Is there a Tour de France thread?

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

Because it starts tonight!

Much more exciting than football, or yet more tennis.

Scary, but fab I should imagine! Would like to see Meribel host a stage.

Doesn't it cost each town a fortune to host or something?

It is lovely to see so many people of different nationalities making the effort to turn up and cheering everyone on.

It does - but I presume they think it's worth it. If it encourages more people to go there in the summer in order to " see ride the stage" then it extends the season and brings more business in to the resort.

Another exciting day! What an achievement!

I know- so exciting

Yay! Another great stage! Wanted to be there, it all looked so lovely.

Every sodding night here!!!!

Well done to another Brit!

Great night yesterday - anyone else watching?

I don't want to name the stage winner just in case anyone is behind, but it was brill wasn't it! Today's not as exciting, but they must be tired. Tomorrow looks good.

Today shaping up nicely

Did the Peloton chase down Rolland because they thought it was poor form for him to attack when everyone was sitting up due to Cadel having mechanical problems? And what's this about tacks on the road?!

DH & DS1 will be in Pau tomorrow to see the finish, I'm excited to look for them on the TV!

Apparently carpet tacks had been deliberately spread on the road, causing lots of punctures (maybe as many as 30)! Camel picked up three, I think. Bradley did the right thing by neutralising the Stage, and I think the peloton did think Rolland was out of order for attacking - though I'm not sure it was deliberate. Maybe he didn't realise what was happening. I suspect he will get a few sharp words from his fellow riders.

Just watching hi-lights, did Cav lead the start of climb just to make sure they didn't leave him behind? :)

Well I hope whoever was responsible for throwing those tacks on the road is pleased with themselves - what a prat, and someone has a broken collarbone as a result.

Ruined the race really too, I hope tomorrow is more exciting.

Yes, they chased Roland. He made them go faster than they wanted to when waiting for Evans. Nibali and Vandenbrouck could not allow him to take significant time as he could have threatened their overall positions.

In the past, the peloton have had their revenge though - they will chase down breaks that he is in to the point where other riders in a break will ask him to drop back. Very, very bad form indeed.

Didn't like Frome's interview in L'Equipe where he said he could win if he wanted to and was sacrificing himself for Wiggins. Probably true but robs any Wiggins victory of sweetness in the end.

Still, he is better than TeeJay Vangarderen - did anyone notice him ignore Evans when he was stood waiting for a team mate to give him a wheel?

Haven't read that article but have read others where froome said there to act for team so not sure that it's not spin (nicely stirred by Bjarne Riis and others I notice).

Teejay van gardereen comes across as uniquely charmless when interviewed - shame none of someone like hincapies team spirit couldn't rub off. And I quite like Cadel as you can see the effort he puts in..

I hope they find who dropped tacks but expect they won't ...

Still another day today and maybe one for cav ?

It is slightly comforting to see that there are idiots all over the world, not just here - you'd think someone would have seen them do it, not so they could stop them but perhaps to identify/lynch them afterwards?
Brad is making this look all too easy, it's been interesting rather than exciting. Still, at least it has got a bit more coverage for the Tour in the UK.

They used to spread tacks on the road years ago, didn't they? Someone was letting flares off the other day, too.

There's not much you can do, as the spectators are spread all the way up the side of the mountain. My in-laws went to watch on 14th, they are on holiday down there at the moment. Am very jealous.

I think the mainstream coverage is quite funny - obviously it's only because Britain are doing so well, and they explain it for people who have no idea "it's a race, on bicycles, around the country of France" sort of thing.

I want them to come to Yorkshire!

I was watching the Eurosport live coverage, it was lucky there weren't more casualties. What sort of knob would do that, especially downhill?! Sadly, I would expect it in the UK as people seem to hate cycling events, but France, no. Agreed that Bradley, and the Sky team, handled it well. Poor Cadel though.

Scuttlebutt is that Pau finish is good for a Cav-style sprint, problem is that Sky is too busy defending Brad's position to put much effort into lead out for Cav (I fear) :(. Cav may be canny enough to tag along on somebody else's train, though (Sagan style). I think Sky will kill themselves like dogs on Champs Elysee for Cav, though, they would certainly owe the Rainbow super-domestique that much! Rumour is that they will repay him on Boxhill, too.

Froome vs. Wiggo: this is all rehash of 2011 Vuelta where Froomey was looking stronger, too. Froome is trying to sell himself up as a different team leader, I suppose. He is 5 yrs younger than Brad so would be wise to put in another yr as super-domestique before decamping to be a different team leader.

Xing fingers hoping no crashes or mech problems for Wiggins.

I dunno, I thought TJVG was simply young & foolish. He admitted that he should have waited after all. He has his own jersey to defend for the team. Do proceeds of young rider jersey go to the whole team like yellow jersey? Might be worth more to the team to keep white jersey than defend Cadel's 4th place.

oops, I'm wrong :). Cadel's 4th place is worth 45k more euros to the team than the white jersey.

Frank Schleck has failed a dope test and is out of the tour! I can't believe they think they can get away with it.

What?!?!? I was just thinking today how different things have been this year, the daily coverage isn't starting with a roster of riders kicked out/arrested for doping. What on earth was he doping with, though, it obviously wasn't working very well for him....!!

Dexter have just read that on the news. Surprised!

Can't believe that about FS! Like you said Dexter, how do they think they can get away with it?!

It's a good stage for climbers today, don't think I can wait until tonight for DH to get home to watch it! May as well make the most of what is my last week before my baby arrives.... Will be interesting to watch Froome and Wiggo after the comments the other day.