tOfficial 2022 Tour de France Thread..

[Robert J Sakimano]

the pharmacy on wheels cranks up in Europe tomorrow. Always the highlight of summer.

this year's Tour features a Friday start, an individual time trail in Copenhagen. Not sure I ever recall the Tour beginning on a Friday, but it works for me. We have six mountain stages with 5 mountain top finishes, including an ascent of l'Alpe D'Huez on Bastille Day.

(the climb up l'Alpe D'Huez is the largest spectacle in the sport of cycling. People camp out on the mountain for days/weeks for a chance to see the boys climbing the 21 switchbacks (see picture below).

For the sake of reference, climbing it on Bastille Day would be like holding a Cheez-Whiz eating contest at a NASCAR event on July 4th in the US with a free Kid Rock bobblehead doll to everyone in attendance.

20 K of cobblestones on stage 5 will be something to see. Dangerous and exhausting. Unpredictable how that stage might transpire.

I suspect the GC will come down to Primoz Roglic or Tadej Pogacar. Both are riding well, had good spring seasons in the European classics and their teams are top notch. I suspect Daniel Martinez and Gerraint Thomas would be considered sleepers. Definitely could mix some things up.

Gonna be a great 23 days.

the sights of/on d'Huez:

[aualum06]

Just thinking about when this started today, looks like USA coverage for tv

[Robert J Sakimano]

Just thinking about when this started today, looks like USA coverage for tv

yep - NBCSN went defunct, as I recall, so USA has picked it up. Some coverage on Peacock, too, and usually NBC coverage on the weekends.

love watching the live stages, then the replay in the afternoons, then the bonus coverage at night. In fact, I always get a kick out of watching the first hour or two in the mornings, going out on a 30 mile ride myself, then coming back and they still have, like, 40K to go.

[Nordic]

Driving home from Chicago tomorrow. But the DVR is set.

Looks like the elastic hasn't snapped on Phil Liggett yet. 50 years. Goodness me!

NBC Sports' coverage of the 2022 Tour de France features Phil Liggett, universally known as the “voice of cycling,” who will call play-by-play race action, marking the 50th time he will cover the Tour de France, and his 45th time calling the race on television.

[Robert J Sakimano]

Driving home from Chicago tomorrow. But the DVR is set.

Looks like the elastic hasn't snapped on Phil Liggett yet. 50 years. Goodness me!

NBC Sports' coverage of the 2022 Tour de France features Phil Liggett, universally known as the “voice of cycling,” who will call play-by-play race action, marking the 50th time he will cover the Tour de France, and his 45th time calling the race on television.

Love me some Phil (RIP, Paul ) - met him years ago at a race in North Carolina. Probably about '93-'94. He was covering a race with Davis Phinney. I have a picture of us somewhere.

one of the most classic of voices in all of sports. Bob Roll plays a good sidekick and Christian VandeVelde has grown on me over the last few years.

[Rick Saunders]

(the climb up l'Alpe D'Huez is the largest spectacle in the sport of cycling. People camp out on the mountain for days/weeks for a chance to see the boys climbing the 21 switchbacks (see picture below).

Is it mean for me to think I'd be more likely to watch if the race was going DOWN that thing?

[Robert J Sakimano]

(the climb up l'Alpe D'Huez is the largest spectacle in the sport of cycling. People camp out on the mountain for days/weeks for a chance to see the boys climbing the 21 switchbacks (see picture below).

Is it mean for me to think I'd be more likely to watch if the race was going DOWN that thing?

no... they do descend down some rather treacherous mountains. Hittin' 60-65 mph.

Vinokourov descending the Galibier - maybe start at around the 45 second mark.

[Robert J Sakimano]

and here is Valverde descending the Tourmalet. The same mountain where Fabio Casartelli died in the 1995 Tour.. a pretty bad crash (don't Google the pictures).

the last Tour death - helmets weren't even required then.

[Robert J Sakimano]

15 minutes into the opening stage (short TT) and already looking dangerous. Lots if sharp turns in the rain. Have to watch those slippery paint strips and patches of oil.

