Hey, if you've got headphones at work, you can listen live to the 2007 Tour de France on Eurosport.
Scroll down once you're on the site and look for the listen live link.
Enjoy.
09 July 2007
08 July 2007
GC Standings after Stage 1
Here is how Versus has the General Classification standings after Stage One of the 2007 Tour de France...
1 033 CANCELLARA, Fabian 00:00:00.000
2 196 KLÖDEN, Andréas 00:00:13.000
3 201 MILLAR, David GBR 00:00:21.000
4 114 HINCAPIE, George 00:00:23.000
5 149 WIGGINS, Bradley 00:00:23.000
6 113 GUSEV, Vladimir 00:00:25.000
7 015 KARPETS, Vladimir 00:00:26.000
8 101 HUSHOVD, Thor NOR 00:00:29.000
9 191 VINOKOUROV, Alexandre 00:00:30.000
10 054 DEKKER, Thomas NED 00:00:31.000
11 157 QUINZIATO, Manuel 00:00:32.000
12 169 VAUGRENARD, Benoît 00:00:32.000
13 014 GUTIERREZ, José Ivan 00:00:33.000
14 184 GRIVKO, Andriy UKR 00:00:33.000
15 073 ASTARLOZA, Mikel 00:00:33.000
16 112 CONTADOR, Alberto 00:00:35.000
17 195 KASHECHKIN, Andrey 00:00:35.000
18 041 EVANS, Cadel AUS 00:00:36.000
19 102 BONNET, William 00:00:36.000
20 141 CHAVANEL, Sylvain 00:00:36.000
This also seems to indicate that my pick for the overall winner in 2007 has a little work to do. Everyone's favorite American (at least the 'team leader' on the American Discovery Channel Team) is 40 seconds back. Oh, his name is Levi Leipheimer.
His only issue today was a puncture during the first half of the stage. After that he was able to rejoin the peloton and finish a few seconds back of the sprinters.
1 033 CANCELLARA, Fabian 00:00:00.000
2 196 KLÖDEN, Andréas 00:00:13.000
3 201 MILLAR, David GBR 00:00:21.000
4 114 HINCAPIE, George 00:00:23.000
5 149 WIGGINS, Bradley 00:00:23.000
6 113 GUSEV, Vladimir 00:00:25.000
7 015 KARPETS, Vladimir 00:00:26.000
8 101 HUSHOVD, Thor NOR 00:00:29.000
9 191 VINOKOUROV, Alexandre 00:00:30.000
10 054 DEKKER, Thomas NED 00:00:31.000
11 157 QUINZIATO, Manuel 00:00:32.000
12 169 VAUGRENARD, Benoît 00:00:32.000
13 014 GUTIERREZ, José Ivan 00:00:33.000
14 184 GRIVKO, Andriy UKR 00:00:33.000
15 073 ASTARLOZA, Mikel 00:00:33.000
16 112 CONTADOR, Alberto 00:00:35.000
17 195 KASHECHKIN, Andrey 00:00:35.000
18 041 EVANS, Cadel AUS 00:00:36.000
19 102 BONNET, William 00:00:36.000
20 141 CHAVANEL, Sylvain 00:00:36.000
This also seems to indicate that my pick for the overall winner in 2007 has a little work to do. Everyone's favorite American (at least the 'team leader' on the American Discovery Channel Team) is 40 seconds back. Oh, his name is Levi Leipheimer.
His only issue today was a puncture during the first half of the stage. After that he was able to rejoin the peloton and finish a few seconds back of the sprinters.
Stage One Results
The results of the first stage of the 2007 Tour de France are:
1. Robbie McEwen
2. Thor Hushovd
3. Tom Boonen
4. Sebastien Chavanel
5. Romain Feillu
6. Robert Forster
7. Marcus Burghardt
8. Oscar Freire
9. Francisco Ventoso
10. Thomas Vaitkus
1. Robbie McEwen
2. Thor Hushovd
3. Tom Boonen
4. Sebastien Chavanel
5. Romain Feillu
6. Robert Forster
7. Marcus Burghardt
8. Oscar Freire
9. Francisco Ventoso
10. Thomas Vaitkus
Back at the office -Tour de France
Well, I hope you enjoyed all those random bike pictures. I was unable to get a spot to watch the tour and blog about it, so I was going about the city taking photos of bikes in various stages of use.
