At what point do you turn off the TV and give up on the Tour?

[HL2037]

30 seconds? I count 20. Will the other 10 be an intro by Sherwen telling us about the quality of French cattle?

To get it up to a full minute perhaps do what our Danish broadcasters did yesterday: A featurette on mod culture. To give viewers a better understanding of Bradley Wiggins' coiffure i assume...

 

[pastronef]

NEVER. I never give up on the Tour

 

[Gubby Allen]

I've seen a few worse tours and several worse GTs than this one. It's had a fair bit I've enjoyed but today was absolutely pitiful and one of the worst stages I can remember. Not sure you can pin this one on the course choice either.

 

[Boeing]

We wouldn't go to the website of the sport that you're interested in and call it boring. Please don't do the same to ours.

All cycling races can be boring at time, especially if you watch the entire stage. But there are always things that the true fan takes an interest in and gets something from it. We're not asking you to understand this or watch it. Just leave us alone.

who exactly are you bearing the cross for and pretending to speak for and on behalf of; all or US? "we" are only supposed to 'white knight' for the red head dane gal on threads here. you dig?

 

[CobbleStoner]

I've seen a few worse tours and several worse GTs than this one. It's had a fair bit I've enjoyed but today was absolutely pitiful and one of the worst stages I can remember. Not sure you can pin this one on the course choice either.

I really enjoyed seeing how they selectivly let a break finally go, then the Saxo tactics to get Sorrenson (?) bridged were amazing to watch, if you could understand what was going on, beautiful French countryside, the break stuck and an attack in the last 10k worked, and it's a transitional stage between the Alps and Pyrenees before a rest day. look back over all the GT's and a stage like this at this point of the race is always an off day for the big guys.
good stage, I enjoyed it, thx ASO

 

[argyllflyer]

I've seen a few worse tours and several worse GTs than this one. It's had a fair bit I've enjoyed but today was absolutely pitiful and one of the worst stages I can remember. Not sure you can pin this one on the course choice either.

Dunno, I felt Friday's (stage 12) wasting of two Cat 1 climbs at the beginning was not exactly inspired, especially as the whole stage was shown live. The GC contenders trundled over the climbs, with Cavendish on the front at one point, then trundled along the relatively flat part of the parcours, finishing over 7 minutes down on the break.

Nice scenery however.

 

[mickkk]

With hindsight, after the first TT.

 

[happytramp]

Hmmm, I wonder if the lack of drama is effecting ratings? There doesn't seem to be much interest in the British media either. Although that may have something to do with the first British Tour winner, winning it with all the excitement of a wet paper bag.

 

[happytramp]

Pretty much sums up the tour so far.....

 

[Der Effe]

I keep watching and also keep ignoring the fact there are people cycling. They've become background to me, the beautiful French scenery is all I care for anymore. Which makes me think, I need to go to France again soon. What a country. Wake me up when Wiggins and Froome drop. Or when Contador and Schleck are competing again.

Disclaimer: I don't want Wiggins and Froome to drop because I dislike them (which I do) but because maybe finally it will bring some excitement.

 

[Blakeslee]

Will the other 10 be an intro by Sherwen telling us about the quality of French cattle?

According to Paul Tejay Van Garderen shares a rare quality with French cattle, his jersey turns from red to white after he finishes the Tour De France.

 

[S2Sturges]

I keep watching and also keep ignoring the fact there are people cycling. They've become background to me, the beautiful French scenery is all I care for anymore. Which makes me think, I need to go to France again soon. What a country. Wake me up when Wiggins and Froome drop. Or when Contador and Schleck are competing again.

Disclaimer: I don't want Wiggins and Froome to drop because I dislike them (which I do) but because maybe finally it will bring some excitement.

Oh, indeed! once Cadel was hammered int he first TT, I knew it was all over, so like you, I spent many months cycle touring through out France over the years,and yes, the scenery is stunning ... This tour they have gone over quite a few roads I've ridden on, and in the Pyrenees, I'll be watching especially closely as they go over the Col d'Aubisque, the Soulor, down through Laruns, Argeles Gazost, Luz St Saveur and over the Tourmalet. I cycled extensively in this area, staying in Pau and Foix, and to me it is the best scenery and cycling one can have.. it's better viewing with the sound off, too, not having to listen to those two noddys....

 

[BullsFan22]

I have basically watched the 'tougher' stages and the two TT's (prologue included) so far. I know the TDF and cycling in general isn't only about the mountains and tt's, but the flatter stages have been a bit disappointing to me in the last couple of years. Having said that, the few tough stages that I've watched this year haven't exactly been earth shattering either. I continue to watch, even if the guys I thought would do something here (Menchov, Gesink, Evans..) aren't setting the world on fire. I think the next couple of Pyrennean stages (perhaps the transition stage as well) and the last ITT will bring more excitement, at least I hope so. Stages like the one we will see tomorrow usually bring plenty of fireworks, so let's hope it is better than what've seen so far. IMO, the last exciting tour was the 2008 edition. A lot of good, seasoned riders, but no real 'boss,' no real favorite, and it seemed like a lot of guys had a chance of winning, the stages were exciting (yes, even with the doping scandal(S)), and there were plenty of attacks an unexpected results. 2010 was ok and last year the latter portions were good, but this year has been the least exciting I've watched in a while.

 

[Hawkwood]

Hmmm, I wonder if the lack of drama is effecting ratings? There doesn't seem to be much interest in the British media either. Although that may have something to do with the first British Tour winner, winning it with all the excitement of a wet paper bag.

Eh! It's being covered daily by Sky News and BBC News. Links to upcoming live coverage of today's stage are on the front page of the BBC news website, can't remember when that has happened before. Radio 4 had an interview with Chris Boardman yesterday. Don't know about the print media, but certainly TV and the web is covering it. The British media wouldn't know what an exciting Tour winning performance looked like anyway.

 

[rhubroma]

Eh! It's being covered daily by Sky News and BBC News. Links to upcoming live coverage of today's stage are on the front page of the BBC news website, can't remember when that has happened before. Radio 4 had an interview with Chris Boardman yesterday. Don't know about the print media, but certainly TV and the web is covering it. The British media wouldn't know what an exciting Tour winning performance looked like anyway.

I had never heard it put quite that way before, but it made me laugh out loud when I read it.