Tour de France 2012

Looks like we're going to be in the Pyrenees on the 18th July (alas sans velo) - Think the Col d'Aubisque will be the closest hill - any tips on watching, how long before are the roads closed etc?

You need to be up there a couple of hours before the riders are there. The caravan is maybe an hour in front of the riders and you need to be in place before that comes through. You can find estimated time of arrival at various cols for the peloton at various speeds in L'EQuipe and some cycling magazines.

Only a couple of hours on the mountains?

It depends which mountain and where in the day it is. Finish on Alpe d'Huez you need to be there much earlier. Col du Mon when they are going over the Tourmalet as well, I think we were there perhaps 3 hours before the first riders hit it. We rode to the top and then rode down to a nice spot and waited. I'm sure more sober people will give more accurate estimates.

Just in case any of you are doing the velogames fantasy TdF, I made a LFGSS mini-league. Don't know if this has already been done, haven't read most of this thread.
Here are the details:
name: LFGSS,
code: 25175933

http://www.lfgss.com/thread62152-4.html

what's wrong with the road.cc fantasy league??.. we've been doing that all season and all of last year..

uber gruber was saying that it crashed all the time and you were charged to join the "premium" league... I might give it a go anyway.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread62152-4.html

what's wrong with the road.cc fantasy league??.. we've been doing that all season and all of last year..

I've been getting fucked off with the amount of server issues and the fact that the 'premium' game has brought about a two tier system now where you need to pay to win any prizes. but whatever, I only play the purist league on there now anyway.

this is all stuff that most of you will probably know, but a nice little mini-site for procrastination sessions at work:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/interactive/2012/jun/27/tour-de-france-2012-interactive-guide

This Sunday Le Coq Sportif are hosting a brunch at LMNH before the tour (freebies).

They will also be looking for riders for a race event on the 14th July (more freebies).

(Sorry for the cross post.)

just want to say i am pretty excited about this. even in a year with the Olympics and the European Championship this is by far the best event on the sporting calendar. i intend to watch a lot of it.

a jens voigt stage win will mean more to me than wiggo winning GC.

anyone know of Race commentary I can get on my android phone.
Without flash support so it will need to be just an audio stream?

just want to say i am pretty excited about this. even in a year with the Olympics and the European Championship this is by far the best event on the sporting calendar. i intend to watch a lot of it.

a jens voigt stage win will mean more to me than wiggo winning GC.

Voigt = Oldest man at this years tour ( 40 ? ) - would be great to see him win a stage.

just want to say i am pretty excited about this. even in a year with the Olympics and the European Championship this is by far the best event on the sporting calendar. i intend to watch a lot of it.

a jens voigt stage win will mean more to me than wiggo winning GC.

A strong statement, but I know what you mean. Having said that, if it comes down to Sky chasing down a Jens breakaway on the penultimate stage to deliver yellow to Bradley... Have to think I'd be rooting for the mod.

Right, i'm at work and I want to follow the tour on the radio / live streaming of some sort, from my (android) phone.

What app / sports radio station is the best bet?
Everyone seems to be playing tennis... and the guardian text updates aren't really cutting it!

There's the ITV Player app. They're doing all the stages live if you exc. advert breaks.
All feeds will be available on CyclingFans.com as well I'd imagine.

come on wiggo!

Wiggo!

now that was impressive!

into the lead

what a second half. boom

6 secs down? Nice 2nd half.

will he stay there?

will he stay there?

i doubt it

^ second that! =/