Now I'm back at the office and here are some bits of info about the Tour de France and about today's stage one events - courtesy of Versus.com and other outlets.
(Info that appeared on the Versus Newsflashes today) -----------
One of the five British riders in the peloton is also the youngest in the 94th edition of the Tour de France. Geraint Thomas of the Barloworld team was born on 25 May 1986.
The average age of competitors in the 2007 Tour de France is 28.5 years.
The tallest rider is Marcel Sieberg (MRM) – 198cm.
The shortest rider is Alexandre Botcharov (C.A) – 164cm.
The average height is 179cm.
The heaviest riders are Robert Forster (GST) and Gert Steegmans (QSI) – 87kg
The lightest rider is Amets Txurruka (EUS) – 56kg.
The average weight is 70kg.
------------------------------------
News outlets are also still harping about doping and how tarnished the Tour de France has become. I only hope that none of the riders are caught this year. It might make it tremendously easy to get rooms all over France to follow TDF08, but I would hate the spectacle of it all.
**By the way, I plan to do the full Tour de France excursion in 2008 and will be blogging it from TDF08.com. That is unless someone purchases that domain name from me.
More info shortly.
Now I'm back at the office and here are some bits of info about the Tour de France and about today's stage one events - courtesy of Versus.com and other outlets.
(Info that appeared on the Versus Newsflashes today) -----------
One of the five British riders in the peloton is also the youngest in the 94th edition of the Tour de France. Geraint Thomas of the Barloworld team was born on 25 May 1986.
The average age of competitors in the 2007 Tour de France is 28.5 years.
The tallest rider is Marcel Sieberg (MRM) – 198cm.
The shortest rider is Alexandre Botcharov (C.A) – 164cm.
The average height is 179cm.
The heaviest riders are Robert Forster (GST) and Gert Steegmans (QSI) – 87kg
The lightest rider is Amets Txurruka (EUS) – 56kg.
The average weight is 70kg.
------------------------------------
News outlets are also still harping about doping and how tarnished the Tour de France has become. I only hope that none of the riders are caught this year. It might make it tremendously easy to get rooms all over France to follow TDF08, but I would hate the spectacle of it all.
**By the way, I plan to do the full Tour de France excursion in 2008 and will be blogging it from TDF08.com. That is unless someone purchases that domain name from me.
More info shortly.
07 July 2007
Versus Television Newsflashes/Dispatches
I promised to put this link up. It's the address of the Versus Television dispatches. Wonderful for keeping up with the results - up to the second - while at work.
Stuart O'Grady CRASH
I should warn you here, that when I'm in France (headed over there soon), I'll be trying to moblog to this site. That means that you might see SPOILERS here before you've had the chance to get home to your TIVO and watch the current-day's stage.
That said, I'll keep results talk to a minimum but I will likely make a big deal about in-stage events.
AND, regarding the subject line, Stuart O'Grady crashed before the halfway point of today's prologue time trial. He had to swap to another bike after slapping his right foot and pedal into the foam barrier.
He was tossed down quickly and ended his time trial with a time of 10:05 or 10:06.
That said, I'll keep results talk to a minimum but I will likely make a big deal about in-stage events.
AND, regarding the subject line, Stuart O'Grady crashed before the halfway point of today's prologue time trial. He had to swap to another bike after slapping his right foot and pedal into the foam barrier.
He was tossed down quickly and ended his time trial with a time of 10:05 or 10:06.
Time Trial Underway
The Prologue is underway and my choice/prediction for the overall Tour de France winner will departe at 12:58 EST US. Levi!!
Commentators on Versus TV are the same cast of pros we've seen every year.
Weather is perfect, just a touch of wind.
Best time so far is 9:26.
**If you're checking out the Google map of the Tour, visit the comments on that post. There's been an update.
Commentators on Versus TV are the same cast of pros we've seen every year.
Weather is perfect, just a touch of wind.
Best time so far is 9:26.
**If you're checking out the Google map of the Tour, visit the comments on that post. There's been an update.
A comment I posted
Here's a comment I just posted at a site asking all readers what can be done about the doping issue in the Tour de France and in cycling in general. Here's the link to the article.
This year I'm blogging about the tour at http://www.tdf07.com and I feel my greatest challenge will be learning new names and faces while the riders whirl past me.
