2014 Tour de France

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Bruce Wayne

Bruce Wayne

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Under way today. Should be a cracking race, with a number of very in form contenders, and an interesting route. Not the really big climbs that you often see in the Giro or Vuelta, but a tough opening week with a hilly stage tomorrow in Yorkshire and the pave of Paris-Roubaix to get over.
 

Bruce Wayne said:
Under way today. Should be a cracking race, with a number of very in form contenders, and an interesting route. Not the really big climbs that you often see in the Giro or Vuelta, but a tough opening week with a hilly stage tomorrow in Yorkshire and the pave of Paris-Roubaix to get over.
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More than enough big climbs and are on par with both grand tours you mention Col du Galibier, ventoux, Col de la Bonette, tourmalet etc. Granted they have steeper climbs but IMO it doesnt really make for great racing. Id like to see a tour with less mountains so that cyclists other than the mountain goats have a chance.
 
Love the big loop me, great scenery with some good racing thrown in, we get it via SBS public network here in Oz ( they're doing a great job with the WC as well one in the eye for the Foxtel BBC ITV t@s ) and the guys who did it for channel 4 in the 80's and 90's know their stuff

The only problem is that it brings even more of the Lycra clad t@s on the roads
 

Why is the Tour de France in England?

Like I can get why it might loop into an neighbouring country cos of the natural route over a mountain or something, but the Yorkshire Dales arent much of a challenge compared to the Alps or the Pyrenees are they?
 
sbbefc said:
More than enough big climbs and are on par with both grand tours you mention Col du Galibier, ventoux, Col de la Bonette, tourmalet etc. Granted they have steeper climbs but IMO it doesnt really make for great racing. Id like to see a tour with less mountains so that cyclists other than the mountain goats have a chance.
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Aye, it is a shame that you don't tend to get people riding all year round these days, but I suppose the last person who really rode the classics with as much intent as the grand tours was Hinault, or maybe LeMond. Having some 'classics' style stages certainly does mix things up though. The best days racing I can remember from recent tours was probably in the 2010 Giro when they rode over the strada bianchi. It rained heavily and became a quagmire. Real tough racing - super stuff. Hopefully the cobbles stage will be similarly disruptive (although not via a crash!)
 
roydo said:
Why is the Tour de France in England?

Like I can get why it might loop into an neighbouring country cos of the natural route over a mountain or something, but the Yorkshire Dales arent much of a challenge compared to the Alps or the Pyrenees are they?
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They tend to start the race in different countries now and then (I think every other year), as well as crossing over into neighbouring countries now and then during stages. They say it's to broaden the appeal and all that, but towns pay big bucks for hosting a stage too, so it's more of a commercial thing really.

Re the terrain, the race is 21 stages long, so they have a mixture of terrain covered. The first week is traditionally quite flat, but they've sprinkled in some hills this year in Yorkshire plus a cobbled stage in northern France. Should make it interesting.
 

Well, as Bosnian I don't know much about England and the landscape but the Yorkshire area is probably one of the most beautiful places in England?
 
Muhamed Mume Bešić said:
Well, as Bosnian I don't know much about England and the landscape but the Yorkshire area is probably one of the most beautiful places in England?
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The yorkshire dales are a very nice region, personally id say the lake district is the most beautiful place in england.
 

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