Tour de France : Mon Jul 07, 2014 2:38 pm  

Must admit I deserted the lads yesterday as I've been to three different locations this weekend to watch the
Grand Depart.

It was brilliant I thought.

Just want to congratualte ITV on their coverage too. Thank heavens they missed off Keighley!

[Bulliac]

Re: Tour de France : Mon Jul 07, 2014 2:47 pm  

I only saw a bit on the news but it looked good. It's certainly put cycling on the map. Wouldn't miss my rugby for it though...not even this god awful season!!

[Pumpetypump]

Re: Tour de France : Mon Jul 07, 2014 3:20 pm  

I dislike it when people take some form of perverse pleasure at pointing out they 'hate' the world cup, Wimbledon etc so I won't be doing that.

However I am genuinely bewildered by the fuss associated with the Tour de France. It feels like I'm in a strange dream where one day the whole of Yorkshire decides it adores Oak trees. Every item on Calendar and Look North is about Acorns, and thousands flock to the woods, patting their bark.

As I say, I'm not in any way against the Grand Depart or cycling. I just don't get it at all.

[Bullseye]

Re: Tour de France : Mon Jul 07, 2014 3:58 pm  

It was a great excuse for a party. Something a bit different and more spectacular than normal. I went to see it both days and it was a great atmosphere. Something I've missed at Odsal this season!

Everyone (barring North Street in Keighley) seemed to get in on the act and many places looked absolutely superb, particularly Silsden, Haworth, Otley and Knaresborough.

Re: Tour de France : Mon Jul 07, 2014 4:12 pm  

Day one was pretty but yesterday had some cracking racing. It felt like an early season one day classic in Belgium and I wouldn't be too surprised if that course makes a return at some point.

Eurosport and ITV had one synchronised ad break that I noticed and that was as the peloton passed through Keighley. Smart choices from everyone involved there.

Strava tells me the closest I get is four times as slow up Oxenhope Moor as the mid-level pros who are allowed to upload their rides.

Re: Tour de France : Mon Jul 07, 2014 4:27 pm  

It was just amazing. A fantastic atmosphere and worth it alone for the pleasure of being able to lie in the middle of the A629!
I am missing the tour today.

Re: Tour de France : Mon Jul 07, 2014 6:17 pm  

Yeah I decided to sample the Tour yesterday and it was a great atmosphere. Streets were packed and people were having parties in nearly every garden. Must be honest I barely gave the rugby a thought all afternoon. Sounds like it was an improved effort yesterday but we're only playing for pride now.

Re: Tour de France : Mon Jul 07, 2014 9:18 pm  

Pumpetypump wrote:

I dislike it when people take some form of perverse pleasure at pointing out they 'hate' the world cup, Wimbledon etc so I won't be doing that.

However I am genuinely bewildered by the fuss associated with the Tour de France. It feels like I'm in a strange dream where one day the whole of Yorkshire decides it adores Oak trees. Every item on Calendar and Look North is about Acorns, and thousands flock to the woods, patting their bark.

As I say, I'm not in any way against the Grand Depart or cycling. I just don't get it at all.

Just another dose of opiate for the masses, albeit a massive dose on this occasion just like the 2012 Olympics and the 2013 RLWC (sarcasm alert!) was. Sport and TV having replaced the role of religion a very long time ago.

The millions who turned up for the event over the weekend (including me) didn't really care whether we injected it, snorted it or smoked it.

Sad but true.

Re: Tour de France : Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:18 am  

I thought it was a fantastic spectacle, we, along with many many others parked at Causeway Foot and walked to Oxenhope Moor, the organisers laid the foundations and the people of Yorkshire made the day, it made me feel so proud. Well done to everybody who contributed.

As it said on the tee shirt, au revoir, missing you already

Re: Tour de France : Tue Jul 08, 2014 10:09 am  

rizzy bull wrote:

Just another dose of opiate for the masses, albeit a massive dose on this occasion just like the 2012 Olympics and the 2013 RLWC (sarcasm alert!) was. Sport and TV having replaced the role of religion a very long time ago.

The millions who turned up for the event over the weekend (including me) didn't really care whether we injected it, snorted it or smoked it.

Sad but true.

What's sad about it? Really boring paedophiles or brilliantly exciting sporting events. If the dominant ideologue's want to divert me from the true nature of my proletarian servitude then the least they could do is put something on the telly worth watching