Saturday, in the Park. I think it was the fourth of July…

not only lyrics by Chicago, but this Saturday, the 4th of July sees a Texan line up in Monaco to see if he can perhaps win le tour de France for the 8th time, after having a few years in retirement… And yes, the US National anthem is a stirring rousing song when not sung by Roseanne Barr but le Marseillaise
(Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons !
Qu’un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons !)
is still c’est magnifique!

Having said that, perhaps an Aussie in Cadel or Dodger may get up and stand on top of the podium upon le Champs d’Elysee ???

Sacre bleu!

fourth of july eh?
- ms p and i will be watching the torture through medieval cobbled streets, up mountain trails and across hot plains – great entertainment particularly with old phil giving the anatomy of the race.

i noticed that one car race had 170 laps of the same track – boring – you need helicopter views of the countryside, bridges, castles etc. as a backdrop – marsh on, marsh on – viva la tour !

Nice one pepe, stay tuned and I may be able to update all us gardeners on how le tour is travelling….

I wonder what sport has the smallest carbon footprint?

pain master said:

Nice one pepe, stay tuned and I may be able to update all us gardeners on how le tour is travelling….

I wonder what sport has the smallest carbon footprint?

walking?

Cadel (the Great Aussie Hope who has finished 2nd in the last two editions of le tour) has had a setback with one of his teammates in Thomas Dekker failing to honour his biological passport, and has been told there’s no tour for him… Shame really as once again, drugs in cycling has taken headline news even before le tour starts.

Dekker would have been a good lead for Cadel in some of the mountain passes over the next three weeks.

pain master said:

Nice one pepe, stay tuned and I may be able to update all us gardeners on how le tour is travelling….

I wonder what sport has the smallest carbon footprint?

what, the backup crew does not have a carbon footprint? Howsoever, one needs to consider that the funding of Le (is it Le? I thought it was La?) Tour is spread across lots of micro-mini communities as they ride through the countryside…which is surely more of a “good thing” than having the money spent all at one point…in a city no less…

Dinetta said:

pain master said:

Nice one pepe, stay tuned and I may be able to update all us gardeners on how le tour is travelling….

I wonder what sport has the smallest carbon footprint?

what, the backup crew does not have a carbon footprint? Howsoever, one needs to consider that the funding of Le (is it Le? I thought it was La?) Tour is spread across lots of micro-mini communities as they ride through the countryside…which is surely more of a “good thing” than having the money spent all at one point…in a city no less…

the Official tour website has it as le Tour, the individual towns that take part have to pay for the privilege and depending on what role the town plays, start, finish or sprint point or feed zone depends on how much one contributes…

pain master said:

the Official tour website has it as le Tour, the individual towns that take part have to pay for the privilege and depending on what role the town plays, start, finish or sprint point or feed zone depends on how much one contributes…

There you go…Le Tour it is…wow, so the villages and hamlets have to pay for the privelege of being on the route? How mercenary! Here’s me and a lot of others equally ignorant, thinking the route was traditional and carved in stone…

Dinetta said:

pain master said:

the Official tour website has it as le Tour, the individual towns that take part have to pay for the privilege and depending on what role the town plays, start, finish or sprint point or feed zone depends on how much one contributes…

There you go…Le Tour it is…wow, so the villages and hamlets have to pay for the privelege of being on the route? How mercenary! Here’s me and a lot of others equally ignorant, thinking the route was traditional and carved in stone…

au contraire, while there is no cost for your village to accidentally be part of the parcour (race) if your village happens to be stuck in the middle of two winning bidding start/finish villages, if you want to be influential and make sure the feedspot or the two sprint spots are in your village, then you can probably enter the bidding.

Having said that, the organisers do have a fair idea where they want le Tour to travel. This year, it will visit 6 European countries/municipalities and not just France itself. I’m relatively confident in thinking that bids for le Grande Tour 2010, 2011, and even 2012 are being negotiated as we speak. Its a bit like the Olympics, the World Cup, even which golf course will hold the US PGA… every successful tender needs to grease the wheels of motion.

Also, le Tour changes direction each year from Clockwise around France to Anti-clockwise in alternative years. This year, le Grande Departe is from Monaco.

