Le Tour....

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

I'm not sure if anyone is interested but with two of the favourites pulling out it could be the best one for years, the winner is anyones guess.

[Eastside Urchin]

bothered!!!

[MbrunoB]

Three teams and a few top riders plus they say a few more to follow so could be more fun off the roads than on them.

[pompeystato]

Not very pleased with the coverage this year - no Channel 4 - no live radio - only Eurosport (for those who have it, which I don't) it would seem.

 

 

I've found a few websites that have live text teleprinters though.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Yep, I wasn't expecting that! Hardly any coverage at the bookies either.... but that's nothing new!

[pompeystato]

Today's (Monday's) Stage 3 was won by Australian Robbie McEwen.

 

Also, the overall leader is again Thor Hushovd, the Norwegian rider, but as for the race winner this year is anyone's guess.

 

So many favourites are missing from the start it's hard to know who to bet on.

[MbrunoB]

Highlights on Itv 4 at 7 everyday and live on itv 3 on sunday which is exactly the same as last year.

[pompeystato]

Thank's mate!

 

I went through my freeview program lists and couldn't find any sign of it so thought the worst.

[MbrunoB]

I find 'total tvguide' about the best for freeview lists.

[pompeystato]

Ah! Found the ITV4 progs and set them to record but haven't found ITV3's yet.

 

I've got one of these new Freeview boxes with a built-in hard drive and I need to find the prog in the prog listings before I can set it to record them.

 

What with the World Cup, Wimbledon, Big Brother, Deal Or No Deal and now the Tour de France too I'm having trouble finding the time to post on here but I'm certainly sleeping OK, even in the hot weather. (lol)

[MbrunoB]

2.30 til 4

[pompeystato]

We have a Brit in an early breakaway today.

 

Bradley Wiggins, from London, is in a group of five riders to gain 5 minutes on the peleton.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

He'll need more than 5mins if he is to make any impact on the TDF but good luck to him.

[pompeystato]

They've passed the half-way stage for today with the lead still in tact

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Thanks for the update, keep 'em coming!

 

Any timings?

[MbrunoB]

Good English section on official Tour website.

[pompeystato]

They've gone through a climb and a sprint for extra points but Wiggins did not contest them. Perhaps he's saving himself for a break nearer the finish line.

 

Their lead has been cut to four minutes.

 

Flat from here on in with the sprinters massing at the front on the peleton.

Lead down to 3½ minutes.

 

50km to go and the gap's down to 3 minutes.

 

Lead now down to 2 minutes and 40km to the finish with the last intermediate sprint 19km from home.

 

Down to 2 minutes now.

 

Down to 1 minute with the sprint aproaching.

 

10km to go and the gang of 5 are still holding on.

 

Two of them are gobbled up including Bradley Wiggins - the other 3 have a 45 second lead.

 

And it's a win for Robbie McEwen who catches up the three leaders with a thrilling sprint to the line.

 

Hushovd crashes to the ground 100 metres from the line.

 

1st. Robbie McEwen

2nd. Isaac Galvex

3rd. Oscar Friere

 

Yellow jersey - overall leader: Tom Boonen

 

1st. Tom Boonen 19:52:13

2nd. Michael Rogers + 0:00:01

3rd George Hincapie + 0:00:05

4th. Thor Hushovd + 0:00:07

5th. Egoi Martinez + 0:00:10

---------------------------

The effort that Bradley Wiggins put in today did him no good at all. He finished second to last (171st), almost 3 minutes behind the first one home.

[Eastside Urchin]

you should get out more!!

[pompeystato]

That's funny - so should you.

 

I wish I could but I'm 60 years old and disabled - with more than 9000 posts behind you what's your excuse (lol)

[Eastside Urchin]

i am just a fat [****!!****]