Only a few days to go and the breaking news is that Mark Cavendish has been drafted in at the last minute to replace Sam Bennett who hasn't recovered fully from injury. Cav has been racing well this year so a stage or two is not out of the question. Go Cav!

 

Go André go !!

 

Just for you, André on stage 6 2016 -- I wonder who won it?

 

gonna be exciting if the old rocket can do anything

 

Jeez this sneaked up on me!
Though I used to be into racing much more than I am now.

 

Its dates were moved to avoid a clash with obscenely overpaid men kicking an inflated pig's bladder around a field

 

I thought they were moved in order to accommodate the rescheduled Olympics? Anyway, it’ll be a procession… hard to see beyond Ineos for the GC, annoyingly. Wish G didn’t ride for them.

 

I will be amazed if he won a single stage let alone broke Merckx’s record. A great sprinter but past it now. His legacy will live long but I just can’t see him with another tour victory.

I’d love to be proven wrong, but I don’t think I will.

 

I think the winner will come from Slovenia. G will fall over at some point. He usually does.

 

Ineos/Sky have previously strangled the race and look like they will do so again, having said that Roglic and Pogecar are from another planet.
Any winner not from Ineos is good for the sport.
Roll on the spectacle !

 

Thanks for this thread @MRC - I might have missed the start of the tour without it.

 

It's going to cost her !

 

I really hope it does

 

Fled the scene and is yet to be found, apparently…

 

Surely, someone will recognize her. I wonder what’s going to happen - will she be liable for all the damage caused? Can’t really believe that, that could end a (financial) existence. But physical injury resulting from negligence maybe?

 

Anything they can, I would think. Overexcited fans have blighted the Tour for years; they’ll throw everything at her as a deterrent to others. I do feel for her though, she didn’t wake up yesterday morning intent on causing carnage.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/27/sport/tour-de-france-crash-investigation-intl/index.html

They will find her and an example will be made of her.
The cop that caused a crash a few years ago (1994) lost his job, wife, house and probably a few teeth.

Nelissen was never the same sprinter after this accident.

 

Sprung for a VPN since 20+ years of watching on TV in Canada is over. Enjoying the SBS coverage, but sure miss Phil and Paul, may he rest in peace.

These first two days of the TdF have been most entertaining, to say the least.

(note: @MRC - At 2015’s ‘3 Days in DePanne’ time trial, Greipel almost took me out moments after he crossed the line. Cop had given me incorrect crossing instructions. The loud, firm Teutonic warning of “Get out of my way!!!!!” was quickly heeded.)

 

This wasn't the case of an overexcited fan, but yet another self-absorbed, social media driven twit. "Overexcited fans" are part of the makeup of the Tour, especially on the climbs. Do some cross the line? Absolutely. But to compare them with this idiot who was facing the already passing cameras is unfair IMO. I hope she faces the consequences of her vanity; there are plenty of professional riders who are, unfortunately.