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The Tour d'France - Part II

I know it's been almost a week since my last post, but I've been playing lots of golf, riding my bike and of course watching the Tour d'France, so there just hasn't been a lot of time. Plus, as many of you who have your own blogs are no doubt aware of, it's tough maintaining the motivation to keep a blog going. Even for those who make a living blogging, it's tough, but when you have a real life, a committment to maintaining a blog, can get in the way of things.

Anywaze, after my last post, some of you might think the Tour isn't worth watching. Well, I am still disappointed that Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso were kicked out of the race, but the race does seem to be shaping up into becoming an exciting tour. The sprint finishes have been truly breath taking, as they usually are, with Robbie McEwen (Australia) currently in the Green Jersey (the sprint points leader), and Tom Boonen (Belgium) in the Yellow Jersey (the race leader).

But that will all change tomorrow, that is the race leader will change. Tomorrow's stage is a 52km (31 mile) individual time trial, and anyone who has designs of winning the tour is going to have to give it everything they have to try and win it, while remembering there are still 13 stages and another 2300+ km to go to finish.

The first week was all about the sprinters, but the second week is all about who can really win it. With the time trial tomorrow, followed by several stages in the Pyrenees, and then the Alpes, the second week will definitely seperate the wannabees from the real contenders.

So if you haven't been watching it, don't worry. While you have missed some good stages and some great sprint finishes, the real racing starts tomorrow, and the Yellow Jersey is still up for grabs with no less than 6 riders (2 Americans) having a real shot at winning the Yellow Jersey.

You can watch it live on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN - channel 608 for Direct TV subscribers) starting at 8:30 AM EDST, and repeated throughout the day. But if you don't have Direct TV, or your cable provider doesn't give you OLN, you can still stay abreast of the action via the official Tour d'France website, and the OLN website.
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Comments

Becky said…
I'm glad to hear you are enjoying it. I thought after your last post you wouldn't be interested in it at all.

So, how was your golf game in the heat?
10:00 AM
Marc said…
Not too bad. Shot an 88 which is pretty good. Would have shot better. Could have, should have, and would have shot better if only ............

Unfortunately that is golf. It is by far the most humbling of sports. Even the pros screw up every now and then. The difference between the pro and the amateur, is the pro can recover better.
10:04 AM
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