Tour de France *** 2013 *** [LIVE THREAD]

Le Tour ^ | 6/26/13 | Baynative

[Baynative]

For as long as I can remember it has been a tradition that the Tour de France begins with a prologue held on the first Saturday of July.

Something changed this year, but the race goes on with a new and exciting route beginning with a specially staged prologue on the French island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea.

[ican'tbelieveit]

They just showed Cadel peeing on the side of the road... oops.

[twyn1]

*lol* — what is it called? “a natural break”?

Wasn’t sure we’d watch this year, just really discouraged by all the doping news, but the scenery is always so beautiful and I can enjoy rooting against some and for others and just hope they’re riding clean.

Looks like Froome is wearing yellow, since Wiggins is out?

[ican'tbelieveit]

Seems the channel I am watching is calling it a “comfort” break.

[Vision]

He seems off to a strange start.

[Vision]

This bus stuck at the finish line is hilarious.

[Vision]

What a mess.

[Baynative]

I'm with ya with a caveat or two. Paula Deen seems truly broken up by what has happened to her for something that happened at least 30 years ago and no one has any idea in what context she may have used the nasty word.

What is really pissing me off is the treatment she is getting from the media. Funny in an ironic sort of way is that she campaigned for Obama and he won't step up and tell mention it. She's white and he has to let her fry to keep his agitation agenda rolling.

[Baynative]

Bike Ping

Of all the things that happen in a crash, I hate to see someone hit a curb more than anything. It hurts to watch. Johnny Hoogerland was the first to go down about 8k out when he got tangled up in a banner on the side of the road. He's the guy that went into that wire fence a couple of years ago. They should have a bad luck jersey for him.

What a crappy day for everyone: Cavendish, Sagan, the people of Corsica and the tour itself. There is always some excitement and we never know what to expect. I never heard Froome mentioned ...

[prisoner6]

A terrible first stage. Stuck bus, crashes...at least it wasn’t raining.

[twyn1]

really strange stage today, what with that bus & the confusion about the ending and where it would be. Not a very auspicious start, but it was interesting to see some different faces at the end sprint.
I’m not sure what they were saying about the times, does everyone in the crash get the same time as those who were first across today, or just the same as everyone else who went down or was involved?

[ican'tbelieveit]

Oh, you have got the media and corporate sponsor part right. But, I don’t like when people have to go on this apology tour that requires we see they are broken up. I would rather see her say: yeah, I said that 20-30 years ago; it was a cultural norm at the time for the society and time I lived in. But I have seen that it is inappropriate, changed my behavior and that is no longer a part of my language.

This is similar to the revelation about GWB being arrested for DWI in his early 20s the weekend before the election. People seriously didn’t vote for him because of that? He without sin cast the first stone.

I am not from the deep south, but both of my parents and probably 50% of the kids I grew up around had that lineage, and we used to have a little sing song: Eeny meeny miny moe, catch a .... by the toe..., etc. Remember that? I had no idea what that word meant when I said it, but as I grew older and learned, I stopped.

[Baynative]

Does this thing look fast, or what?

[Baynative]

#72 was meant for everyone!

[Baynative]

The GC is up and they have given the entire peloton the same time. Marcel Kittel is in yellow.

[prisoner6]

So...with the exception of Littel wearing yellow and physical toll on everyone, it’s like the stage never happened?

[Baynative]

Yeah, all that can be said is that except for the guy wearing yellow tomorrow the day was a complete bust all the way around. Too bad for Corsica. It’s a beautiful place.

[prisoner6]

FWIW for me one of the best things (other than the race and bikes) about the tour is the fantastic scenery. The coverage is spectacular!

[Baynative]

I’m with ya there. I always enjoy seeing the castles, churches and estates from the air.

[Para-Ord.45]

Is it me, or do I like the Giro d`Italia because it`s tougher with vicious climbs and less flat stages?

Seems I look forward to it more than France over the years now.

[Yogafist]

Actually, I think he is yellow, white and green.