Tour de France
I am in mourning. The Tour de France has ended. For the past three weeks, I have been glued to my television, watching up to four hours of coverage a night (the stages are DVR'd, so I am not actually sitting there for four hours). But now, I am left with no cycling for the next few weeks, and a plethora of open time every evening.
Yes, I realise that I am married and I have two young daughters, so any extra time on my hands seems like a misnomer. It is. But I am mourning the loss of my July routine and the year-long build-up to this point. I will slog on, anticipating the Tour de France's 101st year, but it will take a little bit of time to get me back into the right frame of mind.
I am unusually entranced by the Tour de France. Have been for as long as I can remember. July is my favourite month of the year because pretty much the whole month is taken by this race. You may say that December is your favourite month because you love Christmas or November for Thanksgiving. But for me, I live for July. Three weeks, twenty-one stages, approximately 2,000 miles of bike riding. Almost four hours of coverage daily. Exhilarating!
I have been even more excited this year as television coverage of other races have been televised as well. Classics, criteriums, time trials, multi-stage races - so far this year I have seen examples of them all. My only disappointment is that they only show one Tour of the three that make up the Grand Tours.
I have been asked by so many different people over the years how I can stand to watch cycling. To them, this sport is boring. Just a bunch of guys riding bikes. That statement doesn't even scratch the surface of this sport. There is strategy, competitiveness, endurance and just the love of being on a bike for those many hours and miles per day that just reel me back in year after year. As in any sport, you get to know the players, their style, their strengths, their weaknesses. As well as that of their teams. It is exciting stuff!
Peter Sagan
Yes, I realise that I am married and I have two young daughters, so any extra time on my hands seems like a misnomer. It is. But I am mourning the loss of my July routine and the year-long build-up to this point. I will slog on, anticipating the Tour de France's 101st year, but it will take a little bit of time to get me back into the right frame of mind.
I am unusually entranced by the Tour de France. Have been for as long as I can remember. July is my favourite month of the year because pretty much the whole month is taken by this race. You may say that December is your favourite month because you love Christmas or November for Thanksgiving. But for me, I live for July. Three weeks, twenty-one stages, approximately 2,000 miles of bike riding. Almost four hours of coverage daily. Exhilarating!
 |
| via here |
I have been asked by so many different people over the years how I can stand to watch cycling. To them, this sport is boring. Just a bunch of guys riding bikes. That statement doesn't even scratch the surface of this sport. There is strategy, competitiveness, endurance and just the love of being on a bike for those many hours and miles per day that just reel me back in year after year. As in any sport, you get to know the players, their style, their strengths, their weaknesses. As well as that of their teams. It is exciting stuff!
 |
| Via here |
Congratulations Chris Froome
 |
| Via here |
 |
| Via here |
And Nairo Quintana |
| Via here JCMT |
