Tour de France in Yorkshire... who's going?

[David B]

Re: Re:

maybe a Yates brother or two will make the cut

Yeah, maybe. I'd forgotten that OGE hadn't announced their Tour team, though I'd be surprised if Simon and/or Adam make it, especially Adam.

I saw a quote from OGE this week saying to expect a surprise or two in their line up, and assumed they meant Esteban Chaves - probably my favourite young rider just now.

One prominent figure who will be riding is Lampre-Merida's resident veteran Chris Horner, who ought to feel right at home in "Last of the Summer Wine" country. Wonder if he'll be descending Holme Moss in an old bathtub fitted with wheels?

Edit: I was pleased to read that Adam Yates is in the OGE line-up. Simon didn't make it, understandable given his Tour of Turkey and Dauphiné exploits - no sense in over-racing him in his first pro season.

David

 

[Carge]

Had a ride up Holme Moss today - where's the steep bit?
I hope they take the temporary traffic lights near the top down before Sunday
BMC, Katusha and OmegaPharmaLottoPredictorWhataMouthful were out doing recce rides on it.
Apparently, my buddy overtook one of the Katusha lads on the way down!

I'm back there on Sat/Sun to watch Stage2 up near Sowerby Bridge - a friend has a friend with a house "on the route at the top of the hill"

 

[David B]

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I was up in York most of yesterday (work commitments meant returning to the Midlands for today, heading north again on Friday); bunting, themed shop window displays and yellow bikes everywhere - the city shouldn't be lacking in atmosphere come the weekend!! Apparently half a million or so spectators are expected in and around the centre and suburbs for Stage 2 on Sunday and I, plus at least one of my mates who lives up that way, will be among them.

As planned I investigated Tour-themed beers and one of the local off-licences had a good selection (mostly Yorkshire-brewed to boot); I plumped for Velo-City (http://www.perfectpint.co.uk/real-ale-b ... /Velo-City) as it's brewed in the centre of York itself and, to keep the TdF theme going, it uses French hops. Well worth seeking out a bottle - it didn't disappoint.

David

 

[jimo746]

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Dammit! I'm away with work until the 11th, the one time the TDF is near where I grew up and I bloody miss it :facepalm:

My friend lives just outside Leeds and said that the team's had been out riding around his neck of the woods, setting segment records and claiming all the KOM titles on Strava

 

[Rod_Saetan]

Up in the Motherland tomorrow through Sunday, hoping to catch it on the way past Saturday morning and then ride off road ish to the finish. Sunday is TBC, was hoping to head to Hebden as I used to live there, but we shall see.

Pretty stoked about the whole thing.

 

[Rich Aitch]

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Were I to have had any doubts about missing out they were dispelled when I got to Leeds City Station to leave town weekend and who should be climbing off the London train, being greeted by a crowd of Tour volunteers and a camera crew...

Well I wasn't really sure who, he looked like Alaistair Campbell. I asked an official looking woman who it was and she looked really shocked; "It's the Deputy Prime Minister!" So that'll be Nick Clegg then, be still my beating heart! Very odd, no Police, no one who looked like undercover police and no tie either.

I've just looked on the BBC and apparantly two guffmeisters who no one has ever heard of are going to sing an "Anthem" for the opening bunfight. And someones already failed a drugs test, which reminds me of why it really gets on my tits; I don't wait on street corners to cheer on crack-cocaine users so why would I do the same for a load of hGH users, just because they are on bikes and haven't been caught yet? Every year there was a drugs scandal and it was always promised as a clean tour next year, yet as soon as a [Presumably] clean Briton wins and it comes to Yorkshire the TdF stops been the sporting equivalent of the Bosnian-Serb Republic and becomes the fabled land everyone wants to visit.

 

[brocklanders023]

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I live in Skipton, just like grumpy Rich. Planning on wondering in to town saturday to see if I can see anything. If not I'll go to the pub. On sunday the plan is to ride off road a few miles to a hill top near silsden and watch from there. Saying that, Giant-One is having a bit of a rough time of it and is coming round sat night and grog has been mentioned so it could all go badly wrong.

 

[pigman]

Re: Re:

And someones already failed a drugs test, which reminds me of why it really gets on my tits; I don't wait on street corners to cheer on crack-cocaine users so why would I do the same for a load of hGH users, just because they are on bikes and haven't been caught yet? Every year there was a drugs scandal and it was always promised as a clean tour next year, yet as soon as a [Presumably] clean Briton wins and it comes to Yorkshire the TdF stops been the sporting equivalent of the Bosnian-Serb Republic and becomes the fabled land everyone wants to visit.

So what, that's irrelevant. He wasn't on the tour team anyway, just happened to be employed by one of the teams taking part. if I go home and take drugs, does that make the organisation I work for bad. I work in a school, would you now not send your kids to that school?

I wonder how many failed drugs tests there might have been in Brazil if they had the same testing regime? Or Wimbledon? but it's only cycling that does drugs innit?

 

[Johnsqual]

Re: Re:

And someones already failed a drugs test, which reminds me of why it really gets on my tits; I don't wait on street corners to cheer on crack-cocaine users so why would I do the same for a load of hGH users, just because they are on bikes and haven't been caught yet? Every year there was a drugs scandal and it was always promised as a clean tour next year, yet as soon as a [Presumably] clean Briton wins and it comes to Yorkshire the TdF stops been the sporting equivalent of the Bosnian-Serb Republic and becomes the fabled land everyone wants to visit.

So what, that's irrelevant. He wasn't on the tour team anyway, just happened to be employed by one of the teams taking part. if I go home and take drugs, does that make the organisation I work for bad. I work in a school, would you now not send your kids to that school?

I wonder how many failed drugs tests there might have been in Brazil if they had the same testing regime? Or Wimbledon? but it's only cycling that does drugs innit?

+1 to this. Apparently the tennis equivalent of the UCI lets tennis players who are suspended for doping claim they are 'injured' during their suspension period.

 

[longun]

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Never thought of it like that, half the footie players would be banned for life thanks to the tabloids