2024 TDF thread

LLLLFFFGGGG 

Peacock fucked us by not having the commercial free world broadcast (Eurosport?). Watching the NBC show is going to blow..

No Sepp. Covid apparently, so that’s a bummer. It’ll be interesting to see if UAE test Jonas today. 

Came here especially looking for this thread! 
 

Great 1st stage. Maybe a little tough for day 1, 55 riders didn’t lose too much time, but the rest did. 
 

Cav reckons he’s in control, his post race interview sounded better than it looked on tv IMO. 
 

I cycled this morning, then had the live feed on the tv all afternoon! I’ve had a great day! 
I was gripped for the last 5k, watching the time come down. I really didn’t think the DSM guys would pull it of, but I’m glad Bardet got it. 

Not on USA Network or any of the other NBC networks sucks, can’t DVR it and fast forward thru the commercials. Might be the first time since 1998 I don’t watch the TDF from start to finish. If I watch it at all.

I enjoyed the opening TdF stage! (Watched it on Peacock!) Seemed like a really tough first day racing well over 120 miles, with plenty of climbing, compounded by a hot sunny day! Was really happy that Bardet stayed away for the win after announcing earlier this season that this would be his last TdF! 
I am bummed to hear that Sepp is out, and frankly was secretly hoping Cavendish would miss the time cut today as I just find the guy quite annoying but he lives to fight another day…

Here’s to a few weeks of world class cycling right in the living every morning! 🤪 👍❗️

I feel sorry for you guys. Here it's live on free-to-air TV with only minimal commercial breaks, limited to 7 minutes per hour by law. 

That would be an amazing reality! I can remember when American TV was that way in my youth…commercial breaks were BARELY long enough to hit the restroom and grab Dad another cold one from the fridge before the programming was back on! 
NOW American TV is a GARBAGE wasteland of non-stop commercials, lousy programming centered around moronic reality stupidity and media that are more concerned about “We told you FIRST” than actually reporting truthfully or factually! 
Hell we are probably lucky if we get SEVEN minutes of actual programming per hour anymore! 🤪 👍❗️

I've spent a lot of time in USA and the TV sucks. Television in the UK has a very strong public service heritage. Even today the BBC is completely commercial free. If they ever introduced advertising the nation would revolt.

Drug addicts on bicycles..........................

Shouldn’t you be in the mental asylum already?? 
 

attention seeking knobhead.

They let me out, just to annoy you! Have the day you deserve.

Today's stage 4 is going to be brutal. Mostly climbing at high elevation.

Fingers-crossed at least one team puts in max effort. Alas, it will likely end with little separation among the GC favorites.  The final descent is no joke but can’t see anyone risking a crash for a handful of seconds.  
 

Jonas responded to Tadej on Day 2. Can he replicate those results on the final climb?

Does EF go all-in to keep Carapaz in yellow?

Does Primoz & Co try to claw back the 21 seconds? Spoiler alert: he ain’t dropping Tadej. 

That was an absolute master class of racing from Pogi. He rode the descent like the only one who isn’t haunted by a crash.

Sepp not being there is a huge bummer tho. Jonas out there fighting by himself is tough to watch.  Maybe Jonas will get stronger and give us a race by week 3.  

Racing downhill at those speeds with snow melt in the corners takes supreme confidence and huge cojones. 
 

UAE dominated like it was Jumbo, 2022!  

When Pogi took off and and was sprinting out of every corner, I almost couldn’t watch.  I know the announcers talk about him being a great descender, but he makes me nervous compared to Jonas or even Pidcock.  The stage a couple years ago when Tadej crashed and Jonas waited for him, you could just see that Pogi doesnt handle a bike like certain guys. He looks kind of stiff?  Maybe I’m way off, but like I said, Pogi makes me nrvous lol

Cav !!!

I honestly didnt think he was gonna get this. Unreal. Can’t imagine what he’s feeling. Hope he gets another. That last boost before the finish was all time. He was pushing like his life depended on it.  It’s wild at his age he still has that in his bag. What a G

Tomorrow is the flattest stage of this year’s Tour… #36??

Congrats to Mark Cav., keeps on truckin'.

What did you guys think of the time trial today?

Not the most excited TV compared to the chaos of a sprint stage when all the heavy hitters and their sprint trains are winding it up in the last 2-3K…BUT… I still marvel at the speed these flippin’ guys are capable of propelling themselves down the course, and I dig the technology that these TT bikes have built in to them! 
I can’t even begin to imagine the wattage required to stay on top of the gear while turning over a 60 tooth big ring!

Vive le tour! 😎 👍❗️

I really enjoyed today’s stage!

It looked like pretty brutal weather conditions with cooler temps, rain & harsh crosswinds! 
And good on Girmay and Intermarche! 
I really enjoy seeing the teams & riders that don’t get as much coverage pull off a surprise win! Still a LOT racing to go but Girmay has an impressive lead in the Green jersey after only a week on the road! 😎 👍❗️

What an epic stage! For all that went on today, still no change at the top of the GC but Remco Evenepoel is deffo in the mix now. Can't wait to see how it pans out.

The gravel was so gnarly. I see a lot of mixed reactions online about whether that should have been a part of the tour, but I thought it was great. The only problem I see with having something like that is the dust from the caravan.  As most of us know being from moto where dust is just part of the game, sucking that shit in for 4 hours when their bodies are pushing the line of failure already for 3 weeks just seems like a disaster waiting to happen.  That just can’t be good for anyone, be it short or long term health.  I don’t know if there’s a way to mitigate it, but it seems like the majority of it comes from the vehicles?

That really was a fun one to watch.  I was riding gravel on Friday wondering how today’s stage would play out.  It was combative from the very first kilometers with constant attacks.  Total respect for the Grand Tour riders who grumbled about having something new to deal with like the dirt sections.  From a fan who’s been following pro cycling since the 80’s it was a fantastic stage!

The caravan for sure.

I went to a couple of tour stages back in the day and was amazed at how big the caravan was, miles long and it took an hour to pass by. Single lane gravel roads (not really gravel as we would know it and more like chalk rubble) aren't built to take that kind of pounding.

I watched the entire stage at work this morning and I didn’t think the dust was as bad as I originally thought when I was just catching chunks of the race live while on my way home from vacation.  But, holy shit, I didn’t realize there were so many gravel sections lol.  There were definitely some that were crazy uncalled for dusty, it wasn’t every section like I was thinking. 
 

That was about as intense a stage as I can remember watching with Jonas riding Jans bike and Pogi attacking.  Soo fun to watch.  I can’t imagine the shit storm if any of the GC would have lost time due to a mechanical. 

Vlasov's bike after his crash.