2011 Tour de France (3 Viewers)

[Beaufighter]

Cycling - Tour de France - Farrar beyond a shadow of a doubt

The National Day American Tyler Farrar was imposed on Redon, before the French Romain Feillu Monday.

Congratulations USA.
Regards.

Merci bien! Great photo and a fitting victory for a tough "Yank" on 4 July-he has had a great year already! I am sure that Cassar, Chavanel and or Voeckler will make the French proud on one of the stages soon. Can not wait for tomorrow's stage with that uphill finish.

Allez,
Marc

 

[theBaron]

I love watching the tour but lets get real on a particular fact: The tour is tremendously slanted to European riders. It's only been fairly recent that American riders have gained a degree of acceptance not to mention that this tour has its first, as the British announcers put it, "colored" cyclist from South Africa.

There are riders in South America, the Caribbean and certainly in Africa with times and skills that match their European counterparts yet do not have the opportunity many other riders do. It's very frustrating.

Like in past American baseball: would Babe Ruth have stood up against the best of the Negro League? There were players who barred from playing major league who would have set amazing records against those of their Caucasian counterparts.

I love watching the tour, I watch it religiously but I am very frustrated by this aspect of it.

Does the rider's skin color really matter?

 

[Rob]

Phil Liggett, MBE does an excellent job of providing commentary on the Tour de France. He is often paired up with Paul Sherwin on ITV and Versus for bike races.

His entertaining commentary spiced up with the now famous "Liggettisms" makes all the difference. Here is just one....."(he) is pumping those two pistons he calls legs."


Raymond

I agree, I also like the little History asides they do, 'The Germans were here, the Germans bombed this etc' gives it another interesting spin. The scenery is great and just gets better and better.

Rob

 

[Gideon]

Does the rider's skin color really matter?

No it doesn't but it's clear that there a lot of phenomenal riders who are not given a chance to ride in the tour. They're out there too in various racing teams and as individual competitors.

Like I said, I watch the tour religiously in July but this is something that irks me about the sport.

 

[glossman]

What a finish to Stage 4 Lorient to Mur de Bretagne.....

Cadel Evans wins the stage by a whisker from Alberto Contador.

Raymond

 

[glossman]

Just watched it, courtesy of DVR. Exciting finish. Loved that cutout of the giant bicycle with the the tractors going around and round like wheels.[/QUOTE]

Brad,

This must be it.....one of the best I've seen.

There was one in Stage 4 today....not as good.

Raymond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCXqyrZcUWQ

 

[Obee]

Aussie... Aussie... Aussie....

Oi.... Oi... Oi....

^&grin^&grin^&grin^&grin^&grin^&grin

 

[Gideon]

Whats with all the crashes today? Seemingly out of nowhere!

 

[Beaufighter]

Whats with all the crashes today? Seemingly out of nowhere!

Narrow fast roads and perhaps too much caffeine earlier in the day-definitely a jittery pack today. Congratulations to all cycling fans from the U.K. via the HTC Cavendish victory!

Allez,
Marc

 

[Beaufighter]

Aussie... Aussie... Aussie....

Oi.... Oi... Oi....

^&grin^&grin^&grin^&grin^&grin^&grin

Job well done Aussies! What a gutsy well deserved victory from a classy rider. Great BMC Team-Work and sacrifice! Looked like a misfired pistola from Contador in the end!

Allez,
Marc

 

[Rob]

Well done Mark Cavendish, first stage win today, great sprint finish!^&cool

Rob

 

[glossman]

TDF Stage 5: Carhaix to Cap Fréhel

A great sprint finish by Mark Cavendish....turbocharged himself from 10th to 1st in the final segment.

Hushovd keeps the yellow jersey with Evans 1 sec and Frank Schleck 4 sec behind for the top 3 in the GC.

Raymond

 

[Obee]

Stage 5

Great finish to Cavendish, and I do like this guy because when he is interviewed, he's always saying "my team" and they are all bringing him up into position for the final charge.

BUT.... what a lot of crashes???

I was about to goto bed, but it was SO exciting, that I stayed up to 11:45 to see the end of the telecast.. direct to 'down under.

This is my #1 Sporting TV Show of the year

John

 

[glossman]

Stage 6 Dinan to Lisieux

a Norweigian 1/3 finish with Hushovd retaining the yellow jersey

today's stage ran south of the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy

some nice chateaux on the route....

Raymond

 

[Gideon]

Wiggins taken out in a crash.

 

[Gideon]

Team HTC created the perfect lead out for Cavendish today. If that major crash hadn't taken place at the rear, I think there could have been a different outcome but, at least, we got to see the mechanics of a great team lead out - all 9 riders on HTC setting up to launch Cavendish.

 

[jazzeum]

It's proving to be a, exciting finish today with 5 k to go.

 

[glossman]

Stage 9 Issoire to Saint-Flour

a bad crash at the head of the peloton at the 102km mark

several top riders in GC go down.....

Raymond{eek3}

 

[jazzeum]

Yes, quite bad. Vinokourov after coming so close yesterday had to withdraw with a broken pelvis.

 

[glossman]

A very eventful stage with a new rider in the yellow jersey and 4 retirements due to injuries sustained in the nasty crash. Cadel Evans is still up in the top 3....and the Schleck brothers are steadily moving up the GC.

Thomas Voeckler takes the yellow jersey.....hope to see another feisty performance from the Frenchman, like when he defended his yellow jersey for 10 days in the 2004 tour.

Raymond