Any Tour de France watchers?

[odanny]

I'm excited that I'll be able to watch 21 stages of this race, I haven't missed watching it for almost 20 years. I wished they only had one time trial, this year two (5 and 20) and last year only had one, they saved the time trial stage for stage 20, when it can sink the leader if he does poorly in the TT. It happened last year. Also, the team time trial was always a joke, looks like they've dumped it. Really hard to say who will win it this year, whatever team Sky changed to (Ineos?) will likely be in contention at the end, as they always seem to be.

Tour de France 2021: stage-by-stage guide | William Fotheringham

This year’s race begins in France’s cycling heartland before heading to the mountains and a climax in the Pyrenees

www.theguardian.com

 

[Decus]

The Tour De France has a long tradition of doping:

"From 1998 to 2012, about 44 percent of the top 10 finishers of the Tour de France were using PEDs at the time." PEDs - (Performance Enhancing Drugs).

What data says about doping in the Tour de France

This year’s winner of the yellow jersey, Chris Froome, has also come under scrutiny amid allegations of doping. How prevalent are performance enhancing drugs in the Tour de France?

thenextweb.com

Is Indurain another Tour de France winner who doped? - Cycling Passion

According to reports published on cycling news today, Miguel Indurain and his Banesto team worked with Dr. Francesco Conconi in the 90s.

cycling-passion.com

Climate of suspicion returns to Tour de France to dampen celebrations

Joy at the completion of this year’s delayed Tour has faded with news that Nairo Quintana’s team hotel had been searched

www.theguardian.com

The doping problem is so bad that even The Onion had to make fun of the race:

Non-Doping Cyclists Finish Tour De France

PARIS—A small but enthusiastic crowd of several dozen was on hand at the Tour de France's finish line on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées Tuesday to applaud the efforts of the 28 cyclists who completed the grueling 20-stage, 2,208.3-mile race without the aid of performance-enhancing drugs.

www.theonion.com

.

 

[Mikeoxenormous]

I'm excited that I'll be able to watch 21 stages of this race, I haven't missed watching it for almost 20 years. I wished they only had one time trial, this year two (5 and 20) and last year only had one, they saved the time trial stage for stage 20, when it can sink the leader if he does poorly in the TT. It happened last year. Also, the team time trial was always a joke, looks like they've dumped it. Really hard to say who will win it this year, whatever team Sky changed to (Ineos?) will likely be in contention at the end, as they always seem to be.

Tour de France 2021: stage-by-stage guide | William Fotheringham

This year’s race begins in France’s cycling heartland before heading to the mountains and a climax in the Pyrenees

www.theguardian.com

 

[Jimmy_Chitwood]

I'm excited that I'll be able to watch 21 stages of this race, I haven't missed watching it for almost 20 years. I wished they only had one time trial, this year two (5 and 20) and last year only had one, they saved the time trial stage for stage 20, when it can sink the leader if he does poorly in the TT. It happened last year. Also, the team time trial was always a joke, looks like they've dumped it. Really hard to say who will win it this year, whatever team Sky changed to (Ineos?) will likely be in contention at the end, as they always seem to be.

Tour de France 2021: stage-by-stage guide | William Fotheringham

This year’s race begins in France’s cycling heartland before heading to the mountains and a climax in the Pyrenees

www.theguardian.com

View attachment 504101

Now if it was full contact where they run each other off the road and use weapons.

That would be worth watching.

 

[JLW]

I’ll be watching.

 

[DGS49]

Strikes me as not such a great SPECTATOR sport. I enjoy biking immensely but wouldn't waste more than a minute or two watching the TdF, if the outcome is in question at the end.

 

[odanny]

The Tour De France has a long tradition of doping:

"From 1998 to 2012, about 44 percent of the top 10 finishers of the Tour de France were using PEDs at the time." PEDs - (Performance Enhancing Drugs).

