Betting on the Tour?

[Eden]

Honestly I really hope that Lance helps Contador (or Levi for that matter) to win or at least make a great bid for a win, in a really obvious way and is really obviously happy to do it. It would be nice to see a graceful passing on of the torch - unlike the feud that erupted between Hinault and Lemond or a frustrated, desperate bid to hold onto glory, like Lemond before he retired. So far I haven't seen any sign of this though....

I was a little disappointed (though not entirely surprised) when Lance came out of retirement. I had thought here was finally someone who stepped out at the right time. I hope he can surprise me and make good on the idea that he came back to spread the word about Livestrong and not to be the uber competitive cyclist he used to be.

[newbiechick]

I'd have to bet on Contador ... although I'd really love to see Andy Schleck take the GC. Most of all I LOVE seeing Fabian in the yellow right now. Don't know why, but I'm crazy about that guy!

[katluvr]

I am just so excited it is on. 3 weeks of something to watch (and occassionaly watch while spinning away on my trainer).
I just hope it is excited and maybe there will be a real surprise on who wins!

[Reesha]

hahaha do you imagine you're racing along with them? It was after watching Stage 2 that I decided to ride 30 something miles yesterday.

[tulip]

I enjoyed watching the first two stages at a friend's house. This will be my biggest test of no TV--if I can handle not having a TV during the Tour, I know I will be fine. Hopefully I can find video coverage on the internet. Live would be even better.

I must say, though, that Versus really is putting on a heavy Lance show. I would rather watch Eurosport and have a more balanced coverage.

No bets on winners. I'm just enjoying it.

[Possegal]

Lots of online options here. http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/

[jobob]

I must say, though, that Versus really is putting on a heavy Lance show. I would rather watch Eurosport and have a more balanced coverage.

Goodness, you have that right! Eh, they have to try to draw in as big an audience as they can, and they have sponsors to appease. Ergo the All Lance All The Time slant.

The coverage looks very nice in high def, though.

[Hub]

We hung the new 60" plasma just in time to watch the Tour in HD-

Team Astana . . . preferably a boy from Plano Texas-

[Zen]

Less lance, more Linus!
He's just so pretty

[Reesha]

That Mark Cavendish!!!!

[Pedal Wench]

Goodness, you have that right! Eh, they have to try to draw in as big an audience as they can, and they have sponsors to appease. Ergo the All Lance All The Time slant.

The coverage looks very nice in high def, though.

It was always my understanding that Versus just gets the feed given to them from the French coverage. If it's all Lance all the time, blame the French cameramen.

[Reesha]

I haven't noticed an excessive discussion of Lance. They spend a lot of time talking to the other hopefuls. I mean, they occasionally point him out-- but it's a point of interest as much as anyone else, but especially since he's a veteran winner of the Tour de France. Of course I'm interested to see the kind of strategy he uses. I didn't think the coverage was Lance heavy at all so far. Time will tell though I think!

[tulip]

It was always my understanding that Versus just gets the feed given to them from the French coverage. If it's all Lance all the time, blame the French cameramen.

No, the images are not all Lance all the time, but the commentary is. Like yesterday, there was a big crash, but VS was busy with a Lancemercial. They eventually put up a split screen but the audio was still the Lance bit.

In fact, the images show lots of riders that I would like to know about, and not just the leaders. I would like to believe that Phil and Paul would like to cover it more evenly, but VS requires them to focus on Lance. But I have no idea.

Their lead-in graphics tend to be of Lance, too.

[Flur]

I've noticed that Versus has an icon of a "blue jersey" that looks like the Astana jersey, and, if I understand it right, that icon tells us where Lance is at all times. They pointed it out today when the large group split from the peloton. Seems a bit much, to me.

[ttaylor508]

I've noticed that Versus has an icon of a "blue jersey" that looks like the Astana jersey, and, if I understand it right, that icon tells us where Lance is at all times. They pointed it out today when the large group split from the peloton. Seems a bit much, to me.

I believe that icon is for the Leading team, not Lance in particular. Right now Astana is the leading team. If another team takes the lead from them their jersey would be displayed.