Le Tour
Anyone else follow the Tour de France?
I first got really into it watching US television’s coverage of Greg LeMond riding in support of Laurent Fignon, then got totally hooked witnessing the epic battle between LeMond and Bernard Hinault a couple of years later - and I’ve been faithfully following ever since.
The last few years have been of particular interest to me, because I used to race mountain bikes and I knew Cadel from back then (he was still racing juniors) - so it’s been cool to follow his career. I helped save him from getting beaten up by nightclub bouncers once, geez that seems like so many years ago (incidentally, earlier that same night I’d been drinking with snowboarding legend Shawn Palmer). Damn I’m old. 
I don’t have any history of being into it, but have gradually taken more of an interest over the last few years. I’m not quite into it enough to try and stay up all night watching it (yet!) but this year am watching the highlights at 6pm on sbs every night so I can follow it properly & know what is happening every day, rather than just catch a bit if I happen to be watching the news or see it in the paper. Really hoping Cadel can defend his title.
Also keen for the Greenedge team to do well. Shame gossie couldn’t nab stage win the other day.
Yeah I am a massive fan, should be interesting to see how it plays out this year Cadel V Wiggins!
im a fan but it such a sleep routine ruiner for me, i put it on just as im getting in to bed, tell myself ill only watch 20mins or so, 2hours later im still watching
Yeah same. I was watching some last night and apart from the racing the shots of the beautiful countyside are captivating.
. . . apart from the racing the shots of the beautiful countyside are captivating.
Absolutely! You don’t really have to be into the cycling to enjoy the spectacular footage.
yep - my 60-something year old night-owl aunty watches it purely for the countryside! haha
im a fan but it such a sleep routine ruiner for me, i put it on just as im getting in to bed, tell myself ill only watch 20mins or so, 2hours later im still watching
Same!!!
Anyone else follow the Tour de France?
I first got really into it watching US television’s coverage of Greg LeMond riding in support of Laurent Fignon, then got totally hooked witnessing the epic battle between LeMond and Bernard Hinault a couple of years later - and I’ve been faithfully following ever since.
The last few years have been of particular interest to me, because I used to race mountain bikes and I knew Cadel from back then (he was still racing juniors) - so it’s been cool to follow his career. I helped save him from getting beaten up by nightclub bouncers once, geez that seems like so many years ago (incidentally, earlier that same night I’d been drinking with snowboarding legend Shawn Palmer). Damn I’m old.
I got into it when Miguel Indurain was killing it. I love the tour de france! I have no interest in cycling besides this race though!
Indurain was god-like. I don’t know if it was just the ‘myth of legend’ type stuff - but commentators used to say that in contrast to his max heart rate of 200 and something, he had a resting heart rate of 20 something, and abnormally large lungs that could carry heaps more oxygen that most humans. It was like he was genetically engineered for competitive cycling.
Nasty seeing Mark Cavendish slowly roll across the line with equal amounts of shredded lycra and skin down his left side - and a SMASHED helmet still on his head.
Yeah was a shame, he would have been a good chance of taking the stage! They reckon he won’t ride out the tour so that he can be fresh for the Olympics. I am a Cav fan.
Indurain was god-like. I don’t know if it was just the ‘myth of legend’ type stuff - but commentators used to say that in contrast to his max heart rate of 200 and something, he had a resting heart rate of 20 something, and abnormally large lungs that could carry heaps more oxygen that most humans. It was like he was genetically engineered for competitive cycling.
I did a case study on him for my hsc in PDHPE, bloke was a freak! the above is pretty much on the money
yeah I like Mark Cav - heaps of personality and a freak!
Yeah was a shame, he would have been a good chance of taking the stage! They reckon he won’t ride out the tour so that he can be fresh for the Olympics. I am a Cav fan.
It’s soooooo much harder for him now, without the world’s best lead out team at his disposal. For all the work he did for Cav, I hope Renshaw was paid ridiculous amounts of money for all the work he used to do for Cav. Considering he’s moved on, maybe not? Full marks to Cav for always praising his team’s efforts whenever he won.
I wasn’t a Cav fan initially - but only because when he first came on the scene, it was hard to watch Robbie get beaten so easily. But yeah, now I’m a huge fan.
A friend of mine used to be a pretty good sprinter back when he raced in Belgium - Erik Zabel was HIS lead out man!!!
Indurain was god-like. I don’t know if it was just the ‘myth of legend’ type stuff - but commentators used to say that in contrast to his max heart rate of 200 and something, he had a resting heart rate of 20 something, and abnormally large lungs that could carry heaps more oxygen that most humans. It was like he was genetically engineered for competitive cycling.
I did a case study on him for my hsc in PDHPE, bloke was a freak! the above is pretty much on the money
Yeah, he was the Chuck Norris of cycling.