Tour de France 2026 includding Tour Velogames competition.
- Thread starter borolad259
- Start date
So, after Olav's demonstration of pure speed yesterday, today the first mountain stage proper, in ferocious heat. Should be great to watch on the Tourmalet, theough the finish is a bit weird.
I went for a very easy jog yesterday afternoon and it felt ridiculously hot on the hills. God knows what 35C is going to feel like for those riders. Some will definitely suffer.
I went for a very easy jog yesterday afternoon and it felt ridiculously hot on the hills. God knows what 35C is going to feel like for those riders. Some will definitely suffer.
Norman_Conquest
Well-known member
We are going over to watch stage 7 tomorrow and will be stood just outside Cère. We did a bit of a reccy last week and there seems to be a few good places to watch from. I’ve never seen the Tour before, but got some good advice from @The_Lizards_Jumpers.
I’m sure they will be gone in a flash, but feel it will be worth it.
I’m sure they will be gone in a flash, but feel it will be worth it.
Muttley
Well-known member
Saw it come through Masham when they did the Tour Depart in Yorkshire. Quite the event but yes they are gone in a flash. Thought about going up to Buttertubs to watch there but the road closed very early. Would love to do one of the mountain stages in France I guess it will be a bit cooler at the tops!
It'll be hot just standing by the road. But always a good atmosphere and the caravan of promo vehicles that come through in advance of the riders keeps things interesting for a while ... often chucking/handing out goodies for Grandkids etc.
The_Lizards_Jumpers
Well-known member
Do it, it's one of the most fun days you can have. You can't sit on the centre circle at Wembley drinking cans 10 minutes before the FA Cup final, but you can on the TDF route.
Indeed, a GOAT level performance. What a first week! And it's not even the weekend yet. After that level of dominance, it feels kind of refreshing to have a sprint today, which will of course be boring until the last 10 minutes. But some pretty countryside to watch. It'll be interesting to see if Kooj can beat Merlier and Philipsen again ... if they are better positioned.
Abel Tasman
Well-known member
Anybody who went with the strategy of not having him in the team are now going to struggle.
Abel Tasman
Well-known member
I like that analogy for mountains. Watching on the side on a flat stage is fun for a full 10 seconds. I was in hospitality for the final stage of the 2014 Tour ( which started in Yorkshire) and won by Nibali. It was flat but they came past us on the Champs D'Elysees about 8 times.
1finny
Well-known member
I think you are right….
Hec of a performance from the current FMTTM leader though
As for GOAT - I’m leaning towards the ‘as in Lance Armstrong’
The_Lizards_Jumpers
Well-known member
So am I, he's not even out of breath after blowing the field away, although to be fair to him he did put a lot of time in on the descent. However not even Armstrong dominated almost every race he entered like Pogacar is doing.
The whole Adam Blythe / Orla C love in bores me senseless too, it's like Phil Liggett **** licking Armstrong for all those years - I get they have a job to do, but not even a ounce of cynicism.
Norman_Conquest
Well-known member
We are sat in a cafe on the Tour route at Cère and there are already people staking their claim, with seats, gazebos, etc. The atmosphere is very jovial, with a coach load of people wearing the Feria colours - white shirt and red neckerchief. The weather is only 25 at the moment, but predicted to get warmer - I think it’s going to be a good day. 
Abel Tasman
Well-known member
Try to bg one of those polka dot tees they give away on the promo train. They are excellent.We are sat in a cafe on the Tour route at Cère and there are already people staking their claim, with seats, gazebos, etc. The atmosphere is very jovial, with a coach load of people wearing the Feria colours - white shirt and red neckerchief. The weather is only 25 at the moment, but predicted to get warmer - I think it’s going to be a good day.
The_Lizards_Jumpers
Well-known member
The best thing I've ever got from the calvacade is a baguette tote bag, which is really practical
1finny
Well-known member
I’ve got a snood and a polka dot cap.
You should have seen the 5 year olds face when I took them…
Norman_Conquest
Well-known member
What a day - I will never have to buy a bucket hat again. 
We got loads of freebie’s, but the best was the Skoda team t-shirt, which is very good quality. We ended up with Feria bandanas from a coach party, had a beer with an old guy who had been stationed in Wigan and are now finishing the day off with a meal overlooking the marina on the lake.
I would like to thank everyone who gave me advice, but especially @The_Lizards_Jumpers, everything you told me was spot on. We arrived at 9.30, had a coffee and a bit of craic with a few locals. Got our chairs out and sat and had a picnic on the side of the road in front of our car. The caravan is something else and a big part of the day.
Watching the cyclists come through is something else and the noise from the crowd must make it special for them. You could see the grins on their faces.
We got loads of freebie’s, but the best was the Skoda team t-shirt, which is very good quality. We ended up with Feria bandanas from a coach party, had a beer with an old guy who had been stationed in Wigan and are now finishing the day off with a meal overlooking the marina on the lake.
I would like to thank everyone who gave me advice, but especially @The_Lizards_Jumpers, everything you told me was spot on. We arrived at 9.30, had a coffee and a bit of craic with a few locals. Got our chairs out and sat and had a picnic on the side of the road in front of our car. The caravan is something else and a big part of the day.
Watching the cyclists come through is something else and the noise from the crowd must make it special for them. You could see the grins on their faces.