A reader who’s part of the Tour entourage has been in touch with the following information about the rest day. No rest: the town is heaving with tourists, I suspect riders wanting a quiet day will be holed up in their hotel rooms. The festival of local produce, the band music and the big crowds … Read more
Whilst the tar was melting, sun irradiating the riders and the race hotted up, revenge was on the mind of several riders. I attacked first and he beat me for the gold medal in Beijing. This is revenge. So said Andy Schleck after beating Samuel Sanchez for the stage win. Also when several riders hit … Read more
Oh the irony! For years the first mountain stage was the stage where Lance Armstrong killed the Tour de France. A summit finish would often see him gain control of the race. First his team would shrink the bunch, then one or two lieutenants would select the pace for a select group and then we’d … Read more
OK, this is only for French readers but having panned TV commentator Thierry Adam, I’m willing to eat my words and praise him. The France Télévisions broadcaster has really upped his game. Whether it’s memory or notes, he’s now able to cite past winners and supply anecdotes. Thankfully, for multiple reasons, Laurent Fignon is often … Read more
Whilst the media will swarm around Armstrong, don’t forget who’s just taken the yellow jersey. Bravo, as they say, for Cadel Evans. Swapping the rainbow jersey for yellow is something I don’t think has happened since 1990 when Greg Lemond won the Tour de France, it’s a little bit of history. Evans has to be … Read more
This is the first mountain stage of the race. Whilst Saturday’s stage up to the ski station of Les Rousses saw some climbing, the uphill sections often averaged below 5%. Indeed Les Rousses is more the sort of place where people do XC skiing. Morzine-Avoriaz on the other hand is where you go for downhill … Read more
See the article below for an idea sent in by a reader. Several others have been in touch with suggestions and I’m really happy to hear from readers with comments, suggestions, criticism and more. Note the email address on the top right plus you can use Twitter to keep up, I use the psuedonym 39teeth. … Read more
Click to enlarge A reader sent in the above photo by email taken from the route of Stage 8 to Morzine. I’ll let them take over the story (I’ve edited the text for brevity): I’m on holiday in the Alps… …the whole area is getting ready… …the route is being decorated. The village of Mieussy … Read more
Whilst today sees the riders head into the Alps, it’s only the Jura and the climbs are not too hard. So it’s tomorrow and the 10% sections of the Col de Ramaz that actually mark the start of the terrain for the climbers and GC contenders. The final climb up Les Rousses is steady, well … Read more