Tour de France, 2024

Nellie, no, we won’t be staying for the Femmes race, unfortunately. It would use up far too much of our 90 day allowance.

We’ve always enjoyed watching the Tour, must be one of the best free events on the planet.

Here’s a photo of The Devil, Bastille Day, 2016, lower slopes of the Ventoux. Happy days. 🙂

It’s almost upon us for this year! starts tomorrow, in Florence. Three days in Italy, then mainly Western and Southern France based.

We have been following (on TV) most of the big cycle races since early Spring, all through Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Parts of Spain and France, and the whole of the Giro. Been some horrible crashes and terrible injuries that have left some of the TdeF favourite’s racing against time to get fit again. Some riders haven’t made it, others have succumbed to illness at the last moment, but there are some outstanding names this year all vying for glory in one way or another. My one hope is that Mark Cavendish can get that elusive last win he needs, and finish the race in one piece, but it’s a huge ask in so many ways. Looking forward to all the scenery, the daily stories, and an oh so different finish to what has become the last day parade then final dash up the Champs Elysees. Will it be a Greg LeMond moment😬🫣🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴

Didi the Devil has his own interesting story!

I will be watching it although will record then skip through the adverts.

It is coming through the LOT on 11th July will see what happens and where we can go to watch it.

A couple of very interesting days at the start of the race, with the two main protagonists already battling it out for the Yellow Jersey.

Yes excellent racing, hard as well in that heat. So pleased for first two stage winners, sort of book ended careers. Cav seems to be ok, doubt he will go for todays sprint finish. Italy has put on a fabulous Grand Depart, and the scenery has changed dramatically since the Giro, not as much lush Green now as temps hot up.

What a fascinating ride today through the vineyards of Italy, enjoyed the climb yesterday up  Bologna way too. Cav looks a bit irritable about something as is his want often. Hope he settles in. 
Incidentally we were staying on an English Vineyard in the motorhome at the weekend, tiny in comparison to these Italian ones and not quite as warm I guess.

What a phenomenal finish from Biniam Girmay today and how moved and humble in his post ride interview. Well done that man!👍

Micky, please don’t give the finish results away, as some of us watch on catch up, much later in the evening😁👍 

But yes, a fabulous result yesterday, so pleased for BG, he’s paving a way hopefully for more black African riders. All three results so far have been very interesting, there’s so much going on already in this years race. Galibier day today😱😁

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Spotted Didi today on the Galibier🤩 Another fabulous day of racing, you watch them descending with your heart in your mouth😬🫣