Tour de France *** 2014 *** [LIVE THREAD]

Le Tour ^ | July 2, 2014 | Various

[PeteB570]

Hm, Baynative has reminded me that I must have been watching some dated footage last night.

Stage One in Corsica(?) was when?

[PeteB570]

2013

Boy, am I out of it this year.

[Don Corleone]

We have idiots practising for that all year ‘round here in Tucson. They are a hazard to drivers and think they own the G..damn roads! They crowd the edges of the bike lanes and dare you to hit them. Like the nasty nanny they seem to be looking for a way to hit it big with a lawsuit.

[trisham]

"One nation under God.."

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donate today!

[doorgunner69]

Ah yes, still have very visible scars on my knees from my first (of many) bike crashes going down a hill too fast and hitting gravel.

[dainbramaged]

I’m not a bicycle guy but I don’t miss this race - the coverage is better every year and these guys are tremendous athletes. It’s almost as good as the Isle of Man TT.

[Baynative]

The odds makers have Chris Froome as the favorite, especially with Bradley Wiggens having been dropped by Skye. Richie Porte is back to support him. He's a guy I think could go it alone if need be. Maybe this will take on a little of the soap opera that went on with Pedro Delgado and Miguel Indurain.

Rui Costa is highly rated but, just had a stellar performance in Switzerland and might have peaked too soon. Contador is back and clean (so they say), so who knows?.

We'll soon see. As they say, "That's why they have the race".

[Baynative]

Oh sure... Every time I go on a training ride I try to get hit by a two ton mass of metal so I can make some money to enjoy as I roll around in my wheel chair.

[SES1066]

You just know that the riders are 'looking forward' to the pavé of Stage 5 next Wednesday, July 9th. My teeth hurt just looking at the picture below;

Leaders will look to riding the shoulders if possible but the Peloton may not have that ability. When the road wins;

Road rash to the MAX!

[NormsRevenge]

I had a good record on motorcycles, some of my buddies spent time in hospitals, some pretty busted up and lucky.. Memories of me at work and a 750 Honda and a car colliding are still vivid.

Never take a tree on, or car, especially bigger ones.

[NormsRevenge]

And obey traffic lights.

Same guy that crashed into a car, later had a parachute fail, survived both with lots of broken bones.

How about skydiving bike racing?

Better yet.. Tandem

[Baynative]

The old axiom about Paris-Roubaix and it's famed cobbles is:"Everyone wants to win it - no one wants to ride it"

It is such a tradition that as the "pavé" sections deteriorate, the cobbles are replaced by hand instead of using asphalt to make the road surface more useable for modern farm vehicles.

[doorgunner69]

My history of crashes and two wheeled devices is the joke of our family. From bicycles in the 4th grade on, to motorcycles up to when I was 33 breaking my back, done it all.

[NormsRevenge]

I never required traction and major surgery. Whew!

[NormsRevenge]

Paved road can sure rattle the kidneys , that’s for sure..

What’s the diaper of choice on the tour these days?

[Yogafist]

Here is a cute story since we are still waiting for the Tour to begin. A couple I ride with went to the final stage of the Tour of California this year. After the race they encountered Jens Voigt sitting on a curb being interviewed. They said the interviewer asked him something that made him mad, and one of the things he replied was, “That would be like telling Obama his health care thing is good.” The quote is the way it was explained to me. Anyway, the interviewer was escorted away, and they walked up to say hi. Voigt told them he would autograph anything they had, just don’t ask him to stand up. They didn’t have anything to offer, so they asked him to sign their one-year-old’s shirt. Voigt jumped up, signed the shirt, then spent a few moments playing with the child. I don’t think that kid will ever wear that shirt again.

[patriotspride]

Thanks Bay.

Who’s your favorite this year ?

[Tijeras_Slim]

I have a buddy who’s an avid cyclist (I have to confess I was the world’s slowest Cat 3 for 15 years as well), who traveled to France in the 80’s and drove up to the Arenberg Forest section of the P-R course. He got his bike out of the car, took one look at the pave (a dry beautiful day) and put it back in.

[al_c]

I like both soccer and cycling, so this summer is the best in a long time for me.

Now if only my Texas Rangers would play better baseball ......

[Para-Ord.45]

Froome, since Moviestar did the unthinkable and left Nairo Quintana at home in favour of Alejandro Valverde.

Drugador , er, Contador? Cheat, phony.