[aualum06]

15 minutes into the opening stage (short TT) and already looking dangerous. Lots if sharp turns in the rain. Have to watch those slippery paint strips and patches of oil.

Yeah lots of sliding in the rain

[aualum06]

Pretty cool they are leaving the course closed tomorrow so anyone can take their bike and bike the time trial route

[Robert J Sakimano]

Pretty cool they are leaving the course closed tomorrow so anyone can take their bike and bike the time trial route

that would be fly.

I've been to France, but never ridden one of the classic climbs. Definitely one of my top 2-3 things on the bucket list. Just rent a bike and climb the Galibier, d'Huez, Pereysourde, Vonteoux, etc.

Daaaamn.

[Robert J Sakimano]

The boys are about to cross an 18K bridge with a drastic crosswind. Hope nobody ends up going for a swim.

[aualum06]

The boys are about to cross an 18K bridge with a drastic crosswind. Hope nobody ends up going for a swim.

This bridge crossing is awesome

[Robert J Sakimano]

The boys are about to cross an 18K bridge with a drastic crosswind. Hope nobody ends up going for a swim.

This bridge crossing is awesome

was fun to watch. 4th longest bridge in the world, I heard them say.

[Robert J Sakimano]

As anticipated, big sprint finish. Everyone got through safely. Sagan felt like he was pinched on the lead out approaching the line.

Looked unintentional to me.

[Nordic]

As anticipated,  big sprint finish. Everyone got through safely. Sagan felt like he was pinched on the lead out approaching the line.

Looked unintentional to me.

Looked clean to me. Came down to positioning. Big turn on the final sprint. Inside was the place to be. Sagan and Ewan got pinched outside. Sagan still had plenty of room, was too slow/wrong position. Same with Ewan, too far back and got caught in the mosh. Two stages in a row Ewan has put himself in a bad position.

[Robert J Sakimano]

what a finish from Wout van Aert today - did the yellow proud. Pogacar is clearly the favorite still, but van Aert is looking strong.

and how about the Jumbo Visma team putting him in place to get that separation on the last climb? Yikes.

The boys hit the cobbles tomorrow. Gonna be total chaos - hope everyone makes it through safely.

[tGreenWay]

I heard one dude had a Vespa motor on his Trek 820 mountain bike. He probably won’t win.

[Robert J Sakimano]

I heard one dude had a Vespa motor on his Trek 820 mountain bike. He probably won’t win.

he'll need a good tailwind.

[Robert J Sakimano]

van Aert went down but is back in the peloton. Almost got himself tangled up in a team car -  - that would not have worked out well for him.

Safe so far on the cobbles.

[aualum06]

van Aert went down but is back in the peloton. Almost got himself tangled up in a team car -  - that would not have worked out well for him.

Safe so far on the cobbles.

These cobbles are a bitch though

[aualum06]

The corn is on the cobbles yet people are still between the corn and the cobbles. It always amazes me how close they let spectators get and it's more amazing more bad interactions don't happen between spectators and racers

[tGreenWay]

Rock Paper Scissors

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CfrID8Ol_n8/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[Robert J Sakimano]

The corn is on the cobbles yet people are still between the corn and the cobbles. It always amazes me how close they let spectators get and it's more amazing more bad interactions don't happen between spectators and racers

I know. Especially after the horrific incident last year.

It's hard to police 2,100 miles of open roads, I reckon.. and people will be people.

[Nordic]

what a finish from Wout van Aert today - did the yellow proud. Pogacar is clearly the favorite still, but van Aert is looking strong.

and how about the Jumbo Visma team putting him in place to get that separation on the last climb? Yikes.

The boys hit the cobbles tomorrow. Gonna be total chaos - hope everyone makes it through safely.

I don't watch till the night so I'm always behind and I passed out after yesterday's stage. Awesome ride. I love when a single rider has the balls to breakaway and succeed and we are an Wout supporting house.

