Le Tour est fini....

[Popoki_Nui]

..and despite the doping and scandal, I feel sad that it's over. Anyone else feel this way? As I do every year, I feel sad when it is over; I miss coming home and watching the taped coverage, the often zany commentary, the excitement and heartbreak.
I guess it's silly, but I'm watching the final few moments of Le Tour now, and I have a little tear in my eye. Au revoir until next year, TdF.


~Sherry.

[aka_kim]

Every July for the past 8 or 9 years has revolved around the tour. I actually watch it live in the morning, read everything on velonews and cyclingnews (and this year letour.fr and lequipe.fr), and then watch "expanded" coverage again in the evening. For 3 weeks! It's always a huge letdown when it's over, and this year was no exception.

Awk, what will I do tomorrow?

[TrekJeni]

Yes, I too am sad. I looked at the BF tonight in fact and said it.
Regardless that people were thrown out - people I had used as motivation to get me through hard rides, and that I now would like to stab in the eyes (oh wait, did I say that out loud?)... but I digress.
Yes, I'm sad. My last three July's have focused on working, riding, watching the Tour, and squeezing in some sleep.
Come back! Come back! I wasn't ready for it to end....
jeni

[Tri Girl]

I'm crying baby alligator tears now also.
I'll miss the tour. When they were signing off, I was thinking "don't go away- don't leave me."

At least we'll have the Tour of California in February. It'll be a mid-season cycling fix. It's supposed to be on tv- so I'm very excited!

[VeloVT]

I too am sad.

Have to admit to pulling a few double TDF shifts myself (watched live in the morning, as I did every morning since I much prefer Phil & Paul's race coverage, then for some reason had to tune in again at night).

I'm left with the question though: is there a single rider in the pro peloton that is truly, 100% clean? Googling around, reading a little about the history of modern doping in the sport (the Festina affair, Pantani's sad story, lots of ex-pro riders "tell-alls"), it appears to be deeply entrenched in the culture, seemingly more so than in the elite level of other sports that have had doping scandals (like track & field). I have to say I feel a little bit badly for the teams that got kicked out this year, for Vino, etc (of course I suspect some of my sympathy for Vino comes because of that pretty face). While I absolutely think all sports should be dope-free, and I do believe it's possible for cycling, it also seems to me that the problem is bigger than a handful of "cheaters", and the ones who got caught are just, well, the ones who got caught and they sort of got trapped between the "old culture" (doping was tacitly encouraged, and you had to do it to win, and everybody knows how to perform a transfusion on themselves) and an externally imposed "new culture" of non-doping (though, of course, in spite of my sympathy, I do think the cheaters who are caught do need to be punished).

[Pedal Wench]

I'm missing it too. I was home recovering from surgery during the first stages, and it really made the time fly - I would watch it live in the morning, and then Bob's version at night. Last week, I was able to get on the trainer, and there's nothing better than watching a bunch of cyclists in gorgeous locales to get your legs moving.

I'm sad today.

[margo49]

Been watching the TdF religiously since 1997...
and always wonder how to organise my time for a few days after it's over.

[pastrypam]

It was so weird this morning not to have the TV on. My DH and I had coffee while looking at bicycle magazines and catalogs and talking about the tour.
We don't want to let it go just yet.

[RoadRaven]

I said to my son last night as I headed off to bed... what am I going to watch in the morning?



However... we do have 4 DVDs of the half hour highlights packages - + 8 DVDs each comprising of 2-3 of the end of stages (7, 8,9, 14, 15, 16, 19).

We have a similar set from 2006, and a less comprehensive set from 2005.

PLenty to watch when there is so often "57 channels and nothing on".

I miss le tour already... I wish they gave the same coverage for the Giro and other big events... (we just get a highlights package - usually an hour - about 1-2 months after the event!)

[Zeek]

I feel the same lamenting....I wasn't ready for it to be over! Does this mean we have to watch the "idiot box" now (for the last three weeks it has respectfully been referred to as "le television").

[Lifesgreat]

I was feeling kinda silly for being sad, I am so glad I found I am not alone

I don't watch TV, except for cycling. Does anyone know if "Cyclysm Sundays" will still be on?

[jeannierides]

It was so weird this morning not to have the TV on.

I'll miss it too, even with all the controversy. Before the Tour, I hardly ever even turned my TV on during the morning, but with the Tour, I found myself getting up early just so I could see the guys' picks. Then watch it again in the evening with my SO.
Now, I'll be able to watch all the shows I kept recording on my dvr, and not having time to watch...

[short cut sally]

I too will be sad that it's over. I got home from work lastnight to watch the final stage which had another showing at midnight on vs., as it did all during the tour. so, I made if til about 1235 and i fell asleep. I have an idea who won, hubby wanted to break it to me tonight because he knew i fell asleep and didnt' see the ending. He will give me my tour highlights tonight. every night for almost 3 weeks, I had plans to be inside watching tv. (its summer out for gosh sakes and where do I wanna be? inside ). Now its back to being out enjoying the outdoors, bugs, flowers, and fresh air. ho-hum. until next year.