What data says about doping in the Tour de France

This year’s winner of the yellow jersey, Chris Froome, has also come under scrutiny amid allegations of doping. How prevalent are performance enhancing drugs in the Tour de France?

thenextweb.com

Is Indurain another Tour de France winner who doped? - Cycling Passion

According to reports published on cycling news today, Miguel Indurain and his Banesto team worked with Dr. Francesco Conconi in the 90s.

cycling-passion.com

Climate of suspicion returns to Tour de France to dampen celebrations

Joy at the completion of this year’s delayed Tour has faded with news that Nairo Quintana’s team hotel had been searched

www.theguardian.com

The doping problem is so bad that even The Onion had to make fun of the race:

Non-Doping Cyclists Finish Tour De France

PARIS—A small but enthusiastic crowd of several dozen was on hand at the Tour de France's finish line on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées Tuesday to applaud the efforts of the 28 cyclists who completed the grueling 20-stage, 2,208.3-mile race without the aid of performance-enhancing drugs.

www.theonion.com

.

Meh.

 

[odanny]

Strikes me as not such a great SPECTATOR sport. I enjoy biking immensely but wouldn't waste more than a minute or two watching the TdF, if the outcome is in question at the end.

What these cyclists achieve are super human. Furthermore, the beauty is France is impossible to describe, one must see it for themselves. Extraordinary.

If one does not know who any of the cyclists are, it would not be interesting, but if you've watched these guys for years, you are rooting for some of them to do well. Team Quickstep is probably the most talented team in the race, if not in the world.

 

[Jimmy_Chitwood]

Strikes me as not such a great SPECTATOR sport. I enjoy biking immensely but wouldn't waste more than a minute or two watching the TdF, if the outcome is in question at the end.

What these cyclists achieve are super human. Furthermore, the beauty is France is impossible to describe, one must see it for themselves. Extraordinary.

If one does not know who any of the cyclists are, it would not be interesting, but if you've watched these guys for years, you are rooting for some of them to do well. Team Quickstep is probably the most talented team in the race, if not in the world.

The Germans sure loved the beauty of France

 

[Decus]

Strikes me as not such a great SPECTATOR sport. I enjoy biking immensely but wouldn't waste more than a minute or two watching the TdF, if the outcome is in question at the end.

What these cyclists achieve are super human. Furthermore, the beauty is France is impossible to describe, one must see it for themselves. Extraordinary.

If one does not know who any of the cyclists are, it would not be interesting, but if you've watched these guys for years, you are rooting for some of them to do well. Team Quickstep is probably the most talented team in the race, if not in the world.

The French drug tour. PEDs can give you super human power, is the message of the race.

.

 

[Decus]

Strikes me as not such a great SPECTATOR sport. I enjoy biking immensely but wouldn't waste more than a minute or two watching the TdF, if the outcome is in question at the end.

What these cyclists achieve are super human. Furthermore, the beauty is France is impossible to describe, one must see it for themselves. Extraordinary.

If one does not know who any of the cyclists are, it would not be interesting, but if you've watched these guys for years, you are rooting for some of them to do well. Team Quickstep is probably the most talented team in the race, if not in the world.

The Germans sure loved the beauty of France

Everybody loves the beauty of the country and architecture but usually can't stand the French.

De Gaulle once said:

"I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French."

Truer words have never been spoken.

.

 

[Oz and the Orchestra]

I'm excited that I'll be able to watch 21 stages of this race, I haven't missed watching it for almost 20 years. I wished they only had one time trial, this year two (5 and 20) and last year only had one, they saved the time trial stage for stage 20, when it can sink the leader if he does poorly in the TT. It happened last year. Also, the team time trial was always a joke, looks like they've dumped it. Really hard to say who will win it this year, whatever team Sky changed to (Ineos?) will likely be in contention at the end, as they always seem to be.

Tour de France 2021: stage-by-stage guide | William Fotheringham

This year’s race begins in France’s cycling heartland before heading to the mountains and a climax in the Pyrenees

www.theguardian.com

You mean the 'Tour De Pharmacy'?

 

[PoliticalChic]

Strikes me as not such a great SPECTATOR sport. I enjoy biking immensely but wouldn't waste more than a minute or two watching the TdF, if the outcome is in question at the end.

What these cyclists achieve are super human. Furthermore, the beauty is France is impossible to describe, one must see it for themselves. Extraordinary.

