Mellow Velo said:On the contrary, the Tour is unsurpassable, in terms of it's colour, crowds and spectacle. It is the hook that catches new followers to the sport, many of whom, go on to become ardent fans of the sport.
However, as a race, it is extremely prescribed.
We rarely get to see the best of the racing, that takes place during the opening hour of each stage.
After that, it generally follows an established pattern.