Having watched the tour in 1998 in Ireland and in 2005 in Meribel and Courchevel, I have grown to love this sport.
But the only thing I see as a fix for the doping issue is a complete collapse and rebuild. Unfortunately, that will likely cause the sport to lose its American fan base (as many people over here are fickle and selfish) and that could affect the profitability of the sport.
All of which might send the sport and the Tour de France into a spiral again where people feel the need to dope to create magnificent performances.
C'est la vie.
This year I'm blogging about the tour at http://www.tdf07.com and I feel my greatest challenge will be learning new names and faces while the riders whirl past me.
Having watched the tour in 1998 in Ireland and in 2005 in Meribel and Courchevel, I have grown to love this sport.
But the only thing I see as a fix for the doping issue is a complete collapse and rebuild. Unfortunately, that will likely cause the sport to lose its American fan base (as many people over here are fickle and selfish) and that could affect the profitability of the sport.
All of which might send the sport and the Tour de France into a spiral again where people feel the need to dope to create magnificent performances.
C'est la vie.
It's Now Race Day
It's now past 12AM in London and the race is mere hours away. Actually, it's just a short time trial, and it doesn't go off until 3PM local time (10AM on the East Coast of the United States), but it's the day!
Updates to come. I'll also put a link here to OLN/Versus dispatches so you can see how racers are doing.
Updates to come. I'll also put a link here to OLN/Versus dispatches so you can see how racers are doing.
06 July 2007
Who's riding?
One of the readers of TDF07.com just sent me a note with a New York Times article attached. Here's an excerpt and a link to the full article. Essentially, this is a program for telling the riders apart and a great perspective on doping and who is poised to win the 2007 Tour de France.
A COUPLE PARAGRAPHS EXCERPTED FROM THE NY TIMES -------------
Without Key Riders, Tour de France Is Left Wide Open
By EDWARD WYATT
Published: July 6, 2007
For the second straight year, no rider is expected to dominate the Tour, in part because many of the cyclists who would have been expected to compete for the victory are not here.
The race is to be considered a wide-open affair, with any one of nearly a dozen riders viewed as a possible winner. If anyone is considered the favorite, it is Alexander Vinokourov, a 33-year old Kazakh who rides for Astana.
The top American in the field is Levi Leipheimer, who has finished in the top 10 three times with other teams but who this year will have a stronger support group around him in the Discovery Channel team.
Most of the riders know that whatever happens over the next three weeks of racing will be suspect, in some respects.
END OF EXCERPTED TEXT -----------
Here's the link to the entire article. A great read.
ONE DAY TO GO - London, tomorrow!!!
A COUPLE PARAGRAPHS EXCERPTED FROM THE NY TIMES -------------
Without Key Riders, Tour de France Is Left Wide Open
By EDWARD WYATT
Published: July 6, 2007
For the second straight year, no rider is expected to dominate the Tour, in part because many of the cyclists who would have been expected to compete for the victory are not here.
The race is to be considered a wide-open affair, with any one of nearly a dozen riders viewed as a possible winner. If anyone is considered the favorite, it is Alexander Vinokourov, a 33-year old Kazakh who rides for Astana.
The top American in the field is Levi Leipheimer, who has finished in the top 10 three times with other teams but who this year will have a stronger support group around him in the Discovery Channel team.
Most of the riders know that whatever happens over the next three weeks of racing will be suspect, in some respects.
END OF EXCERPTED TEXT -----------
Here's the link to the entire article. A great read.
ONE DAY TO GO - London, tomorrow!!!
Map of the route
Go to this site NOW. DO IT. There is a google-maps file that shows you every street and view of this year's Tour de France. Oh, my! It's great.
More coming soon. The 2007 Tour de France starts TOMORROW!!
More coming soon. The 2007 Tour de France starts TOMORROW!!
05 July 2007
Two Days to Go
In a conversation I had yesterday with my uncle Paul, I mentioned that for the first time in a long time the Tour de France would be a true athletic challenge.
When asked why, I responded that the Tour de France was now drug-free and only the pure athletes were participating. No more EPO or Testoterone or speed or steroids or coffee or any recognized drug.
