(Untitled)

[morganmuffle]

Well the final stage of this years Tour is off to a ceremonial start (apparently Christophe Moreau was off the front having pictures taken along with the Jersey holders because he's the French champion, I don't remember that happening before

Comments

[mrs_redboots]

They're certainly not racing right now this minute, just pottering along as though they were out for a Sunday-afternoon ride. Actually very dull, except for the scenery!

[morganmuffle]

Sunday afternoon club ride... they seem to be having fun (or at least from the way the Disco boys on the front are chatting) I wouldn't expect any real interest till Paris (where it is apparently raining gently which could cause problems later)

[blue_ant]

This is the lamest final stage ever. I am disappointed (finally) in this tour.

[morganmuffle]

This is the same final stage we get every year. Apart from when Vino attacked and the year I spent seething as Lance kept chasing down Simioni .

It does seem a real pity after the excitement of yesterday though :( but apparently tradition counts more.

[blue_ant]

I know. At least many of them have breakaways. This doesn't even have that. Oh, man. That Armstrong thing was the funniest thing EVER.

But, like, this is dull. I know it's usually dull, I've watched enough of them to know. But I had high hopes. Fuck tradition!

[morganmuffle]

I wish I'd never thought about them maybe racing because then I'd probably just be vaguely interested but now it's annoying. Especially when it seems we're not even going to get a Green jersey race till we're on the Champs Elysee!

BAH

It's not even very attractive scenery...

[morganmuffle]

I have, over the last couple of days, realised that outside the french press, which I'm not rading so can't judge, it's not the fans whoa re saying cycling is dead. In fact most of the fans I know were more bothered with the result that with the doping because the last stage is not the time or place for the big debates. That time is in the next weeks and months. It made me feel a lot better when I registered it was all outsiders, sad that that's all they see but better all the same.

It really will cut up CSC, which is a pity because they're rather a good and cohesive team at the moment but other than VandeVelde, Zabriskie and Millar it's all rumour atm.

The last stage is always dull (well slow not dull exactly) to start with. The problem was some of us *looks embarressed* got ourselves rather overexcited at the thought that there might be racing and then had the inevitable letdown!

[morganmuffle]

Though I didn't particularly want Levi to win I have to say I still don't see "doing a Vinokourov" as a negative thing (in that particular respect anyway *sighs*) I want a race right down to the line and I love the riders whoa ttack. There are traditions of when not to attack in the Tour that I respect (nature breaks, after a leader crashes etc.) but the last day thing has always bugged me a bit.

Still. I can want it all I like it's not going to happen until we have a gap so close it could be decided by the time bonuses across the line I imagine, and even then it'd have to be a particular type of cyclist *g*

Did your coverage lose commentators with about 3 laps to go? Hearing Chris Boardman and Gary Imlach try to commentate was one of the more amusing moments of the stage!