The Tour de France’s second rest day is an occasion for the top contenders to try and regain some energy before their final assault of the race. This year they face three tough mountain stages as well as a difficult Alpine time trial before the final day procession in Paris so the interlude will be well received but for those watching the race will also … Continue reading Rest Day Recap.
I became a fan of professional cycling in the early 90’s and being from Britain this meant watching Tour de France highlights on Channel 4 at home or occasionally Eurosport if I was at a sports club. The Tour was the gateway drug and it was only later that I hit the harder stuff like the Giro or the classics. So watching cycling in this … Continue reading Tour de Past, Stage 10. 1995, Pantani’s first stage win, Alpe D’Huez.
Like some people I’ve never been a Lance Armstrong fan. But unlike the majority of Lance haters I’m old school, not one of these post-oprah ex-dope-denier types. I didn’t like him as a person and while I couldn’t deny he was a great bike rider, he was certainly bad-ass, I didn’t enjoy watching him race. He was too mechanical, I thought he lacked panache. On … Continue reading Tour de Past, Stage 9. 2003, Lance does some cyclocross.
One of the best things about watching the Tour is witnessing the pleasure it gives to everyone involved in the race. Whether it’s the excitement of the massive crowds on mountain stages, the joyous celebrations of a rider winning a stage or comfort that @nyvelocity gets from the Tour de France inspired tractor art by French farmers. The role the Director Sportifs who manage the … Continue reading Tour de Past, Stage 8. 2012, Marc Madiot Losses It.
Team Sky came into the 2011 Tour with a lot of hope and expectation. A difficult race the previous year, where their top GC rider Bradley Wiggins only finished 24th, was put down, in part, to the fact that it was the teams debut year and mistakes were bound to be made. Now though they thought they were ready to mount a serious challenge at … Continue reading Tour de Past, Stage 7. 2011, Britain Not Ready For A Tour Win Yet.
All sports have hero’s and villains. Their presence adds to the spectacle of what you’re watching and changes it into theatre. Unfortunately in cycling many of the heros are actually villains and when you find out you realise that you’ve been watching a tragedy. David Millar was one such hero of mine. Being Scottish I had always been a fan of his namesake Robert but … Continue reading Tour de Past, Stage 6. 2009, David Millars Redemption?
This was one of the most action packed stages of the Tour de France in my memory. Pre-race it was described as a mini Paris-Roubaix and had been talked about as the old “Stage where the Tour won’t be won but could be lost”. It is remembered for the contrasting fortunes of the ‘Big Three’. Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and Chris Froome were considered … Continue reading Tour de Past, Stage 5. 2014, The Cobbled Stage.
Looking over the editions of the Tour de France which I have followed has shown me that stage 4 is the most dull stage of each Tour, though yesterday was very much the exception to the rule. Hardly anything has happened on a stage 4, which have either been flat sprinters stages or some form of time trial. No significant crashes or abandons, no drugs … Continue reading Tour de Past, Stage 4. 2011, Cadel Lays Down His Marker.
Lance Armstrong’s return to cycling in 2009 seemed very strange at the time. Sure, he probably couldn’t stay away from the sport and a few other clichés but at 37 he surely couldn’t achieve what he had in the past. Was he going to be happy playing a support role for Alberto Contador in their Astana team? After enjoying taking part in the Tour Down … Continue reading Tour de Past, Stage 3. 2009, Contador gets double crossed in the cross winds.
First published 3rd July 2016. This year is Fabian Cancellaras last as a pro rider meaning that the position of Patron of the peloton will become available. It is difficult to see who will take over. Chris Froome is too nicey nicey, Quintana comes across as too quiet and none of the riders seem to like Vincenzo Nibali. Maybe there is no need for … Continue reading Tour de Past, Stage 2. 2010, Cancellara the patron.
James Rannoch CC 