Figured I'd post a thread about one of the most memorable events every year, at least for cycling enthusiasts.

Stages:

The stages
Stage Type Date Start and Finish Distance Details
P Prologue Saturday 3 July Rotterdam > Rotterdam 8.9 km
1 Plain Sunday 4 July Rotterdam > Bruxelles 223.5 km
2 Hilly Monday 5 July Bruxelles > Spa 201 km
3 Plain Tuesday 6 July Wanze > Arenberg Porte du Hainaut 213 km
4 Plain Wednesday 7 July Cambrai > Reims 153.5 km
5 Plain Thursday 8 July Épernay > Montargis 187.5 km
6 Plain Friday 9 July Montargis > Gueugnon 227.5 km
7 Medium mountains Saturday 10 July Tournus > Station des Rousses 165.5 km
8 High Mountains Sunday 11 July Station des Rousses > Morzine-Avoriaz 189 km
R Rest Day Monday 12 July Morzine-Avoriaz
9 High Mountains Tuesday 13 July Morzine-Avoriaz > Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne 204.5 km
10 Medium mountains Wednesday 14 July Chambéry > Gap 179 km
11 Plain Thursday 15 July Sisteron > Bourg-lès-Valence 184.5 km
12 Hilly Friday 16 July Bourg-de-Péage > Mende 210.5 km
13 Plain Saturday 17 July Rodez > Revel 196 km
14 High Mountains Sunday 18 July Revel > Ax 3 Domaines 184.5 km
15 High Mountains Monday 19 July Pamiers > Bagnères-de-Luchon 187.5 km
16 High Mountains Tuesday 20 July Bagnères-de-Luchon > Pau 199.5 km
R Rest Day Wednesday 21 July Pau
17 High Mountains Thursday 22 July Pau > Col du Tourmalet 174 km
18 Plain Friday 23 July Salies-de-Béarn > Bordeaux 198 km
19 Individual time-trial Saturday 24 July Bordeaux > Pauillac 52 km
20 Plain Sunday 25 July Longjumeau > Paris Champs-Élysées 102.5 km

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Should be quite the interesting Tour this year. I was a bit disappointed when I saw the mountains to be climbed (no Alpe D'Huez, no Ventoux, no Galibier). Though double Tourmalet will be interesting too!

I'm rooting for my national talent atm, Robert Gesink. Hoping he'll end up around #15. As for who is going to win it, I'd say Contador is the definite favorite for the yellow jersey. There are a few interesting outsiders though, with Menchov, Basso, Evans (who actually attacked this year!), the Schleck brothers (I hope they recuperate after the crash today) or maybe the boss will go out with a bang and win it all!

And Cancellara is really the king of time trial. I mean, 9km in 10 minutes, wtf? I expect him to win the second one this year too, even though it's 52km long.

Also, big props to Adam Hansen, finishing yesterday's course with a broken collarbone.

Who do you root for, and who do you think will be today's victor? Who will end up in Paris at the top of the points/climbing/overall standings?

first

are you sure you want to do this?

im hoping lance armstrong can pull it out one more time.

It would be quite the achievement, winning it at 38 years old. I also like the Livestrong foundation, which he set up.

But the best cyclist ever has always been Eddy Merckx for me

Ah leuk topic!

Ik vind het eerlijk gezegd vrij dodelijk om zo'n wielerdag van begin tot eind te kijken maar die eindsprint iig is altijd spectaculair. Ik vraag me altijd af hoe goed ik het nou zou doen

Goed om wat meer variatie in de topics hier te hebben naast voetbal en basketball!

I don't think Cancellara will win the second TT. It favors a rider like Lance in his prime, who can recover like a madman. Lance or Contador could win that TT, but I don't know how Lance will do by then. We'll see. That's also assuming that Contador doesn't crash out on the cobbles tomorrow, which is possible.

Cancellara has a chance today. The cobblestones will surely remind him of his victory of Paris-Roubaix. I'm feeling for those who are already injured by last day's major crash, being shaken around whilst already injured must be a pain.

I love cycling!!! I have a very nice Cannondale with durace! Its a great sport. whish it were more popular in the US

Excellent stage today - too bad about Lance's flat, but at least Contador broke a spoke and fell back a little bit. Contador is the last one who needs a lead on anyone before the mountains even start. Even though he lost time, Lance showed some strength today. I hope he can stick with Andy and Contador in the mountains.