But every year finishes in Paris at l’Champs d’Elysee

it’s on. Go to sbs now!

pain master said:

it’s on. Go to sbs now!

Lurve the LG advertisements!

Dinetta said:

pain master said:

it’s on. Go to sbs now!

Lurve the LG advertisements!

I like it when one of the cyclists throws his bidon (water bottle) at the guy in the garden! Cracks me up.

Fabian Cancellara won the opening prologue in Monaco. He will start the first stage today wearing the leaders yellow jersey. Of note, Cadel is 5th and Lance is 10th.

pain master said:

Fabian Cancellara won the opening prologue in Monaco. He will start the first stage today wearing the leaders yellow jersey. Of note, Cadel is 5th and Lance is 10th.

lance looks a bit less than top dog – and i think that LG ad refers to a boot thrown at another famous american.
anyrate the aerials of monarco are great altho’ i didn’t stay up for the time trials.
let me see monarco, andorra, spain, france, switzerland, italy – that’s 7 countries. i hope the helicopters survive because i luv those aerials.

pepe said:

pain master said:

Fabian Cancellara won the opening prologue in Monaco. He will start the first stage today wearing the leaders yellow jersey. Of note, Cadel is 5th and Lance is 10th.

lance looks a bit less than top dog – and i think that LG ad refers to a boot thrown at another famous american.
anyrate the aerials of monarco are great altho’ i didn’t stay up for the time trials.
let me see monarco, andorra, spain, france, switzerland, italy – that’s 7 countries. i hope the helicopters survive because i luv those aerials.

6 countries or principalities… they went to 7 countries during the year the EU was created.

pain master said:

pepe said:

pain master said:

Fabian Cancellara won the opening prologue in Monaco. He will start the first stage today wearing the leaders yellow jersey. Of note, Cadel is 5th and Lance is 10th.

lance looks a bit less than top dog – and i think that LG ad refers to a boot thrown at another famous american.
anyrate the aerials of monarco are great altho’ i didn’t stay up for the time trials.
let me see monarco, andorra, spain, france, switzerland, italy – that’s 7 countries. i hope the helicopters survive because i luv those aerials.

6 countries or principalities… they went to 7 countries during the year the EU was created.

I’m with the guy in the LG add…love it when they show the shots of the mountains…

pain master said:

Fabian Cancellara won the opening prologue in Monaco. He will start the first stage today wearing the leaders yellow jersey. Of note, Cadel is 5th and Lance is 10th.

I think it’s the mountains that changed everything, almost at the last minute, last year??

Dinetta said:

pain master said:

Fabian Cancellara won the opening prologue in Monaco. He will start the first stage today wearing the leaders yellow jersey. Of note, Cadel is 5th and Lance is 10th.

I think it’s the mountains that changed everything, almost at the last minute, last year??

Indeed, there’s still 3,000 odd kilometres to go before they get to gay Paris, including Mont Ventoux on the penultimate stage… If someone is going to win, they can lie in wait until Ventoux. Of which, Lance is the fastest man alive up that mountain… Pantani was, but he ain’t around anymore… Vale il Pirata.

Of which, Lance is the fastest man alive up that mountain
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Is he, tho’? That man is a phenomenon…truly earns his status as a Legend in His Own Time…

Dinetta said:

Is he, tho’? That man is a phenomenon…truly earns his status as a Legend in His Own Time…

Yeah, but he is carrying a few years on his legs now. I can’t see him winning, but he is raising some awesome money for his cancer research. Just the tour down under in January raised a million dollars for his research, imagine what last month’s giro and this months tour will do?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/05/2617026.htm
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Someone’s enjoying himself…

the Hills and forests around Nice are looking cool… and Nice is a town of France, not a sugar coated biscuit.

pain master said:

the Hills and forests around Nice are looking cool… and Nice is a town of France, not a sugar coated biscuit.

i stayed up reading my book about pug the magician with my closeup glasses and watching le tour over the rims.
two things were magical about this race, apart from the countryside -
first there was this american war cemetery – all mainicured grass and little white stones in a row – looked very out of place in the miles of natural landscape.
then there was the finish – one kilometre from the end, cavendish’s men formed like a cool white line in front of all the jostling sprinters. it looked like one team were going to finish 1,2,3,4.
they didn’t – but cavendish won – i think – i was asleep a minute after the end of the race.

pepe said:

but cavendish won – i think – i was asleep a minute after the end of the race.