If one does not know who any of the cyclists are, it would not be interesting, but if you've watched these guys for years, you are rooting for some of them to do well. Team Quickstep is probably the most talented team in the race, if not in the world.

The Germans sure loved the beauty of France

Everybody loves the beauty of the country and architecture but usually can't stand the French.

De Gaulle once said:

"I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French."

Truer words have never been spoken.

.

Brings to mind....

 

[martybegan]

The Tour De France has a long tradition of doping:

"From 1998 to 2012, about 44 percent of the top 10 finishers of the Tour de France were using PEDs at the time." PEDs - (Performance Enhancing Drugs).

What data says about doping in the Tour de France

This year’s winner of the yellow jersey, Chris Froome, has also come under scrutiny amid allegations of doping. How prevalent are performance enhancing drugs in the Tour de France?

thenextweb.com

Is Indurain another Tour de France winner who doped? - Cycling Passion

According to reports published on cycling news today, Miguel Indurain and his Banesto team worked with Dr. Francesco Conconi in the 90s.

cycling-passion.com

Climate of suspicion returns to Tour de France to dampen celebrations

Joy at the completion of this year’s delayed Tour has faded with news that Nairo Quintana’s team hotel had been searched

www.theguardian.com

The doping problem is so bad that even The Onion had to make fun of the race:

Non-Doping Cyclists Finish Tour De France

PARIS—A small but enthusiastic crowd of several dozen was on hand at the Tour de France's finish line on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées Tuesday to applaud the efforts of the 28 cyclists who completed the grueling 20-stage, 2,208.3-mile race without the aid of performance-enhancing drugs.

www.theonion.com

.

It's the sport of professional cycling in general. It's the sport that gives the biggest boost to people who dope as it is pure endurance.

 

[martybegan]

Strikes me as not such a great SPECTATOR sport. I enjoy biking immensely but wouldn't waste more than a minute or two watching the TdF, if the outcome is in question at the end.

What these cyclists achieve are super human. Furthermore, the beauty is France is impossible to describe, one must see it for themselves. Extraordinary.

If one does not know who any of the cyclists are, it would not be interesting, but if you've watched these guys for years, you are rooting for some of them to do well. Team Quickstep is probably the most talented team in the race, if not in the world.

The Germans sure loved the beauty of France

Everybody loves the beauty of the country and architecture but usually can't stand the French.

De Gaulle once said:

"I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French."

Truer words have never been spoken.

.

I found the French to be much nicer to Americans recently due to another tourist group being far more annoying.

People from Mainland China.

 

[Decus]

Strikes me as not such a great SPECTATOR sport. I enjoy biking immensely but wouldn't waste more than a minute or two watching the TdF, if the outcome is in question at the end.

What these cyclists achieve are super human. Furthermore, the beauty is France is impossible to describe, one must see it for themselves. Extraordinary.

If one does not know who any of the cyclists are, it would not be interesting, but if you've watched these guys for years, you are rooting for some of them to do well. Team Quickstep is probably the most talented team in the race, if not in the world.

The Germans sure loved the beauty of France

Everybody loves the beauty of the country and architecture but usually can't stand the French.

De Gaulle once said:

"I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French."

Truer words have never been spoken.

.

I found the French to be much nicer to Americans recently due to another tourist group being far more annoying.

People from Mainland China.

The Chinese have been replacing Americans as the "ugly tourist" in recent years. They tend to be brash and loud, which once what we were accused of being when abroad. Americans are much more respectful than they once were but we are now criticized for dressing inappropriately and far too often being obese.

.

 

[martybegan]

Strikes me as not such a great SPECTATOR sport. I enjoy biking immensely but wouldn't waste more than a minute or two watching the TdF, if the outcome is in question at the end.

What these cyclists achieve are super human. Furthermore, the beauty is France is impossible to describe, one must see it for themselves. Extraordinary.

If one does not know who any of the cyclists are, it would not be interesting, but if you've watched these guys for years, you are rooting for some of them to do well. Team Quickstep is probably the most talented team in the race, if not in the world.

The Germans sure loved the beauty of France

Everybody loves the beauty of the country and architecture but usually can't stand the French.

De Gaulle once said:

"I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French."

Truer words have never been spoken.

.

