My mom’s French. We only celebrate Bastille Day

broderic on July 14, 2011

Thomas Voeckler

Maillot Jaune courtesy of By Laurie Beylier

I have to admit Thomas Voeckler is one of my favorite cyclists ever. I’ve already recounted his heroics in 2004. How he battled Lance Armstrong for 10 days. Well here he is again in the Maillot Jaune. And on Bastille Day!

His team this year is young and inexperienced. Only through a surprise break away did he win the jersey. In interviews yesterday, he feels that he can’t keep the jersey today, Bastille Day. But knowing him he’ll fight to hold onto it. Alléz, Tommy! Alleéz!

Happy Bastille Day!

Mount Ventoux

broderic on July 25, 2009

So far, Le Tour has been slightly disappointing. It hasn’t been as exciting, because Astana has been making mince meat of the GC category. They’ve locked it down. No one else has come close, except for the Schleck brothers. They threw a wrench into the Astana train’s gears by climbing onto the podium on Wednesday, the last day in the Alps. It took the long individual time trial to dislodge the oldest, Frank, and Lance Armstrong, the old man, to show them how it’s done.

Today was the Mount Ventoux stage which would sort out the contenders from the pretenders. Usually, a mountain top finish would not be anywhere near the penultimate day of Le Tour. Usually. The GC contenders threw themselves up the slopes of the Giant of Provence. Andy Schleck showed that he was a young rider to contend with. He attacked, and attacked hoping to drag his brother back onto the podium. It did nothing. Lance Armstrong sat on their wheel all ride up not allowing them to breach the strangle lock that Astana has. The other top ten sorted themselves out keeping their places. Contador wins. Tomorrow will just be for the sprinters and the victory laps around the Champs Elysée.

And that’s why it was boring. The same things have happened as when Armstrong won his seven. The strong team goes out and locks down the GC, and the other contenders can only watch. More fireworks.

Afterwards, I went for a quick ride in the heat of the late morning. I should’ve ate breakfast, because their was not gas in my tank. Today was my own suffering on my Mount Ventoux.

The god of thunder takes the win

broderic on July 9, 2009

Thor Hushovd of Cervelo Test Team wins a rain soaked sixth stage. Is this a tour or what? And is the the Tour de France or Espagne? Or Cataluna? They went from Girona to Barcelona neither of which is in France.

David Millar of Garmin-Slipstream tried to repeat the breakaway success like yesterday, but gets swept up in the last kilometer. It’s cruel, but that’s the chance you take. Millar is someone to root for as he was once suspended for doping infractions, but has been riding clean with the Slipstream team. He almost had it today, but the sprinters’ teams are not going let another stage slip away.

Back to Thor. He’s a monster of a rider, bigger and bulkier than any in the peloton. He is a former winner of the Green Jersey (sprinter’s jersey). So he’s got speed. And yet, he can’t win against Columbia-HTC’s Manx Missile, Mark Cavendish. But today was the day. This stage finished up a hill, which, because of his power meant that it was a good finish for Thor. And it was!

I’m liking that this blog is turning out to be a sports blog! One day O’s another day Le Tour. The O’s suck, and Le Tour is only in July, so bear with me for the next couple of weeks.

I’ve been tivoing Le Tour to watch the live stuff rather than watching it at night. I like the Brits rather than the Americans doing the play-by-play although Phil Liggett is starting to get senile. Yesterday, my tivo didn’t record the post stage awards. I missed the podium girls! I like the podium girls! Bring me the podium girls! I especially like the navy-white for the stage winner. Mmm. The polka-dots are cool too. Yellow, not so much.

The Legend of Tommy Voeckler

broderic on July 9, 2009

The most lucky of French cyclists (or unlucky if you see him go on a breakaway), Thomas Voeckler wins his first stage of Le Tour. Not of this years version, but of the several he’s participated in. Of course, he’s a former yellow jersey winner holding off Lance Armstrong for 10 days in 2004.

Way to go Tommy! Chapeau!

As you can see, he won the heart of all of France in 2004 in fighting to keep the yellow on the climb up the Plat de baile. He’s also one of my favorites, because of this charge and you can always count on him to go out a try and win a stage. Finally, he’s won one.