Cavendish did indeed have a great lead out thanks to Aussie Mark Renshaw, but Cancellara still wears yellow.

Another flatish ride west of Nice tonight.

pain master said:

pepe said:

but cavendish won – i think – i was asleep a minute after the end of the race.

Cavendish did indeed have a great lead out thanks to Aussie Mark Renshaw, but Cancellara still wears yellow. Another flatish ride west of Nice tonight.

i did fall asleep during the race this time. i awoke to find the teev still going some time during the night. cavendish won again but this time armstrong was the big mover apparently. i’ll watch the replay.

pepe said:

pain master said:

pepe said:

but cavendish won – i think – i was asleep a minute after the end of the race.

Cavendish did indeed have a great lead out thanks to Aussie Mark Renshaw, but Cancellara still wears yellow. Another flatish ride west of Nice tonight.

i did fall asleep during the race this time. i awoke to find the teev still going some time during the night. cavendish won again but this time armstrong was the big mover apparently. i’ll watch the replay.

a fantastic stage with the peloton getting smashed by a breeze coming off the Mediterranean leaving Cavendish and his entire team in a small breakaway of 27 riders including Michael Rogers, Cancellara and Sir Lance. Oh and Tony Martin was in the mix also.

TTT (that’s Team Time Trial) tonight.

Current standings:
Cancellara
Martin
Armstrong…

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/08/2619616.htm

The way this article reads, this hardly seems like a race anymore…

a fantastic stage with the peloton getting smashed by a breeze coming off the Mediterranean leaving Cavendish and his entire team in a small breakaway of 27 riders including Michael Rogers, Cancellara and Sir Lance. Oh and Tony Martin was in the mix also.
————-
sir lance has won a stage – and now is sledging cadell.
methinks cadell needs a stage win and a chance to sledge back. unfortunately his team is proving to be a tad disappointing.

Heard this morning Lance is 1/2 a second off the leader….

Dinetta said:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/08/2619616.htm

The way this article reads, this hardly seems like a race anymore…

There’s still the Schleck Brothers and Sastre is awesome in the last week of a three week tour.

No fat lady in sight.

pepe said:

a fantastic stage with the peloton getting smashed by a breeze coming off the Mediterranean leaving Cavendish and his entire team in a small breakaway of 27 riders including Michael Rogers, Cancellara and Sir Lance. Oh and Tony Martin was in the mix also.
————-
sir lance has won a stage – and now is sledging cadell.
methinks cadell needs a stage win and a chance to sledge back. unfortunately his team is proving to be a tad disappointing.

Indeed, Cadel has nothing to lose now… he could even find himself in a break in the mountains without Schleck(s) Sastre Armstrong or Contador caring…

Lucky1 said:

Heard this morning Lance is 1/2 a second off the leader….

1/5th of a second even…

Indeed, Cadel has nothing to lose now… he could even find himself in a break in the mountains without Schleck(s) Sastre Armstrong or Contador caring…
—————————-
ah well – come on stewy o’grady !
beautiful aerial shots of an old monastry converted into a 5,000,000 roomed mansion. luv that scenery.

pepe said:

Indeed, Cadel has nothing to lose now… he could even find himself in a break in the mountains without Schleck(s) Sastre Armstrong or Contador caring…
—————————-
ah well – come on stewy o’grady !
beautiful aerial shots of an old monastry converted into a 5,000,000 roomed mansion. luv that scenery.

Indeed, the Monastery was speccy. But good on Thomas Voeckler for holding the entire peloton at bay for 198 kms last night. His little leggies will be sore this morning!

32 kms to go in the first mountain stage and everyone seems relaxed…. the footage of the Pyrenees has been spectacular tonight.

morw than 20 riders visited the tour Doctor last night after the stage for repairs.

morw than 20 riders visited the tour Doctor last night after the stage for repairs.

amongst gorgeous scenery, Fabian has cracked and Lance is now in the yellow, until the finish line.

