[Other Sport] Tour de France 2020

Fignon's Ponytail · Aug 27, 2020

So, how did everyone first "find" the Tour de France?

1987 - I was a 12 year old going on holiday to Provence, and we were driving around the "Peripherique" on the outskirts of Paris when I saw a huge group of cyclists, cars, motorbikes etc, passing under the flyover we were going over. I had no idea what it was, but my dad told me all about it as we drove along. Intrigued, I bought a French cycling magazine en route, became obsessed with the race, and the following year watched on Ch4 as Delgado won the title. Been fanatical about the sport ever since!

Stat Brother · Aug 27, 2020

Fignon's Ponytail said:
So, how did everyone first "find" the Tour de France?

1987 - I was a 12 year old going on holiday to Provence, and we were driving around the "Peripherique" on the outskirts of Paris when I saw a huge group of cyclists, cars, motorbikes etc, passing under the flyover we were going over. I had no idea what it was, but my dad told me all about it as we drove along. Intrigued, I bought a French cycling magazine en route, became obsessed with the race, and the following year watched on Ch4 as Delgado won the title. Been fanatical about the sport ever since!

Whenever Pippa York was in his pomp.

Weststander · Aug 27, 2020

Fignon's Ponytail said:
So, how did everyone first "find" the Tour de France?

1987 - I was a 12 year old going on holiday to Provence, and we were driving around the "Peripherique" on the outskirts of Paris when I saw a huge group of cyclists, cars, motorbikes etc, passing under the flyover we were going over. I had no idea what it was, but my dad told me all about it as we drove along. Intrigued, I bought a French cycling magazine en route, became obsessed with the race, and the following year watched on Ch4 as Delgado won the title. Been fanatical about the sport ever since!

Brief memories of the end of the Eddie Merckx era on ITV Saturday afternoons in the 70’s.

Loving all sport, having a passing knowledge of the early 80’s main players.

Then C4 from the mid80’s - Hinault’s finale, Lemond, Fignon, Roche, Kelly, Delgado, Bernard, Herrera etc. I can even remember some of the mountain stage finishes eg Roche in 1987. The Giro too.

C4, and then Boardman’s 1992 olympic success, imho starting the cycling renaissance in Britain.

Hamilton · Aug 27, 2020

Bold Seagull said:
Do you think this was discussed in an emergency cobra meeting equivalent and the French health minister said “what if a Frenchman wins Le Tour and millions pour out onto the streets to celebrate??” there was a deathly pause as everyone looked at each then much hilarity ensued at the absurdity of the idea!!

Sacré bleu!

Bold Seagull · Aug 27, 2020

Fignon's Ponytail said:
Found this just now Blue - worth a watch. I know Bold put up a post explaining it all, but always good to watch something too

PS - Ignore the plug for GCN Racepass at the end...watch it on Eurosport or ITV4 daily.

"I know Bold put up one his ham-fisted long winded attempts at explaining it all, but why not watch something actually useful instead." :lolol:

Hamilton · Aug 27, 2020

Fignon's Ponytail said:
So, how did everyone first "find" the Tour de France?

1987 - I was a 12 year old going on holiday to Provence, and we were driving around the "Peripherique" on the outskirts of Paris when I saw a huge group of cyclists, cars, motorbikes etc, passing under the flyover we were going over. I had no idea what it was, but my dad told me all about it as we drove along. Intrigued, I bought a French cycling magazine en route, became obsessed with the race, and the following year watched on Ch4 as Delgado won the title. Been fanatical about the sport ever since!

Only eight years ago, when I took up cycling.

[MENTION=19321]Pogue Mahone[/MENTION] asked me if I'd like to try a sportive in France. It was all flat he said. I agreed.

It was called Paris Roubaix.

I knew nothing about cycling but fell in love with the sport, the tactics, the teamwork, the mastery, the courage, everything. From then I was hooked on TdF and all the others.

Of course, I'd watched Bradley win but I was still in the 'why doesn't he just peddle faster' group of casual watchers. Once you know how the sport works, it's just fascinating. I just regret wasting decades before I got into it.

Bold Seagull · Aug 27, 2020

Weststander said:
Brief memories of the end of the Eddie Merckx era on ITV Saturday afternoons in the 70’s.

Loving all sport, having a passing knowledge of the early 80’s main players.

Then C4 from the mid80’s - Hinault’s finale, Lemond, Fignon, Roche, Kelly, Delgado, Bernard, Herrera etc. I can even remember some of the mountain stage finishes eg Roche in 1987. The Giro too.

C4, and then Boardman’s 1992 olympic success, imho starting the cycling renaissance in Britain.

Followed by the TdF hitting the UK in 1994 and a fine 4th place finish by Boardman in Brighton.