Rooting against Armstrong

broderic on July 7, 2009

Today’s the Team Time Trial in Le Tour 2009. You and your mates against the clock. Which team’s the fastest around town? Astana with their multi-headed captains seems to be the favorite. They’ve got Armstrong, Contador, and Leipheimer. They are the NY Yankees of the sport.

I’m hoping they lose today. Not gonna happen.

Weird to be rooting against Armstrong, but it happens. Allez other teams! Allez!

Le Tour begins 2009

broderic on July 4, 2009

I’m sitting on my couch catching the prologue stage to this year’s Tour de France nursing my sore body. I lamed out because of all this soreness.

Currently, it’s a time trial stage with Team Astana ruling the standings Levi Leipheimer in the lead with the old man, seven time winner, Lance Armstrong sitting in third. I can’t believe that Astana is running with three leaders, Armstrong, Leipheimer, and Contador. A fourth, Andreas Klöden, is dangerous himself. That team is stacked. They are dangerous, but with too many cooks, will they spoil the broth and not get the win.

Everyone’s darling team from last year, Garmin-Chipotle, seems to have disappeared from the radar. Hopefully, they can come back and remind the world that the sport doesn’t need the drugs. Dave Zabriskie is their most renowned rider along with Christian Van de velde. Maybe they can do something special this tour. Perhaps fight off the Astana juggernaut.

Then there is the story of the two japanese riders. They hope to be the first finishers from the land of the rising sun. Banzaii! to these guys as three weeks is a long time on the bike. (I can’t even do two straight days.)

Here’s to a good tour.

Link of the Day [10.02.08]

broderic on October 2, 2008

Lance Armstrong is going to race in the 2009 edition of Le Tour. It’s time to get ready for the showdown, when the past meets the present and the future of cycling is determined. It’s going to be exciting.

I want to be there, but on my bike.

Here’s a little tour that you can do which will follow the Tour around. It’s pretty pricey, but very easy on the legs. You average about 50 miles per day. That’s easy! of course it could be one day of 100 miles and the next of 2 miles. Either way, it sounds like fun. Maybe I have to start getting in shape.

http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/trip/110/follow_the_race_in_france/

Le Tour 2008: Cunio-Jausiers

broderic on July 23, 2008

Stage 16 of le Tour was a monster. It went over the highest paved road in Europe over the Cime de la Bonette-Rastafond about 2900 meters high. That’s about 9000 feet! That’s crazy.

The first rider through crashes on the descent. Crazy! He wins the the LeGrange prize for crossing the highest peak of this years tour. Then he crashes. He would’ve won if he stayed out in front. It’s insane that they can go down those slopes at 60mph. I’ve hit 47 mph for a short time. It’s fun to fly but can be somewhat dangerous. I’m no descender because I haven’t ridden any thing big so I don’t have enough practice.

I’m no climber either. Riding only tiny hills.

What a fun tour. The first five places are less than a minute apart. And we have another huge day tomorrow: 3 hors categorie climbs culminating on the infamous, indomitable l’Alpe d’Huez. Ooo, I can’t wait.

Link of the Day [7.19.08]

broderic on July 19, 2008

Didi Senft is famous.

To those who follow the Tour de France.

He’s the Devil.

He chases after the peloton waving his pitchfork and encouraging the cyclists on.

For as long as I have been watching the Tour, he’s always made an appearance. He finally showed up on Wednesday’s stage. Yet we won’t see the last of him. Expect him at l’Alpe d’Huez. He’s going to stick that pitchfork on the yellow jersery holder and hopefully make him win.

He’s a sight to behold.

http://www.tourteufel.de/

Dans le Tour, c’est l’anniversaire de Bastille

broderic on July 15, 2008

It’s July 14, therefore it’s Bastille Day. And another day on the Tour. It’s the monster stage of this year’s Tour” Pau-Hautacam. It’s got two hors category climbs, the Tourmalet and the ski town of Hautacam.

What a battle on those two slopes! It brought the GC contenders to the fore and showed who the pretenders are. Cadel Evens, Frank Schleck and the American, Christian Vande Velde in the former, and Valverde in the latter.

That’s just awesome.

Let’s go for a ride up the side of a mountain!