He is definitely the strongest at the moment (time to check is his pee). I kid, I kid.  I loved his comment about not chancing it at the sprint. Another dig at Sagan from the stage before. Loved it. Right now, he can do it all... sprint, time trial, climb, solo... but I doubt he can keep it up for three more weeks.

One other note. I always get a kick out of the early Polka Dots jersey fight. Dudes scrambling for 1pt so they can get on the podium early on (brilliant) and then get obliterated in the first mountain stage.  It is an awesome side story in the early stages.

Exiting before I see the posts above about today's stage...

[tGreenWay]

what a finish from Wout van Aert today - did the yellow proud. Pogacar is clearly the favorite still, but van Aert is looking strong.

and how about the Jumbo Visma team putting him in place to get that separation on the last climb? Yikes.

The boys hit the cobbles tomorrow. Gonna be total chaos - hope everyone makes it through safely.

I don't watch till the night so I'm always behind and I passed out after yesterday's stage. Awesome ride. I love when a single rider has the balls to breakaway and succeed and we are an Wout supporting house.

He is definitely the strongest at the moment (time to check is his pee). I kid, I kid.  I loved his comment about not chancing it at the sprint. Another dig at Sagan from the stage before. Loved it. Right now, he can do it all... sprint, time trial, climb, solo... but I doubt he can keep it up for three more weeks.

One other note. I always get a kick out of the early Polka Dots jersey fight. Dudes scrambling for 1pt so they can get on the podium early on (brilliant) and then get obliterated in the first mountain stage.  It is an awesome side story in the early stages.

Exiting before I see the posts above about today's stage...

Bob took the yellow walker.

[Robert J Sakimano]

what a finish from Wout van Aert today - did the yellow proud. Pogacar is clearly the favorite still, but van Aert is looking strong.

and how about the Jumbo Visma team putting him in place to get that separation on the last climb? Yikes.

The boys hit the cobbles tomorrow. Gonna be total chaos - hope everyone makes it through safely.

I don't watch till the night so I'm always behind and I passed out after yesterday's stage. Awesome ride. I love when a single rider has the balls to breakaway and succeed and we are an Wout supporting house.

He is definitely the strongest at the moment (time to check is his pee). I kid, I kid.  I loved his comment about not chancing it at the sprint. Another dig at Sagan from the stage before. Loved it. Right now, he can do it all... sprint, time trial, climb, solo... but I doubt he can keep it up for three more weeks.

One other note. I always get a kick out of the early Polka Dots jersey fight. Dudes scrambling for 1pt so they can get on the podium early on (brilliant) and then get obliterated in the first mountain stage.  It is an awesome side story in the early stages.

Exiting before I see the posts above about today's stage...

thanks for the info - I'll try not to post live updates.

Today was fun. There was some insanity, some chaos but nothing overly impactful. You'll dig it.

I always love the KOM competition.  Back in my day, I was definitely more of a climber. We'd climb some pretty rad mountains in  western NC, 6-7 mile steady ascents. Good times.

Enjoy, my dude.

[tGreenWay]

Bob, did you see a guy in our impoverished, nearly unlivable neighborhood biked 200+ miles last week? He went from the poor east coast of Michigan to the west coast in a day. My poor old muscles ache just thinking about it.

[Robert J Sakimano]

Bob, did you see a guy in our impoverished, nearly unlivable neighborhood biked 200+ miles last week? He went from the poor east coast of Michigan to the west coast in a day. My poor old muscles ache just thinking about it.

not familiar with that. I'll check into it.

I've been having to break into the MSU track lately for my once/week track workout. The ELHS football field is under construction.

Luckily, the fence at the MSU track is somewhat easy to navigate over (or through, if we're talking about the gate on the north end of the track).

[tGreenWay]

Bob, did you see a guy in our impoverished, nearly unlivable neighborhood biked 200+ miles last week? He went from the poor east coast of Michigan to the west coast in a day. My poor old muscles ache just thinking about it.

not familiar with that. I'll check into it.

