Tour de Yorkshire, Cambridge...and oh yes France as well!!

[Panwearsjaune]

T minus 35 days and counting, to the Grand Depart from Leeds 5th July, with two stages in the White County, and then a third from Cambridge to the Mall in London. It's just soo exciting! It's the biggest biking event in the world, with approx 190 professional riders in about 20 teams racing across tarmac and cobbles, up mountains and down Dales and ending on 27th July on the Champs Elysee, Paris in the now traditional sprint finish there. So here's the thread to share in it all, swop info about accommodation for Tour watchers, road closures, the parcours (courses), peloton gossip, potential meet ups, tv coverage, who's got the nicest legs etc.. and everything to do with the thrills and occasional spills with the event that is a game of poker played out every day on 380 wheels. OF course if you are a newbie to all of this and are curious about the whys and hows of racing then ask and someone will pop up to answer questions. Hopefully.

So I'll depart here next with the routes of the UK 3 stages being taken so no-one gets lost and ends up in the dreaded broom wagon.

HowGood they are going to end up with a lot of vehicles! If you are a Tourmaker do you not get more access than the rest of us?

We are very very lucky in being able to walk to watch both days, although am now worrying that our village will get clogged with people looking for somewhere to park and who don't want to pay the farmer £10 to park in his field!

I'm not sure that the fact that the race proper doesn't start in the City Centre has been properly covered... but it will mean that those of us between the city centre and Harewood will probably get a much better view of the peloton than we would do when they were racing properly!

The only time I tried toe clips I forgot I was wearing them twice and had two a very undignied but slow motion drop to the side. :o The first was at the bottom of the Wrekin at the Forest Glen car park and was seen by loads of people, all of whom laughed and pointed, the second was at a set of traffic lights outside a busy pub. I took the buggers off when I got home, coward that I am. :o

Loving the sheep

Did anyone see the British World Championship Road Race on Sunday?

Gutsy win for Pete Kennaugh, who pipped Ben Swift at the line. They were playing cat & mouse like the former track riders they are in the last few hundred metres. Good to watch.

Drama I had it recorded and watched last night. I was totally convinced Ben Swift had it until he was pipped right at the finish line.

Doctor my DP came in from his club ride yesterday with a nasty graze on his knee which was caused by a comedy slow motion sideways fall He realised he was in the wrong gear going up Cragg Vale and tired to change but then the bike would not move. Of course I found this hilarious.

It's my DP's birthday soon so I've just ordered him a Rapha essentials case. 6 quid delivery!!!!

No Millar!!!! They've just pulled him! It will be a poor show for the Brits this year. Good luck Cav

Interview from couple of days ago
www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/david-millar-realised-preferred-dad-pro-cyclist-128629

They are have quite a spat on twitter

Oh no - they've dropped Millar? That's crap.

Just seen Millar's tweets now.

'I was selected for TdF last week, then they pulled me last night. Wiggo, Dowsett, Pete, Swifty, fancy a city break? I hear York's nice.

For the record, I was going to be ready for the Tour, so sad my team didn't believe in me, after everything we've been through. Not cool.'

Alex Dowsett out, too (former TT national champ, I think).

Anyone read the Comic commentary last week about how Wiggins has blown it with Sky by taking exclusive to BBC, so will need new team next season? Tsk Tsk. Maybe he knew which way the wind was blowing.

I think Wiggo has always been a bit of a volatile loose cannon. He gets pissed off

Gutted for Millar, and swiftly, kennaugh and Dowsett. They could have all arguably been present. I heard someone describe Sky like AC Milan - they have the most amazing subs bench. Shame as they may need to go elsewhere and get the 1st team spot they deserve. Does make me wonder what the Veulta teams will be. That article I linked two has David saying he would love to finish on the veulta. I doubt he imagined that would be with no TdF but I guess they can't be sentimental

Gutted for them all too.

oh dear. It looks like a horrible cull. Really poor communication in Garmin for Miller to speak about Tour but not go. Is this the end of the personalities (excepting jensie) because the money is so big now? Sky really have to deliver on the Tour. A while ago I had a sort of emotional attachment to Sky's doings, but less so now.

I was thinking that last night, reading about who was in and who was out (poor lovely Millar), Sky doesn't hold sway over me anymore, in fact I'd like to see OGE doing well or or Cav's team. Glad Jensie will be there though, watching him get all excited on twitter is keeping me amused this week

Can I just mention to anyone in the Leeds area that the pre-tour procession is going to cause traffic carnage on Thursday afternoon when they appear to be closing most of the city centre from 4pm...

It's all about results now, isn't it?

No room for sentiment in today's pro-cycling world.

I feel the same way as Pan about Sky. They are too much about business now & I also don't have quite so much of an 'emotional attachment' as I did before.

I am still ridiculously excited about the start of the Tour though, and can't wait for Saturday

The Armstrong Lie is on Channel4 next Monday at 9pm. Should be interesting as he admits he thought he'd never get caught.

I've set the Sky box to record that DoctorTwo. Should be interesting.

I'm recording too!

Also on BBC4 Sunday at 10.40pm there's 'Velorama' which is a film looking at the history of cycling

I am getting more excited by the minute. I got on a Viva Froome DLR train this morning. I have my viewing spot picked out which is handily near my house. The updated start list is here

Glad to see Cav and Tony Martin will be starting. Go OPQS!

Itv have nabbed Millar for their shows hurrah!
And Orica have named Simon Yates in a great PR move :)

DD is getting excited, now her new cap has arrived ready for Saturday (sorry, couldn't resist!)

Thanks for the start list linky, ariadne. I have printed it off for detailed perusal later

Love the hat!

This thread is really useful for keeping up to date with it all. I like this preview video from the ITV site

www.itv.com/tourdefrance/video

At least David Millar still gets to come, he'll do a grand job at punditing.

Felix great hat & cute baby. I think she's wearing her Giro d'Italia outfit - does she have a yellow one?