Anybody else watching the Tour De France this year?

[Dannyboy]

Lots of views of beautiful UK countryside (at least scenes I've never seen), this year first 3 days in the UK, then to mainland Europe.
Any Tour De France fans?   Like to whine about Phil Liggett's goofs?
Nowadays I can do D while watching (at least part) and not feel guilty about spending so much time watching LOL.
--Dan

[MooseMom]

I am not enough of a cycling fan to get up so early in the morning here in Chicagoland to watch it on TV, but I do follow the results of each stage.  Is this the first year that the first part of the Tour has been in the UK?  I lived in Surrey for 20 years and do not have any memory of the Tour starting in Yorkshire or anywhere else in England.  What made the powers that be decide to have the Tour in England?

[Poppylicious]

Not a fan, but thanks to the Tour de France I had the laziest day possible at work yesterday, after nearly getting knocked over a squillion times by wannabe cyclists on a ten minute walk from the bus stop to work. Pesky cyclists. (I work in one of the towns on the route). I took a picture of the knitted bunting in town a couple of weeks ago. Very cute.

MM, I think it had some stages in England (started in Devon?) in 1974.  Not sure if it's been this side of the channel since then though.

[kristina]

I am not enough of a cycling fan to get up so early in the morning here in Chicagoland to watch it on TV, but I do follow the results of each stage.  Is this the first year that the first part of the Tour has been in the UK?  I lived in Surrey for 20 years and do not have any memory of the Tour starting in Yorkshire or anywhere else in England.  What made the powers that be decide to have the Tour in England?

I am surprised that the Tour de France has come to England ...
... perhaps it is a new "government initiative" to get people here "hyped up enough" 
to become cyclists and not use their car ... especially in London...
... during the Olympics the cyclists had to pass through a nearby street in London
and I made an effort to watch them - but I saw hardly anything...
one second they were here and the next second they were already gone...
and I could not even recognize their faces...

[Dannyboy]

Yes, the Tour came to the UK a few years back.
This time, the crowds WERE INCREDIBLE.  Interest in cycling and pro-cycling has greatly increased in the UK.
The Tour usually includes a few days in other countries (Spain, Belgium, etc.)   Pro Cycling is a big deal in Europe....the fans create huge crowds along the route, but nothing like I saw in the UK this year.
--Dan (long time amateur cyclist)
PS: The live broadcast starts at 3:00 AM here on the US West Coast, so I record it on my DVR (of course)

[MaryJoe]

I love Le Tour, and look forward to it every year! I got hooked on it when I lived in Germany. A group of my friends and I would drive to the stage closest to us and have a roadside tailgate party waiting for the riders to come by. Met people from all over Europe, unique experience each time.
It's a shame Cav fell out on the 1st stage, it would have been nice for him to win in his home town. Andy is gone also, I've always liked him. He's had a really bad run of luck lately, hope he's able to come back from this injury.
I know it's early days yet, but yeesh, TeeJay, how about a bit more effort? (Says the lady sitting comfortably in her living room in her PJ's, drinking multiple cups of coffee!   )
Looking forward to Stage 5 - cobblestones! Always tense viewing. ah yes, good times when I'm not the one whose skin may be left on the road!

Hey! where's the cycling smiley?