovely smile...

Grrr.... Contador knew full well that Schleck's chain was off - and that Schleck was about to dance away from him.

I'd love to know what it was Schleck said to him at the podium.

Interesting that Paul Sherwin felt strongly that Contador should have waited but that Chris Boardman eventually plumped for "Schelck chose to ride without a chain guard so its all part and parcel of racing choices therefore COntador was right to attack".

Contador shot himself in the foot in the interview.

he could have said
"look, it's a race, things happen, schleck could have had a chain guard, we can't spend three weeks of the tour de France all waiting for each other, live with it"

what he actually said was, lamely,
"I didn't realise he had a problem with the bike"

Yeah, right.

so Conatador felt guiity.

EXACTLY

He pretty much said that he'd used up all his "fairness" when he waited at Spa - well, Mr Contador, Canchellara made that call and the whole peleton fell in with it - even those who didn't like it much. SO I guess you can't claim that one for as proof of your own altruism.

The Tourmalet is going to be fascinating.

:-( what a shame.
well, next year, perhaps.

it brings it home to you how bloody fit the pros are, doesn't it? They'll cover it in five hours !!

I would really like to do the etape , but I reckon I'd have to forst lose 10kg