rollin

If the Giro this year was anything to go by then this should be a great Tour.

Anyone who thinks that this Tour will be boring doesn't remember the big Mig. God love him but he was dull

(First tour I watched was Hinault 1982, the year I started track racing.)

Bontrager

It's difficult to root for a rider or team with much enthusiasm because the following day they're just going to be banned from the tour because someone thought they saw a syringe in their hotel room.

Some of you "real fans" that say that those of us that began following cycling in the Lance era aren't real fans but I think you guys are precisely the ones watching the Tour with rose colored glasses thinking everything you are watching is "real". News flash: Your rider that isn't doping is going to be banned for doping tomorrow. But you have yet to find out and get a slap in the face when your favorite rider gets yanked for no good reason. It's pathetic. The politics behind it is pathetic. It's not the alleged doping that is imploding cycling, it's the politics and power and money hungry people at the top.

Surferbruce

sounds like it's time you found a new sport. golf perhaps?

logdrum

Since Lance dominated, epspecially around the 6th and 7th win when alll that mattered was him, that was the most un-interesting un-magical period of the TDF. Now we are back to what it should be just a little faster. No prolouge made it also interesting. I wish I have cable but I am taping it at my mother in laws.

Bontrager

Did he really dominate? I mean, yes, he won, over and over again. But hindsight is 20/20. If he was that great then why did the other teams even show up? Why did the sponsors give $$ to anyone else but Discovery/US Postal? Because not everyone and every country put Lance on a pedestal.

It's hard to talk about some sports without talking about the current dominant player in your home country. Who do you think of when someone mentions (american) football? golf? indy car racing? nascar?

DrPete 

That's a completely ridicuous argument. If there's one dominant team in the NFL, it doesn't mean that everyone else quits playing for the season.

Brian Ratliff

https://www.justin.tv/giac2007

Watched it this morning.

botto 

correct.

Stunning Stu

He should check if the Harlem Globetrotters are coming to town. I'm sure that would be enjoyable.

BillyD

Yes, he and his team dominated.

It was the Tour de Lance . . . . . . . fuggedabboudit!!

bring44

I don't know about you guys but, I've been a fan of Valverde for awhile..I'm down for the tour as of now*


*When the yellow is gone I may or may not waste time watching it.

Walter

Valverde is looking real good. That Stage 1 win was quite an exhibition and he had no trouble staying up with the sprint today.

Time will tell.

Surferbruce

valverde needs to give up on the hair and just shave that cabeza.

roadwarrior

Um, there's other races. But you wouldn't know that.

Quick Step is a great example. They don't have a "GC" man, are set up as a classics/one day event team, yet they go for the green jersey and stage wins.

But not this year...since Boonen discovered recreational pharmaceuticals.

See, some teams go to the Tour with no chance at the GC. Some go with little to no chance at even stage wins. And people will sponsor them.

And that's why I mentioned not having laughed so hard in a while.

botto 

go read some of the idiocy in the tour forum. priceless.

roadwarrior

Walter:

There will be some muscle flexing by about stage 6 with entry into the Massif. Stages 7 and 8 are similar...short steep climbs to loosen the legs a bit. Stage 9 is a nice walk in the park.

The race starts on stage 10. The ride up the Tourmalet for selection, then up the Hautacam to determine who is in this and who is not.

Three finishes on the Hautacam. Each time, the rider in yellow at the finish went on to win the race.

roadwarrior

I'll have to go there...I tried to stay away, but like a train wreck, one cannot avoid looking.

Pedaleur

"Essayez avec cette orthographe : vive la france ?"

And I cannot believe you of all people have not indulged your cycling self-hate with a suffer-fest in the French Alps.

lebleup

Kissing up to the American riders? Naaaaaa. I've never picked that out. Paul is ok. It's your bud Phil. Oh man. The man hated the Lance Armstrong dominancy. He couldn't hide it no matter how hard he tried.
I couldn't care less what nationality the Yellow Jersey is, it's just all the BS that goes with it going back years. Now the 'I'm going clean' commercials regarding doping tells it all. The commentators in tie and blazers on VS...what the? I guess they're doing everything to put on a new face. Roll looks quite uncomfortable. Hey, but it's a job. Anyhows... enjoy the TdF. I'll enjoy it nevertheless.

Longfemur

You're right, not the same anymore... and thank goodness for that. Now we real fans can enjoy it.

RT

To each their own. While I enjoy the TdF, if I had to choose one, I'd rather watch an NHL game 7 or the Super Bowl

Walter

Will be interesting. I'm traveling to the in-laws this week but should be able to keep up with the race. At least I'm bringing a bike. NE Texas may not be the Massif but considering where I live it might as well be.

I'll admit to being a Valverde fan. Seems something always goes wrong for him at the TdF but maybe this is the year?