Whilst the Stockeu crashes, the medical bulletin and tensions in the bunch over Saxo’s shutdown rages, let’s not forget Sylvain Chavanel. He factured his skull in Liege-Bastogne-Liege but on the same roads yesterday he was the first to attack. He initially rode alone, building up a lead as a wild chase finally allowed a few … Read more
I’ve written before about the fine line between finding exciting roads and turning a race from a sporting contest into a real life version of Wacky Races. Clearly there’s a gap between the fans, who want to see gruelling tests every day and the riders who can’t risk a season and their health on a … Read more
Spare a thought for Thor Hushovd. Voted by his peers as the best descender in the pro peloton, the Norwegian champion demonstrated the famous bike-handling skills by staying upright today. And more, since the bulky classics contender was at the front of the race whilst the rivals for the Green Jersey went out of the … Read more
Something strange happened in the Tour stage today. During the descent of the Stockeu many riders went down. It wasn’t a handling error or just bad luck, for surely too many riders hit the deck for this to be just bad luck. Race director Jean-Francois Pescheux said he thought 60-70 riders crashed. There could have … Read more
Note all the riders are turning right, except one. The picture shows the moment the race changed. With Hushovd surviving, it’s an early blow to Cavendish’s chances of winning the Green Jersey. I won’t add to the commentary on why it happened as to me this just seems like an accident that’s going to happen … Read more
I might run a series of 1980s nostalgia on here but for the likes of Bruyneel and Riis, it’s like 2004 all over gain. Why? Well they are blocking certain journalists from interviews and access according to cyclismag.com. Back then several reporters were on a list held by team staff with strict orders to freeze … Read more
Here are five suggestions to help you get more from the Tour de France: Explore the terrain: France is a big country that stretches across Europe and you can go from the near-baltic diet of herrings and beer of the north to the Mediterranean lifestyle in the south. Take a moment to look at the … Read more
Any visitor to France will soon notice the wasp-like whine of scooters that have been modified by teenagers. Some part of me thinks that if you are going to be riding an underpowered moped powered by engine designed for a garden strimmer then you’d want to ride around in silence, to avoid drawing attention to … Read more
Tar fondu Life in France is great but it’s not without its problems, the relentless politicisation of every minor event, teenagers on mopeds with modified exhausts that make a vuvuzuela sound soothing and… melting roads. Picture the scene, you are descending a stunning route and suddenly round a bend to discover the road is melting, … Read more
Française des Jeux riders unveil their new jersey for the Tour de France. The sponsor recently signed a new deal with the team, backing Marc Madiot’s band for another four years. Photo: L’Equipe.fr