I've been having to break into the MSU track lately for my once/week track workout. The ELHS football field is under construction.

Luckily, the fence at the MSU track is somewhat easy to navigate over (or through, if we're talking about the gate on the north end of the track).

The ride is, I believe, an annual thing. That’s a helluva day.

[Nordic]

I don't watch till the night so I'm always behind and I passed out after yesterday's stage. Awesome ride. I love when a single rider has the balls to breakaway and succeed and we are an Wout supporting house.

He is definitely the strongest at the moment (time to check is his pee). I kid, I kid.  I loved his comment about not chancing it at the sprint. Another dig at Sagan from the stage before. Loved it. Right now, he can do it all... sprint, time trial, climb, solo... but I doubt he can keep it up for three more weeks.

One other note. I always get a kick out of the early Polka Dots jersey fight. Dudes scrambling for 1pt so they can get on the podium early on (brilliant) and then get obliterated in the first mountain stage.  It is an awesome side story in the early stages.

Exiting before I see the posts above about today's stage...

thanks for the info - I'll try not to post live updates.

Today was fun. There was some insanity, some chaos but nothing overly impactful. You'll dig it.

I always love the KOM competition.  Back in my day, I was definitely more of a climber. We'd climb some pretty rad mountains in  western NC, 6-7 mile steady ascents. Good times.

Enjoy, my dude.

Don't worry about it. Post away live. I know not to click on it and I gets excited to watch it later when I see it bumped.

Nothing went right for Jumbo today. I saw Wout's two miscues, but didn't get what happened to his teamates? We almost had an American in yellow.

[Robert J Sakimano]

thanks for the info - I'll try not to post live updates.

Today was fun. There was some insanity, some chaos but nothing overly impactful. You'll dig it.

I always love the KOM competition.  Back in my day, I was definitely more of a climber. We'd climb some pretty rad mountains in  western NC, 6-7 mile steady ascents. Good times.

Enjoy, my dude.

Don't worry about it. Post away live. I know not to click on it and I gets excited to watch it later when I see it bumped.

Nothing went right for Jumbo today. I saw Wout's two miscues, but didn't get what happened to his teamates? We almost had an American in yellow.

I thought for sure Powless was gonna end up in yellow. Also loved his move at 1K. He just didn't have the legs to hold on.

Was a crazy day and, yeah, Jumbo had a bad one but still held onto yellow somehow. Props to van Aert for his toughness.

[Nordic]

Looked like a final run for Wout. Jumbo has to be spent. UAE played it perfect. Tedaj parade to Paris?

[Robert J Sakimano]

Looked like a final run for Wout. Jumbo has to be spent. UAE played it perfect. Tedaj parade to Paris?

yep. Wout looked superhuman for a bit. Came crashing back to Earth.

Yeah, Pogacar is the man to beat. Rogolic isn't looking as strong as I thought he would, though. Long way to the Champes Elysses.

[Robert J Sakimano]

hitting the first mountain stage today.. will start to see some good separation.

[aualum06]

Pretty intense climb to finish and on gravel at the very end. The leader completely died in the last 100 meters and almost didn't make

[Robert J Sakimano]

Pretty intense climb to finish and on gravel at the very end. The leader completely died in the last 100 meters and almost didn't make

one word: insane.

wow.

[aualum06]

Pretty intense climb to finish and on gravel at the very end. The leader completely died in the last 100 meters and almost didn't make

one word: insane.

wow.

One guy must have had some sort of failure because he walked his bike over the finish. Interesting that this would count to me

[Robert J Sakimano]

one word: insane.

wow.

One guy must have had some sort of failure because he walked his bike over the finish. Interesting that this would count to me

yeah, I haven't heard an official statement on it but I suspect you're right, barring some unforseen event. A handful of years ago, on possibly the most crucial day of the Tour, Chris Froome ran into the back of a motorcycle on a climb (might have been d'Huez, though I can't remember), his bike was damaged, no team car to be found because of all of the congestion on the course, so he started running up the mountain.

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