Tour de France 2011 talk

[pll]

Once again, Voeckler is my hero! Although I'm very happy for EBH's win, especially after yesterday's frustration.

A couple of non-cycling friends have asked me recently why there are no women in the TdF, or why there is no women's equivalent. Does anybody know the answer?

No women's stage race in France this year. There used be a race, but it funding problems. There are several stage races for women (you'll spot some listed in Cycling News), but about the only one for which I have coverage each year is the Giro Donne.

PS: You can find some coverage for the Giro Donne in YouTube. For example, here's this year's stage 1.

[ny biker]

For peeps watching on Versus, did you see the bit they showed today where the Radio Shack car pulled up next to the Garmin Cervelo car? Johan Bruyneel congratulated Jonathan Vaughters on yesterday's win and then said he was getting tired of saying that to him. Pretty funny.

But what was really interesting was that Vaughters told Johan to tell the TRS rider in the break that Garmin would chase them if Nicholas Roche got away from them, but would not chase otherwise. I knew that riders on different teams will sometimes strike up alliances on the road, and of course team directors communicate strategy to their own riders, but I didn't realize that the directors will share strategies with each other like that. I imagine JV thought it was better for his team to not have to chase, so he wanted someone in the break to get his message. Still, I found it unexpected. And I wonder if Vaughters remembered that he was on TV at the time.


Also, this is not actually TdF news, but it is great news nonetheless about Juan Mauricio Soler:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sole...sive-care-unit

[margo49]

Wow!
What a day!
What heroism!
WOWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

And tomorrow the Alpe D'Huez!!!!

[tulip]

Oh wow, just oh freakin' wow! That is the longest 1km I've ever seen. Oh, and I have to miss tomorrow because of travel! Hopefully the hotel will have coverage.

[Eden]

Holy cow!!

That's all I can say for now..........but woweeeeee how exciting

[Jo-n-NY]

Reading the live feed here at work and was sitting at the edge of my seat. I cannot wait to watch it when I get home.

[limewave]

Okay, you've all got me curious and I'm desperately trying to find updates from today's stage!!! I miss having versus

[out_spokin']

OK, now I've GOT to figure out how to watch today's stage. Missed the live feed on Eurovision...no TV...but such excitement!

Get to watch it live tomorrow w/ Ron Keifel and a big bike shop full of fans though!

[pll]

The very end was also exciting... seeing the tweets about the grupetto, were Cavendish was. Here's a sample of the longest 20 seconds, from @inrng:

Tick tock. Riders coming to the finish line know are hors délais. The gruppetto is two hairpin bends from the finish.
59 minutes ago

But the autobus is following a strict timetable, they're close as cloud starts to cover the finish line. 20 seconds to the cut off!
1 hour ago

[TrekTheKaty]

For peeps watching on Versus, did you see the bit they showed today where the Radio Shack car pulled up next to the Garmin Cervelo car? Johan Bruyneel congratulated Jonathan Vaughters on yesterday's win and then said he was getting tired of saying that to him. Pretty funny

That was my favorite part too! Ok, that and the two cyclists ending up in the car park.