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		
  

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

And it's dry again, so at least they can go for it without too much danger.

Who's everyone cheering for?
Sagan, in this house.

Actually, I think dh is supporting Cav

Froome's podium speech was lovely.

Not a dry eye in this house, I can tell you.

It was

What am I going to do every evening at 7 now....

For me it's 'what am I going to watch during the afternoons so I can put off all the jobs that need doing?'
Great speech by Froome.

I've started to look at next year - the first two days are only a hop over the Channel from us and it's very tempting to book the Fast Cat now (before everybody else does!)

Dh booked his ferry and hotel for the first weekend today - said that there are not many rooms available in the Cherbourg peninsula already!

I'd better get booking then - looks like we will be camping (if there are sites with spaces left)

Ferry booked ! We're off to see Le Tour.

In fairness, the women's race was a one off, multi circuit race of the Champs Élysées - if they had neutralised it after the first lap, it wouldn't have been much of a race - but as it was a longer stage, at the end of 21 stages, neutralising the men's race on the Champs Élysées wouldn't have had a major effect on the overall result.

It's my dream to hire a camper van and follow the full Tour - I'm not sure it will ever happen, but I will definitely go and see some more stages.

Btw - does anyone know who it was who fell on the last lap, and how they are? There was nothing in the commentary afterwards.

No idea. There were two down wasn't there, one AG2R got up immediately, the other ( Giant?) looked like a collarbone job...

Yes - he wasn't moving, when the camera went past.

In the live coverage, they did mention briefly that the AG2R guy had come across the line (a bit after the Sky synchronised cycling). It was very much in passing.

He was the one I was worried about - he looked like he was out cold. If the Giant guy was "just" a collarbone, he'll have been able to get to the finish line.

In case anyone hadn't seen it yet, thread across here looking for support to convince MNHQ to set up a dedicated cycling topic .

Was very wet on the Bois de Boulonge but we got lots of freebies and Froome heard us shout as he went by and looked over. Then got on the metro and found ourselves right behind the podium. Froomes speech was a tearjerker! Really great atmosphere and some pics!

Some more ...

I've got a couple more but will have to post tomorrow. Was amazing!!! Best day ever and DH rode some of the stage earlier in the day. Just wow!

I am pea-green with jealousy! Amazing pictures - thank you!

I've lurked on these threads for a long time - big road cycling fan.

I am getting a tiny little inkling that maybe Cav is going back to Sky next year. Can't decide if I'm being completely bonkers or not. I'd love to see him back there. Is it just wishful thinking or is anyone else reading too much into nothing picking up hints?

A couple more, I could see Segan (the little cutie! ) We were in amongst the Columbians who were playing music, drinking some spirit out of the bottle and shouting Nairo, Nairo! They were fun. One woman did give us a look when we were shouting for Froome, but we shouted louder! I'm still going through the photos to see who I can spot, will watch the full stage and try and work out who was where. May post some more when we get back. Last day in Paris so we are off to a water park.

Was going to add a couple more but it won't let me till later, I could see Segan (the little cutie! ) We were in amongst the Columbians who were playing music, drinking some spirit out of the bottle and shouting Nairo, Nairo! They were fun. One woman did give us a look when we were shouting for Froome, but we shouted louder! I'm still going through the photos to see who I can spot, will watch the full stage and try and work out who was where. May post some more when we get back. Last day in Paris so we are off to a water park.

Great pictures Cumber, sounds like you had a wonderful time. I too had a tear in my eye at Froome's speech.

onthering welcome to the MN peloton . Interesting thought about Cav going back to Sky. I'd heard that MTN Qhubeka were interested in signing him - but I doubt they'd be able to afford him.

Love the action photos, and the S American party competition. Always been curious what's actually behind the Paris podium. Not a lot! Thought of you at BdeB on the circuit when Paul said 'we're at the Bois de Bolougne and it's teeming down!"

Water park, oh the irony!

Cav - not sure Sky would seem him as part of the 5year plan. Isn't his stock falling now, and Sky still focused on GC which was why he left in the first place?

In other news there will be a 'Cycling Topic' shortly, so it looks like we vacate the Sports Section??

Pending Cumber's gallery, a few more from the south?

I want a big red Skoda now.