Pierre ZFP Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 It starts on Sunday, anyone going to watch?http://www.letour.fr/I always follow this and try to go and see a stage when I can, which is not very often and no chance this year as they come nowhere near me, ah well.I'm thinking of a few bob on Fränk Schleck (Luxembourg) for the Yellow Jersey this year as he is having a fantastic season so far and is 'hungry' for it. Any other views?Also I see there are 4 stages 'accidentées' What is that? accidental stages? put in by mistake?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 " 4 étapes accidentées" means not high mountain, but not flat. i.e., medium to low mountain, or lots of little climbs.Anyone going to watch, are you kidding?????Le Tour is probably one of the reasons why I moved back to France....As for going to see it live, yes, of course! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 See here for a previous discussion, at the time the route was announced: http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1060395/ShowPost.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceni Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 [quote user="5-element"] As for going to see it live, yes, of course![/quote]Carried out the recce on Monday and booked lunch for the time between caravan and riders. Luckily Mme le Patron informed me that the road through the whatever is smaller than a lieu dit will be closed from 10.00 on the day and then helped me plan a route to the tiny road and layby opposite.Happy watchingJohnp.s. I think Nicole Cooke is more likely to win La Tour [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted July 2, 2008 Author Share Posted July 2, 2008 [quote user="Iceni"] p.s. I think Nicole Cooke is more likely to win La Tour [:)][/quote]Ooops! sorry, Le Tour of course Subject heading now amended [:$] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernice Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 It starts on Sunday, anyone going to watch?It starts Saturday 5th July in Brittany (Finistere) - first étape from Brest to Plumelec. I'll be watching, it passes near our house.Bernice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Lucky you, I have seen the road markings in Plumelec. In fact, I wouldn't mind trying the Brest to Plumelec leg myself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Sorry for sounding like a numpty but I know it is a bike race however, if I went onto the street to watch it, will there be anything else to do? Why do people make such a fuss over it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Katie, the atmosphere is fantastic!There are floats, music, action, radio and TV interviews, freebies such as baseball hats, bottles of water, T-shirts, etc etc.Everybody is in holiday mood, friendly, chatting. I have shaken hands with total strangers and shared food and drink with them.If you are anywhere near the route, you just have to experience it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 OK, I like the sound of that. We rented a Gite a few years back in central France. I know it passed the top of the street but I did not go out to see it because I thought it would be just bikes.I could be on Champs Elysees this year to watch it with a nice bottle of Blue Nun to share with fellow revellers. [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 [quote user="Just Katie"]Sorry for sounding like a numpty but I know it is a bike race however, if I went onto the street to watch it, will there be anything else to do? Why do people make such a fuss over it?[/quote]JK, if you "go on the street to watch it", what you will see the least of is probably the bike race. The TdF is a huge big circus - if you like circus atmosphere, and if you are gregarious and enjoy being in big crowds, who fight over each other to snatch the freebies thrown by the "caravane publicitaire" (many cars and floats driving at breakneck speed, passing the spectators about an hour before the cyclists themselves, with loudspeakers, and a multitude of specially-employed people to throw those objects to the crowd) then you will enjoy the experience.If you go for the finish on the Champs-Elysées, it won't be quite the same, but the crowd will be there, even more so.[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Thank you 5e. I may venture out of Paris for a more 'villagey' and warm feel then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raindog Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 [quote user="Pierre ZFP"]I'm thinking of a few bob on Fränk Schleck (Luxembourg) for the Yellow Jersey this year as he is having a fantastic season so far and is 'hungry' for it. Any other views?[/quote]Valverde or Cadel Evans I reckon.Watch out for Mark Cavendish who will be after green - although it may be a bit early in his career yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted July 3, 2008 Author Share Posted July 3, 2008 Yeah heard a lot about Cadel Evans and he has a good chance. I would love to see Fränk do well and win a stage or two as he is very popular here in Lux (as is cycling in general) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raindog Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 [quote user="Pierre ZFP"] I would love to see Fränk do well and win a stage or two as he is very popular here in Lux (as is cycling in general)[/quote]Short interview with Andy just after the finish of his TT this afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Zoff Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Well it's the biggest thing to happen in my sleepy village since - well, ever - so I can't wait for it to arrive as they make the homeward run. They will be going right past the village bar so I have reserved my place on the terrace. (I wonder if a German towel might work better.)Let's just hope that it remains a creditable race and is not spoiled, as is so often the case, by doping scandals. Last year, the locals had all but lost faith in it as a sporting event, long before they reached Paris. But the endurance and determination of these guys never ceases to amaze me - racing on a bike, including up and down mountains, for God's sake, for over 2,000 miles, often in soaring temperatures or pouring rain. And at the end of each stage, having just ridden perhaps 100 miles at a not unreasonable motoring speed, they still have enough energy to sprint to the line! Unbelievable stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raindog Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 [quote user="Alan Zoff"]Let's just hope that it remains a creditable race and is not spoiled, as is so often the case, by doping scandals. Last year, the locals had all but lost faith in it as a sporting event, long before they reached Paris.[/quote]I think Schumacher's perf this afternoon probably raised a couple of eyebrows. But doped or clean they're still supermen.I can only manage about 3000ks a year and that knackers me! [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 A word of advice to anyone taking their dog with them to watch the riders whiz past, put the thing on a lead. Two nasty accidents last year on account of dogs running into the path of the cycles, riders going down like skittles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suze01 Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Did you know....If you go onto http://maps.google.fr/maps you can click on "street view" on the top of the map and get a 360° photographic view of Le Tour at every stage.Just click on "Tour de France 2008" for a step by step guide.Alan Zoff - try it you'll see your bar!!!I watched it go by a few Ks from our place last year - get there early for a good vantage point - they close the roads quite early too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Zoff Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Thanks LisleoiseBrilliant! Got a great view of my house as well (not normally visible on Google Earth maps).I wonder what I can charge for cream teas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 [quote user="Just Katie"]Sorry for sounding like a numpty but I know it is a bike race however, if I went onto the street to watch it, will there be anything else to do? Why do people make such a fuss over it?[/quote]Clearly JK, having now become a Parisienne, with nothing better to do than frequent city brasseries and accost poor hard-working plumbers, you can't be bothered with the simple joys of July life in rural France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Zoff Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 [quote user="Lisleoise"]Did you know....If you go onto http://maps.google.fr/maps you can click on "street view" on the top of the map and get a 360° photographic view of Le Tour at every stage.[/quote]Demonstrating my ignorance on IT matters yet again, is there any way I can save this so that the 360 degrees street level pictures will still be available long after the Tour has ended? I suspect the Page Not Available message will appear at some point. If it is possible, I would greatly appreciate a step-by-step guide to the saving procedure.Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 If you haven't done so, download Google Earth.See here: Tour de France 2008Open with Google Earth, click on places (left-hand side), click on Tour de France 2008, then click on the + sign next to the camera icon. All the stages are shown.When you close Google Earth, you will be asked if you want to save your temp files; click on yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Zoff Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 That simple, eh? I have viewed the stages OK, it was just the saving part I wasn't sure about. Thanks Clair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemonimo Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 For all you ladies who find the Tour de France just toooo boring, here's why cyclists wear black cycle shorts.... not red ones.... [URL=http://imageshack.us][IMG]http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/2348/att000011zc7.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=58&i=att000011zc7.jpg][IMG]http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/2348/att000011zc7.12f8bb925a.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://imageshack.us][IMG]http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/1133/att000021ga8.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=112&i=att000021ga8.jpg][IMG]http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/1133/att000021ga8.e456818c99.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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