Why so little reporting of the Tour de France?

[somebloke123]

We've had massive publicity about Andy Murray being the first Men's Singles Finalist since the 1930s.

And quite right too.

But little notice - in this country - is being taken of the event across the Channel.

There, Bradley Wiggins is holding the Yellow Jersey into the 2nd week of the Tour, and is currently favourite to win the event.

This would be the first T de F win for a British cyclist in the entire 100+ year history of this gruelling race, and would follow Mark Cavendish's fantastic Green Jersey win last year.

Great stuff.

It's been fascinating. DH and I record the ITV4 highlights programme and have to avoid the news on the radio in case they report the day's result. Radio 4 talk about it every morning too so I think reporting has been quite good.

We started watching it some years ago because we have travelled a lot in France and liked watching the scenery. But as we started to understand the tactics and recognise the riders we have really got into it.

I'm so impressed with Bradley Wiggins. If he wins he will be most deserving. And Team Sky have been fantastic.

lifeisfuckinggreat of you. For seeing the TDF and for living in SW France.

Love TdF and watched it all my life as dad enjoyed it. British cycling deserves a much higher media profile, as do all TE other sports we actually win (women's rugby world cup winners/six nation winners anyone?) instead of the sodding premier league

Bradley wiggins and sky have been awesome this tour! Next year we are hoping to see a Pyrenees stage or two, diners crossed. Hoping the kids will be old enough to behave whilst mum perves and dad drools after some seriously nice bikes

Thanks autocorrect and fat fingers-that would be fingers crossed. I'm not trying to do a complex form of twister on restaurant patrons!!

Cogito - I love the Tour de France, even the bits that go on for hours. The coverage is pretty good now too, with plenty of camera bikes and the helicopters. And I am amazed and astounded every year at the strength, stamina and sheer persistance of these athletes, who ride so far every day, up mountains that most of us would crawl up in a car in first gear, and hurtling down the other side - and then going and doing it again the next day.

The Col de Tourmalet today!!

I don't know how people can think it's dull. I have had to watch some bits through my fingers this tour it's been so nailbiting.

Imagine hurtling down a road at 70kph without motorbike leathers

Can't wait for tonight's highlights-gutted I'm at work and can't watch the Tourmalet live :)

Yy the scenery also adds to the whole vibe - the Pyrenees are so stunning!

I've loved it, I think the coverage has been pretty good. I adored the interview with Jens Voigt the other night, he was hilarious "Millionss of liddle sells in my botty were all yelling 'Stop, Jens, Stop!"

What has been really noticeable is the sheer excellence of the commentating, versus the bellowing banalities of Wimbledon. I hope Hazel Irvine is doing the Olympics, she has the same rational but involved approach and apparently doesn't feel the need to shout while wearing a microphone.

I love Gary Imlach too. I think he's hilarious.

I think the itv4 coverage of tdf is amazing, and i love the deadpan humour. Tried watching the coverage of the Vuelta last year and it was painful it was so bad. I've often wished procycling had a higher profile in the media, but now they're starting to show an interest i'm a bit gerroff - it's mine! You think what those guys do - it's brutal, and makes most sports look like playtime. Can highly recommend In Search of Robert Millar as a great read if you're after a bit of past british tdf success. Will be going to watch some of the Tour of Britain this year as it's down our way - not quite as epic, but getting better.

Brilliant isn't it?! Love it

Dh rode the Tourmalet and Aubisque last year.

What do we think of ITV4's plan for a Cycling Hour, Mondays? 8pm?? It would be cool if they started showing best of BMX, MTB, along with bits of spring classics, National TT, that kind of thing.

I think it sounds good.

I just can't believe how times have changed. I grew up with a cycling mad father and people would look most when they knew he cycled and raced. Or that he followed the TdF and the pre Tour Classics. I think most people in the uk then thought it was a weird minority sport.

Not that there was much coverage in those days. There might be a 10 minute mention on World of Sport if you were lucky it didn't get bumped by (yet another) football match. Usually it did and I can remember my dad shouting in disgust at the tv

Then C4 and lovely lovely Phil Liggett brought it onto mainstream tv. He and Paul are wonderful imho. Now look how popular it has become! I'm amazed but I love it and I'm glad it's finally got the recognition it deserves.

We love the Tour in our house, have the poster to fill in yellow/green/white jerseys and stage winners. Love all the tactics and the sheer damn bravery and determination of the cyclists.
Wiggo for yellow on sunday. DD, lucky thing, will be in Paris on sunday on a school trip

When we are old, dh and I are going to have a campervan and follow ds riding in the tour on person

There was an hour special (well sort of, with news bulletins) all about Bradley Wiggins last night (Thurs 19th), on Radio 5L. 9:30-10:30pm. All sorts of anoraky details!! Must be on Listen Again feature.

I have recorded the ITV4 Bradley Wiggins special that was on last night. We don't want to watch it until he has actually won in case it jinxes him.

We are definitely going to incorporate a stage or two of the TDF into next year's holiday. Not with a campervan, sadly. I am very of some of the ones that are shown parked alongside the climbs.

Bloody hell Cav!!!!!!

Spoilers!

We are watching every night on ITV4. It's brilliant! I love it! The kids are really into it too. We love the music - it's the theme tune in the house at the moment - on everyones brains.

Woooooooo hooooooooo (sorry)

Bloke at the next desk has just said something about Cav and I "LA LA LA'd" him really loudly with my fingers in my ears.

I'm going to hide this thread so you can all Whoop away now

Really looking forward to watching it later with a

We've watched for years here and followed Wiggo and co from track cycling. Gutted we missed Lance's last race as the Tour went past our hotel the day after we left :( Couldn't make the London Prologue in 2007 either as pregnant and sick. The kids love it too - all cycling in this house in known as "Go Wiggo!"

The media doesn't like it, hence the lack of coverage. Football has big money to throw around and makes sure it has a high profile. Cricket also fairly high profile and the media get some nice trips out of it. Cycling is hard to cover. It takes place across a large area not an arena so the BBC don't want the expense. Wimbledon is 'their thing' altho' I look forward to SKY getting it (and they will). The TdF is just a fantastic 3 week advert for France. The race has a glorious/notorious tradition and history (as does the Giro d'Italia). Cycle racing just isn't a thing we do unlike Europe but we have had some successes especially in the last few years

Sky have been giving it a lot of coverage as their team has provided the top riders. I guess that might be the reason other stations have not been so keen to cover it.

Not a keen cyclist or that interested but very very pleased Wiggins won and stunned he is now going to ride in the Olympics - surely he needs a rest!

Bradley Wiggins - the first Briton to win the TdF. Why isn't this on the front page of every newspaper?