I found the French to be much nicer to Americans recently due to another tourist group being far more annoying.

People from Mainland China.

The Chinese have been replacing Americans as the "ugly tourist" in recent years. They tend to be brash and loud, which once what we were accused of being when abroad. Americans are much more respectful than they once were but we are now criticized for dressing inappropriately and far too often being obese.

.

I saw it in 2015 in France. Most French understand at least a little English, but not many understand Mandarin or Cantonese.

 

[Decus]

Strikes me as not such a great SPECTATOR sport. I enjoy biking immensely but wouldn't waste more than a minute or two watching the TdF, if the outcome is in question at the end.

What these cyclists achieve are super human. Furthermore, the beauty is France is impossible to describe, one must see it for themselves. Extraordinary.

If one does not know who any of the cyclists are, it would not be interesting, but if you've watched these guys for years, you are rooting for some of them to do well. Team Quickstep is probably the most talented team in the race, if not in the world.

The Germans sure loved the beauty of France

Everybody loves the beauty of the country and architecture but usually can't stand the French.

De Gaulle once said:

"I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French."

Truer words have never been spoken.

.

I found the French to be much nicer to Americans recently due to another tourist group being far more annoying.

People from Mainland China.

The Chinese have been replacing Americans as the "ugly tourist" in recent years. They tend to be brash and loud, which once what we were accused of being when abroad. Americans are much more respectful than they once were but we are now criticized for dressing inappropriately and far too often being obese.

.

I saw it in 2015 in France. Most French understand at least a little English, but not many understand Mandarin or Cantonese.

It's actually funny how many French wish they were American. In the late 60's I remember seeing "Yankee Go Home" painted on walls in France and at the same time some of the most popular French music was written in homage to the U.S.. Sardou who is still massively popular in France wrote "Les Ricans" (linked with English subtitles), and Joe Dassin as well as others sang similarly positive songs regarding Americans.

The French envied our freedom, our individualism and the strength of our country. Which in part is why some were often gruff and defensive (even offensive). Envy can do that.



.

 

[martybegan]

Strikes me as not such a great SPECTATOR sport. I enjoy biking immensely but wouldn't waste more than a minute or two watching the TdF, if the outcome is in question at the end.

What these cyclists achieve are super human. Furthermore, the beauty is France is impossible to describe, one must see it for themselves. Extraordinary.

If one does not know who any of the cyclists are, it would not be interesting, but if you've watched these guys for years, you are rooting for some of them to do well. Team Quickstep is probably the most talented team in the race, if not in the world.

The Germans sure loved the beauty of France

Everybody loves the beauty of the country and architecture but usually can't stand the French.

De Gaulle once said:

"I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French."

Truer words have never been spoken.

.

I found the French to be much nicer to Americans recently due to another tourist group being far more annoying.

People from Mainland China.

The Chinese have been replacing Americans as the "ugly tourist" in recent years. They tend to be brash and loud, which once what we were accused of being when abroad. Americans are much more respectful than they once were but we are now criticized for dressing inappropriately and far too often being obese.

.

I saw it in 2015 in France. Most French understand at least a little English, but not many understand Mandarin or Cantonese.

It's actually funny how many French wish they were American. In the late 60's I remember seeing "Yankee Go Home" painted on walls in France and at the same time some of the most popular French music was written in homage to the U.S.. Sardou who is still massively popular in France wrote "Les Ricans" (linked with English subtitles), and Joe Dassin as well as others sang similarly positive songs regarding Americans.

The French envied our freedom, our individualism and the strength of our country. Which in part is why some were often gruff and defensive (even offensive). Envy can do that.



.

I found everyone to be very friendly in 2015. Was in Canne, Lyon, Amiens, Bayeaux and Paris. Had a great time.

 

[odanny]

In the old days, at the end of every stage, the announcers would read the names of the riders who failed their drug test and would not be continuing the race. At the end of every single stage.

That never happens anymore. I remember when the rider from Rabobank was leading the race, and everyone knew he doped before the race because he missed his drug test. At the start of the stage, late in the race, many riders stayed back in protest until he has ridden a few miles. At the end of the stage, the entire team withdrew from the race. Those days are thankfully over.