Stat Brother · Aug 27, 2020

When Le Tour was Chosen Specialised Subject on Mastermind (proper - not Mastermind for dummies) I got 8 questions correct, with obviously no studying.

So I think we can safely say I know more about LeTour than any of you mugs on here. :lolol:

Spacegull · Aug 27, 2020

Fun fact - the absolutely sublime C4 TdF theme was written and performed by Pete Shelley, Buzzcocks supremo.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pogue Mahone · Aug 27, 2020

Hamilton said:
Only eight years ago, when I took up cycling.

[MENTION=19321]Pogue Mahone[/MENTION] asked me if I'd like to try a sportive in France. It was all flat he said. I agreed.

It was called Paris Roubaix..

Never have I felt more hated than when we went through Arenburg.

Fignon's Ponytail said:
So, how did everyone first "find" the Tour de France?

I was a Cycle Courier for 'On Yer Bike Despatch' in London in 1984, and had never heard of the Tour de France. It was something of an obsession with many of my colleagues, and I was introduced to the intricacies of the sport through them. It was almost like a secret club.

My interest grew, and I have watched all the Tours since, on TV and in person, and cycled many of the iconic cols in France.

Stat Brother · Aug 27, 2020

Bold Seagull said:
Followed by the TdF hitting the UK in 1994 and a fine 4th place finish by Boardman in Brighton.

Rather annoyingly Boardman lost the yellow jumper the day before they arrived in England.
Then Ditchling's finest, Sean Yates, won it back the day after they left.

This was obviously back in the days when a Brit in yellow was phenomenal.

Fignon's Ponytail · Aug 27, 2020

Bold Seagull said:
Followed by the TdF hitting the UK in 1994 and a fine 4th place finish by Boardman in Brighton.

Wish I could go round town that fast!

First time I think I've watched that since '94. I was up at Old Boat Corner watching them come down off the Beacon...great day. My mate was on Elm Grove & said his abiding memory was watching Lemond get dropped by the peloton up there. At least Im not the only one to struggle on that hill! :lolol:

.....Did Boardman think he had won?

Jesus Gul · Aug 27, 2020

Bold Seagull said:
Followed by the TdF hitting the UK in 1994 and a fine 4th place finish by Boardman in Brighton.

Remember watching this in a bar in the Pyrenees. Drunkenly telling the patrons that it went past my house (well it was close enough)

Weststander · Aug 27, 2020

Bold Seagull said:
Followed by the TdF hitting the UK in 1994 and a fine 4th place finish by Boardman in Brighton.

The juxtaposition of Warren Road versus Col du Galibier.

Hamilton · Aug 27, 2020

Fignon's Ponytail said:
Wish I could go round town that fast!

First time I think I've watched that since '94. I was up at Old Boat Corner watching them come down off the Beacon...great day. My mate was on Elm Grove & said his abiding memory was watching Lemond get dropped by the peloton up there. At least Im not the only one to struggle on that hill!

.....Did Boardman think he had won?

I shall remember Lemond next time I am riding up there.

Motogull · Aug 27, 2020

The average mph for a 150 mile stage is about 27mph. Fit as fukk them fellas.

BNthree · Aug 27, 2020

Got into it from the Ch4 show. Remember turning it on and it was near the summit of a big mountain stage and seeing all the crowds along the road going mental. The sheer passion and bonkers-ness of the spectators made me think there must be something to it so started watching it a lot. Been over to France to watch stages from the roadside a few times now and always watch stages live on Eurosport if I can.

Weststander · Aug 27, 2020

BNthree said:
Got into it from the Ch4 show. Remember turning it on and it was near the summit of a big mountain stage and seeing all the crowds along the road going mental. The sheer passion and bonkers-ness of the spectators made me think there must be something to it so started watching it a lot. Been over to France to watch stages from the roadside a few times now and always watch stages live on Eurosport if I can.

The helicopter shots of 100,000’s of fans on an Alpine finish of countless hairpins, against a backdrop of huge mountains and glaciers, are a thing of beauty.

portlock seagull · Aug 27, 2020

Motogull said:
The average mph for a 150 mile stage is about 27mph. Fit as fukk them fellas.

Er, you might want to reassess that statement!!!

portlock seagull · Aug 27, 2020

BNthree said:
Got into it from the Ch4 show. Remember turning it on and it was near the summit of a big mountain stage and seeing all the crowds along the road going mental. The sheer passion and bonkers-ness of the spectators made me think there must be something to it so started watching it a lot. Been over to France to watch stages from the roadside a few times now and always watch stages live on Eurosport if I can.

Me too, late 80s. I never missed any of it. Fell in love only to become utterly disillusioned with in 2000 following nothing but drug scandals. I’ve never followed it since and still feel a bitter sense of betrayal.

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[Other Sport] Tour de France 2020

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