Tour de France 2014

[peterb]

Fantastic day of racing in progress on the first stage, starting in Leeds, and up through the Yorkshire Dales before heading back to Harrogate.

Tremendous enthusiasm from the crowds. Tomorrow's stage (York > Sheffield) should also be good with some hill climbs. The third stage ends in London before the race crosses to France.

I think one or two riders have found the Yorkshire Dales surprisingly challenging. Maybe not the same challenges as the Alps or Pyrenees, but not a doddle.

[Tumble]

That didn't end like anyone expected either, with Cancellara up to his old tricks, and Cav decking it... think he's broken his collarbone.

[peterb]

Yes, sad end for Cavendish - but it was a riveting finish. And always huge respect for the sprinters pulling those reserves out of the bag at the end of 5 hours racing.

[Tumble]

well he hasn't broken anything - he did however dislocate his right shoulder and he's got some ligament damage. He crossed the line under his own power though so he's not out of the race until he doesn't turn up in the morning....

[peterb]

Well, good news that it isn't broken, but it will be interesting to see if he will be fit to race tomorrow. I'd have thought not.

[peterb]

Another outstanding day through some of the most stunning scenery in England. And perhaps the most exciting bit at the end in a steep side street in Sheffield (Jenkins Road) with a short but steep 10% gradient at the end of 5hrs racing - racing at an average speed of 25 MPH!

[scaryjim]

... perhaps the most exciting bit at the end in a steep side street in Sheffield (Jenkins Road) with a short but steep 10% gradient ...

I believe the locals will tell you that parts of that gradient spike up to 25% or more

Sadly I've been really busy over the weekend, as the tour has been going through a lot of my parts of the world - I used to live in the Yorkshire Dales pretty much on the route of the first stage, and today's stage ran within 10 miles of one of my regular routes out to a rock face (which is more than enough of a bike ride for me, at only 8.5miles,with a ~ 3miles, 4% average climb at the end of it!). Still, it'd be a long way to trek out there and sit for most of a day just to watch 100 cyclists go past Personally I'd rather be out on my bike going somewhere nice!

[peterb]

I believe the locals will tell you that parts of that gradient spike up to 25% or more

Yes, it certainly seemed a surprise to one or two! Still amazed at the reserves the leaders can draw on though right at the end.

I've been really busy over the weekend, as the tour has been going through a lot of my parts of the world - I used to live in the Yorkshire Dales pretty much on the route of the first stage, and today's stage ran within 10 miles of one of my regular routes out to a rock face (which is more than enough of a bike ride for me, at only 8.5miles,with a ~ 3miles, 4% average climb at the end of it!). Still, it'd be a long way to trek out there and sit for most of a day just to watch 100 cyclists go past Personally I'd rather be out on my bike going somewhere nice!

That was most of my interest, as both stages (but particularly stage 1) were my stomping ground while I was at University - and my flat mates from that time and I got together for a nostalgic Pizza at Headingley's best known Pizzeria!

I spent more time than I should watching it over the weekend, but it was more interesting for me because I knew the places they were racing in. I will be watching the highlights though.

[scaryjim]

I've driven up a lot of the hills they were climbing, and can't imagine what it must be like to try to bike up all of them on the same day - really scary stuff. And that's without even thinking about the stuff they end up climbing in the Alps ... utterly bonkers.

Nice to see there's talk of an international-class Tour of Yorkshire next year - I just wonder if an annual event would have the same tourist impact as a Grand Depart. Still, it's the least Gary Verity deserves for his work on this - I met him a few years back and he's a really nice bloke, very friendly and supportive. I've not followed the tour in recent years - I tend to go through phases of watching sport and then not caring (except the important one, of course ) - but it's quite spectacular some of the places they race. Then again, it also makes my cycling efforts seem terribly insignificant and pathetic, so perhaps that's a good reason not to!

[peterb]

I think they were going faster up Holme Moss than I used to drive in my 850cc Mini!

It was certainly a fantastic spectacle - the turnout to watch it was amazing, so I hope it comes back to the UK soon. Great couple of days for Yorkshire though.

[kalniel]

Great couple of days for Yorkshire though.

And Cambs. Far more boring for the riders, but it's not every day the Tour goes past your workplace

[heinsmit]

How long until they cross to France?

[scaryjim]

It was certainly a fantastic spectacle - the turnout to watch it was amazing, so I hope it comes back to the UK soon. Great couple of days for Yorkshire though.

Well, as I said Yorkshire's meant to be getting a 3 day tour of its own next year, and Christian Prudhomme has said it's definitely a case of when rather than if the tour comes back to the UK. Given the public response I can't imagine it'll be long, but I'd worry about getting it too often as that would inevitably dilute the public enthusiasm...

And Cambs. Far more boring for the riders, but it's not every day the Tour goes past your workplace

Yeah, I can just about imagine doing the Cambs - London stage - I've biked P'boro to Hitchin before so over some similar territory (and I was at uni in Cambridge (briefly!) so spent a lot of time bombing up and down to lectures ) and it's definitely a lot more in the reach of us mere mortals. I can't decide whether the flat terrain would make it easier or harder to watch the race!

How long until they cross to France?

Today AFAIK there's only one or two rest days in the whole tour - that's what makes it so utterly gruelling. Today's was a fairly flat stage, just a couple of cat 4 climbs (I do a cat 4 on a fairly regular basis; they're not too horrifiying), but when they get up in the Alps they're biking up actual mountains several days running - I simply can't imagine how much effort that takes!