Contador makes a big move over his team mate Sir Lance and the rest.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/15/2625951.htm

The organisers have tried to make it more “exciting” by removing the radio communications, good on them! Hope it stays that way for the rest of the race…

Dinetta said:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/15/2625951.htm

The organisers have tried to make it more “exciting” by removing the radio communications, good on them! Hope it stays that way for the rest of the race…

I dunno dinetta, the radios do offer an element of safety. But I like the primitivity of it all ;)

silly galoots…

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/18/2629589.htm

Dinetta said:

silly galoots…

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/18/2629589.htm

Once again things that happen leave me totally perplexed. When you get to my age you get to feel that there in’t very much you haven’t seen or heard but I’m wrong again.

Dinetta said:

silly galoots…

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/18/2629589.htm

You’re being more polite in your choice of words then I… if you had said that this incident occured on the Poreporena Hwy in Port Moresby, then I would say “yeah alright” but in le Tour!???!?!?!?

a young german/aussie won – funny that – when i fell asleep the commentators were preaching about how silly he was – he was only 30 secs in front of the peloton.

pain master said:

Dinetta said:

silly galoots…

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/18/2629589.htm

You’re being more polite in your choice of words then I… if you had said that this incident occured on the Poreporena Hwy in Port Moresby, then I would say “yeah alright” but in le Tour!???!?!?!?

Even MrD shook his head when I showed him, and usually the news leaves him unmoved (unless it’s Qld parliamentary corruption)

How gorgeous is le Chateaux le Gruyere?

pain master said:

How gorgeous is le Chateaux le Gruyere?

missed it – but i saw the end – and it was a good race last night.

pepe said:

pain master said:

How gorgeous is le Chateaux le Gruyere?

missed it – but i saw the end – and it was a good race last night.

What an animal is Contador, no-one will catch him, and LA looked 37 years old last night, vale Sir Knight.

pain master said:

pepe said:

pain master said:

How gorgeous is le Chateaux le Gruyere?

missed it – but i saw the end – and it was a good race last night.

What an animal is Contador, no-one will catch him, and LA looked 37 years old last night, vale Sir Knight.

the pain is beginning to tell in more bodies than just sir lance’s. amusingly the sprinters all form a little cluster at the back of the peloton when the hill climbs start.

pepe said:

pain master said:

pepe said:

missed it – but i saw the end – and it was a good race last night.

What an animal is Contador, no-one will catch him, and LA looked 37 years old last night, vale Sir Knight.

the pain is beginning to tell in more bodies than just sir lance’s. amusingly the sprinters all form a little cluster at the back of the peloton when the hill climbs start.

also interesting how it took LA’s team mate to finally attack him, everyone just sat on in awe waiting. LA looked to Contador and said, it’s yours if you want it, and off he went. Only then did the Schlecks, the Wiggins boy and Cadel take off.

Interesting how LA asked Kloden to stay around and pace him up the hill…. poker anyone?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/22/2632622.htm

That clear plastic thing on his nose, Pain Master, is that something to widen his nostrils for breathing, like they use for snorers of a night?

Dinetta said:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/22/2632622.htm

That clear plastic thing on his nose, Pain Master, is that something to widen his nostrils for breathing, like they use for snorers of a night?

Is the banana to stop him breathing at all? lol.

the roads, tunnels and bridges of the italian alps are awesome. australian may have the long distances for the least population but we don’t have to bridge ridiculously steep gorges every 100 kilometres.
oh – the race – not many aussies starring – good job the scenery is great. LOL

pomolo said:

Dinetta said:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/22/2632622.htm

That clear plastic thing on his nose, Pain Master, is that something to widen his nostrils for breathing, like they use for snorers of a night?

Is the banana to stop him breathing at all? lol.

yes and yes…

pepe said:

the roads, tunnels and bridges of the italian alps are awesome. australian may have the long distances for the least population but we don’t have to bridge ridiculously steep gorges every 100 kilometres.
oh – the race – not many aussies starring – good job the scenery is great. LOL

spot on Pepe, the Italian Alps have been stunning.

Go mighty Thor!

He’s got good teeth anyway…

penultimate stage and they are legging it up Ventoux!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/28/2697886.htm

Not Le Tour, but subject is close…

Dinetta said:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/28/2697886.htm

Not Le Tour, but subject is close…

Nice work by an emotional Cadel!