But isn't that the real problem? We're only poised to take on the athletes using 'recognized' illegal substances. And in a magazine article recently (I think it was Wired or PopSci) the assertion was made that the UCI and other Tour de France and cycling legislative bodies can only look for substances they are aware of.
And with millions of dollars at stake, wouldn't it behoove the teams and even the riders to find an edge with brand-new designer drugs?
I'm not advocating cheating. But until something is listed as being a cheat, can't it be used to help an athlete win?
Switching from the Tour de France to American baseball for a second, look at Barry Bonds. For the bulk (literally) of his career, he was hopped up on steroids. But the types of steroids he was using weren't detectable and the records he compiled while on the juice should stay in the books.
It's pretty much what all burglars and thieves say (I'm guessing because I don't hang around with too many of them), "It's only illegal if you get caught."
Well, for years that's been how cycling has operated. With two days to go before the 2007 Tour de France, I hope things have changed.
Jeff Cutler
When asked why, I responded that the Tour de France was now drug-free and only the pure athletes were participating. No more EPO or Testoterone or speed or steroids or coffee or any recognized drug.
But isn't that the real problem? We're only poised to take on the athletes using 'recognized' illegal substances. And in a magazine article recently (I think it was Wired or PopSci) the assertion was made that the UCI and other Tour de France and cycling legislative bodies can only look for substances they are aware of.
And with millions of dollars at stake, wouldn't it behoove the teams and even the riders to find an edge with brand-new designer drugs?
I'm not advocating cheating. But until something is listed as being a cheat, can't it be used to help an athlete win?
Switching from the Tour de France to American baseball for a second, look at Barry Bonds. For the bulk (literally) of his career, he was hopped up on steroids. But the types of steroids he was using weren't detectable and the records he compiled while on the juice should stay in the books.
It's pretty much what all burglars and thieves say (I'm guessing because I don't hang around with too many of them), "It's only illegal if you get caught."
Well, for years that's been how cycling has operated. With two days to go before the 2007 Tour de France, I hope things have changed.
Jeff Cutler
02 July 2007
Plans for France
As you know, in addition to following the 21 teams around France for the 2007 Tour, I'll be enjoying myself in Europe and compiling stories for print and online publications.
Here's your Tour factoid of the day. Of the 21 teams entered in this year's Tour, only ONE is from the United States, six are from France, three are from Spain. And the wildcard teams this year are from Switzerland, the UK and France.
Here's the team list as reported on Steephill.tv
Belgium
Predictor - Lotto
Quick Step - Innergetic
Denmark
Team CSC
France
AG2R Prévoyance
Agritubel (wild card)
Bouygues Telecom
Cofidis, le Credit par telephone
Credit Agricole
Francaise des Jeux
Italy
Lampre - Fondital
Liguigas
Team Milram
Germany
Gerolsteiner
T-Mobile Team
Netherlands
Rabobank
Spain
Caisse d'Epargne
Euskaltel - Euskadi
Saunier Duval - Prodir
Switzerland
Astana (wild card)
United Kingdom
Barloworld (wild card)
United States of America
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
OH, yes. The touring plan for Europe on a personal level includes a visit to Belgium, a quick stop in London and a day trip to somwhere in France. Got any thoughts on where you'd like me to visit and report from? Send me an email.
Ride on! More to come...
Here's your Tour factoid of the day. Of the 21 teams entered in this year's Tour, only ONE is from the United States, six are from France, three are from Spain. And the wildcard teams this year are from Switzerland, the UK and France.
Here's the team list as reported on Steephill.tv
Belgium
Predictor - Lotto
Quick Step - Innergetic
Denmark
Team CSC
France
AG2R Prévoyance
Agritubel (wild card)
Bouygues Telecom
Cofidis, le Credit par telephone
Credit Agricole
Francaise des Jeux
Italy
Lampre - Fondital
Liguigas
Team Milram
Germany
Gerolsteiner
T-Mobile Team
Netherlands
Rabobank
Spain
Caisse d'Epargne
Euskaltel - Euskadi
Saunier Duval - Prodir
Switzerland
Astana (wild card)
United Kingdom
Barloworld (wild card)
United States of America
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
OH, yes. The touring plan for Europe on a personal level includes a visit to Belgium, a quick stop in London and a day trip to somwhere in France. Got any thoughts on where you'd like me to visit and report from? Send me an email.
Ride on! More to come...
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