The Weak Link

For me it's out of habit and to try to pick out my next team jersey.

freeranger

No place for those who aren't watching or following it? Have lost interest in it over the years, and all the doping hasn't helped any either.

Jet Travis

Here are some smart little items, probably coming on sale real soon.

chipcom 

The doping scandals in no way affect my enjoyment of watching the sport.

Ken Brown

I still find it the most exciting sporting event on TV. There are way too many commercials, and I can't afford 3 to 5 hours each day, so I record it and do a lot of fast-forwarding. The end of every stage is exciting, and the whole of the mountain stages.

The doping is really regrettable and I hope they catch all the cheaters. Still, I am going to watch. I expect it is 12 or more years since a non-juiced rider won the tour. (Yes, I know what I am alleging)

CrossChain

+1 Chipcom. I wouldn't throw away a sweet apple because of a brown spot. Better to cut out the spot and enjoy the greater apple. And, I really can't let cynicism overcome my appreciation for something that is not totally corrupt. The lack of perfection in a marriage partner or child doesn't have most of you walking away.

After all, look how long I've hung out here with you people despite............

chipcom 

What things like this really bring to light are all the fair-weathered fans of cycling and the TDF.

cruzMOKS

I follow Pro bike racing because of the commitment they put in to get to where they are. Watching the Pros causes me to ride more. Other sports have just as many drugs, they are just more corrupt.

zymans

From pro cycling I learned what to do to improve my climbing (DOPE).

Jet Travis

OK, I guess this is OT, but....I knew this guy who was, in fact looking for the perfect woman. He must have gone out with 100 or more girls over a period of several years. And finally it actually happened. He met the perfect woman. Unfortunately, she was looking for the perfect man.

OK, back to the Tour.

The Weak Link

Fear not. My TiVo is still armed and ready....

Big Paulie

I watch in hopes of seeing a white bike in the peloton...should happen sometime this century!

BlazingPedals

I think they should simplify the whole thing. Test all the riders at once, and give the yellow jersey to the one who comes closest to being clean.

Red Rider

We're cable and satellite free here, but we watch on the Internet. I'm constantly in awe these cyclists' abilities. Would that I could climb hills like they're nothing, or be unafraid to scream down miles and miles of downhills, or ride like there's no tomorrow in a time trial! I'm inspired and humbled.

CrossChain

Hey, that was me. I'm still looking. Does DG have a sister?

BluesDawg

I don't see an option I can choose. I'm still watching for the same reason I've watched it for years. It is a great sporting event. Nothing else comes close to the excitement of seeing the strategies unfold as the best of the best pit themselves against each other and the slopes. Phil and Paul add to it by creating such a sense of drama describing the action and the subplots.
I'm glad to see they are finally getting serious about taking doping out of the equation. Other sports should follow the lead of cycling.

europa

Snap!
Them's my thoughts too.

Richard

Dogbait

I enjoy the strategies of the different stages. The helicopter photography of the countryside is spectacular. It is a wonder to me that so many drunk fans can actually run sideways, crossing their feet, and not fall into the ditch.

I don't really care who wins, I'm here for the party.

gear

I like it because its' great to watch. Its' beautiful photography of beautiful scenery and wonderful bike racing. Maybe the scandals don't bother me so much because (unlike other sports) the organization and teams seems to be coming down hard on cheaters to chase them out of the sport. I also don't invest too much in particular sport or entertainment personalities, so when one acts human, I don't feel much personal loss.

stonecrd

I love watching all cycling. It is really the challenge to overcome huge obstacles both physical and mental. How far can you push yourself before you crack, where do you attack. I watch as much for the guys like Jens Voight, Popovich, Menchov and Boogaard as for any of the major contenders. Watching these guys give every last drop to their team and then struggling to keep their bike upright and finish ahead of the cutoff is the real story of the TdF.

freeranger

I assure you I'm as much a fan of cycling as I've ever been. But I'd rather watch a race where the outcome is decided by pure talent, and not which team has the best dope doc, or manages to sneak under the radar for testing. A good collegiate race where the athletes are "clean" (hopefully) would have more appeal to me.
I still love baseball also, but I'm not going to celebrate Barry Bonds breaking any records. Having competed in sports while in school, I appreciate the competitive spirit, but hate that doping now plays such a part in the final outcome of many sports. Perhaps it shouldn't bother me as much as it does, but I'd be much more enthused if I felt the outcome was based on pure athleticism.

chipcom 

So which sport, at which level, is free of doping? Curling?

To me, the outcome is not as important as the sport itself - everything that happens from start to finish that leads to the outcome - or doesn't impact it at all, are what makes watching enjoyable. I lost my hero worship for the participants themselves back in grade school. It's just a game, enjoy it for what it is, rather than not enjoying it at all because of the things it shouldn't be.

Terrierman

I like watching it because I am absolutely amazed at what the riders are able to do.

About doping. The organizers do seem to be quite a bit more serious about cleaning the sport (whatever that means) than oh, say baseball. Or football. Or golf. Or any other college or professional sport, even the Olympics. If baseball had kicked out all of their steroid freaks years ago, I might still be actually listening to or watching a baseball game now and then. It's been years since I even know who is in first place. NFL? Same way. NBA? Same. I think the effort to clean things up is sincere. That makes a huge difference to me. Perfection is not required, but honest effort and commitment is. I think they ARE making the honest effort.

BluesDawg

If baseball were as serious about stopping illegal chemical enhancements as cycling is, they would not be on the verge of seeing their most prized record about to be held by a person so many assume has cheated.

bcoppola

I've heard there's a brewing poutine scandal...