Support/lust after our lads cycling in the Tour of Britain here!

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

We watched Team Sky and Brad win the Tour de France, we're watching Froome in the Vuelta (bless him) and we took an Ode to the Olympic Time Trial (which inspired them to win medals ).

And now (to fill the massive hole left by the superb Olympics and Paralympics) from Sunday we can watch Team Sky and Team GB cycling heros here in the UK!

I thought I'd start this thread for lusting supporting our team faves and having a laugh.

TOB starts this Sunday 9th Sept!

TOB website here

Stage 1 Ipswich to Norfolk - Live on ITV4 from 1.45pm with highlights at 8pm .

The rest of the stages are also live everyday on ITV4 with highlights at 7pm.

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Frosty - gripped by your day report. Brilliant stuff. 'I could have touched Cav' - brilliant. Looking forward to the highlights at 7pm. Kids about to be chucked into bed and wine opened...

[frostyfingers]

I wish I had now, but I would probably have been bundled off somewhere! DH has some pics which I'll see if I can put up tomorrow. It's very hard to take them, they go by so quickly, but we've one of Cav hiding in the peloton and a few other general shots.

Sloe gin & tonic now to hand, so off to watch the telly.

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Enjoy Frosty. I could see myself at the Olympic Time Trial looking like a maniac. Tis funny

[evilgiraffe]

Brilliant, Frosty! Sounds fab :)

Me and DH are planning a trip to cheer the Tour de France next year - so far we've got no further than "we should do it", but it's a start!

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Just watched the stage. Well done Jon TL. Cheeky Coenig. And it was Luke Rowe's bro in the boxing kit. Cool!

[LostInWales]

What an amazing day. Will update properly in a mo' but for now, that was fantastic, the mountain was packed but we had a great spot to see everyone and as I screamed 'Go Caaaaaaav' whilst hitching my 5 year old to see he turned and grinned at my three boys (although as they are all identical looking gingers just in different sizes so quite a sight!). He did the same last year, it must be my fishwife screach dulcet tones. Anyway taken by DS1

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Lost - what a brilliant photo! Well done DS1.

[DownyEmerald]

Ooh frosty that sounds fab. I briefly considered the 2 hour drive to Storey Arms and the 2 hour drive back that would only have been a little late for school pick up! but would've been by myself, which might have felt a bit odd? Maybe next year.

Why can't they do the Cotswolds - it'd be so much fun, I could do them a great route near Stroud, lots of steep climbs up teeny tiny roads.

[frostyfingers]

Fab photo DS1 - it's hard to get good ones, and that's a cracker. Saw our car on the highlights of the Brecon climb, but that was it! Never mind, I know I was there.

[LostInWales]

We weren't on the highlights either frosty but I was relieved as it saved answering awkward questions if the boys teachers saw us . It was a long old day for us not helped by being stuck in thick traffic for an hour getting to the motorway before we even started the two hours drive home, it was worth it though.

DS1 got loads of good shots, I was too busy perving the cyclists keeping hold of DS3 (he's 5), we were standing right in the road with everyone and had to step back for the cars as there wasn't enough space for them to get through!

[evilgiraffe]

Fabulous photo! I must practice my fishwife voice for the next time I go cycle-race-watching

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Lovely day for a bike ride!

[frostyfingers]

Indeed - I have pile of school ironing to do in front of tv this evening. In the meantime I'm going to squeeze in a little racing to see if Camelot can do the Triple Crown...... Hope Cav is having a good day, and not sick - this from Sky's website last night:

The team rode well but unfortunately Christian was having stomach problems during the day which held him back a bit. We lost Brad this morning with the same issue.

Knowing how quickly these bugs spread I hope it's all gone by next weeks Worlds.

[RedMolly]

Just got back from watching the Tour. We were up on Dartmoor just before the first KOM point. Bloody great. There was a 10 man breakaway with the peloton about 4 min back - won't say who was where in case i spoil the highlights tonight. They were gone in a flash, but the atmosphere was brilliant. Have also joined the must get campervan and do the tdf club.

[lljkk]

ooh, you make it sound so exciting; okay, I will watch tonite (any excuse to procrastinate away from my other jobs).

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Looking forward to watching later redmolly!

[frostyfingers]

Glad you enjoyed it RedMolly. It's strange really - actually seeing the cyclists is such a tiny moment, but the whole thing is fantastic. The atmosphere is brilliant and everyone is so friendly.

What shall we call our "one day we'll go to the TdF in a campervan" club?

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Frosty that sounds like a good enough name to me.

Good luck chaps for today's finale.

[LostInWales]

RedMolly it looked amazing on TV, even more people than we had on friday. I agree that the atmosphere and whole day of it are amazing, we were lucky because they went round Caerphilly mountain twice so I got two ogles of Cav bites of the cherry. Did you have that amazing anticipatory hush when the first of the police motorbikes came through, it made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, all these people went from laughing and chatting in groups to turning to look down towards the bend they would be coming round and everyone's voices went quieter.

I'd like to join the camper van TdF club too please. Just seeing one stage up the Alpe d'Huez was amazing last year the bikes were about 30 minutes of a three day staying up a mountain experience, the whole resort was just a town of TdF followers which was extra ordinary. Plus the Alps were worth the journey in itself. Imagine all the scenery you would see if you did the whole thing.

[RedMolly]

If i could have gone to another stage it would have been the welsh one. Quite fond of that one as it's where the lovely Mr Hushovd won a few years back! I have never seen so many people on Dartmoor, even in the height of summer never seen anything like it. Bit of a shrub shortage for natural breaks was the only problem though!

It did go really quiet when the police bikes came through. We could see the riders down in the bottom of the valley before they started the climb and that was when it got really exciting. Biggest suprise was JTL - he is TINY! We were on the highlights programme too (very very briefly!). Thought the whole route looked amazing - was very proud to be a west country girl.

[frostyfingers]

YEAH!!! That's all I'm saying in case you haven't seen it.

[evilgiraffe]

Yep, my thoughts exactly, frosty!

[LostInWales]

So, is it next Sunday then?

[evilgiraffe]

Yes, Lost, the time trial is Wednesday and the road race is Sunday. There's probably no way Cav can win it, but I still have my fingers crossed...

[frostyfingers]

I don't know Evil - after yesterday's stage which was quite bumpy, and with an uphill bit at the end it might be possible. I've looked at the profile on the UCI site and the highest climb is just over 200m if I remember rightly. The form he's been in, and the fact that he's managed most of the climbs much better, including in the TdF and the Olympics make me feel more positive than I would have been last year.

It's going to be a nerve wracking day here, that's for sure. We have non cycling friends staying (bad planning) who I suspect will be a bit bemused by the goings on.

Have a good week all.