Tour de France

jess - it's only his father who is Australian. I think Wiggins was born in Belgium but came to UK as a baby and has lived here since. His mother is English.

He's definitely British!

I am fed up with losing my afternoon programmes to golf, motor racing, horse racing, cricket, athletics, football, snooker. The only sport I watch if the Tour,purely for the scenery. When I was living in Lot, just North of Cahors, they were passing through the next village and I was invited to join my landlords for their party. I can't say I could see much point in watching cyclists steam past, but in fact we had a great day. Families had brought picnics, lots of wine was flowing, and when the first lorries arrived there were people throwing sweets to the children. Celebrations continued well into the evening, with several bbqs on the go and everyone just wandering from one to the other and being offered food and drink.
I don't think anyone is a hero just for being good at their sport, but I have posted a separate thread on this subject.

Oh where did i get the idea he came from the north of england from ?
doh.
But I don't think the Australians will claim credit as their hero was Cadel who had a "bad" Tour, coming 7th.

The S.O. tells me that he is actually a heroic figure in France as well as here due to his sportsmanlike behaviour over the tack incident. He's been watching it all the time as he says the scenery and camerawork are superb. Eurostar has never been busier. Wish I was going tomorrow [I mean today]. We stayed just off the Champs Elysees last year [sigh]. C'mon Bradley!

Probably only the top half, Jingl!

Looking forward to Brad riding up the Champs Élysées tomorrow, and Mark and Chris! So much happening at the moment as well, cricket, golf, Grand Prix and the Olympics haven't even started!

Little bit of a shame that he's half Australian.

Watching the recording. Amazing!

That is so good! It seems a really good kick-off for the Olympics too. (I know it's nothing to do with the Olympics, but YKWIM )

As long as he gets out of bed and stays on bike - he's won!!!!!!!!!
Apparently the tradition is that nobody challenges the yellow jersey on the final day - its a kind of lap of honour

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved the head of cycling's mission:
For a clean British rider to win the Tour within 5 years. And they did it!!!

We have watched Le Tour since we first got Sky (about 20 years ago). Eurosport coverage is excellent and I love all the little titbits of information they give you about the places they are passing through. I have even got it on the TV as I type - I'm listening to all the interviews. I am so excited by the thought that we might have an English winner of the Tour - and Chris Froome in second place, too. It'll be great if Cav wins the stage tomorrow - three Englishmen to be proud of.

I thought Wiggins' conduct when the stage was sabotaged by the tack incident was excellent - true gentlemanly behaviour.

And a stage win for Cavendish! Reminding us that he is world champion.

Biggest man cuddle on TV ever between Cav and Wig.
Cav for Olympic Gold! Amazing that he and others are completing the Tour and will be competing in the Olympics 1 week after it ends!

Having a swig , watching wig . chuckle,

As a child I read two books by Antonia Ridge which feature people camping out to watch the Tour de France go through so it has always held some magic for me. I still love the books- Family Album and Cousin Jan.

Oh yes .

Scenery so much better than Wimbledon!

Hunt , if we don"t get a win now , will be amaaazed , first time for 99 years eh , what a result . love the French scenery as well , know you do too .

Nonu, I love it to bits too. Especially the gorgeous Mark Cavendish.''Dish'' is certainly the right word for him-those eyelashes! The scenery is so spectacular ,too. I think I have finally sussed the scoring system.

And Chris Froome is in second place. So looks like it will be a UK 1st and 2nd.
Everyone has admired Chris for the support he has given Bradley. It is a team effort to get someone through and this time Chris has put his individual success on the back burner to get Brad into the yellow jersey and keep him there. And still he is in second place. I think next year might be payback time. Amazing to see this kind of thing in sport - it is usually very individual.

I'm like you Mamie - I loathe sport - except for cycling, mainly because I was a serious cyclist for many years, as was my husband.

I watch bits of the Tour de France because I can empathise with the cyclists, and feel the agony as they struggle up the mountains. I just love the scenery: it can be spectacular.

As an Englishwoman and also an Australian citizen, I was rather hoping for Cadel Evans to do well, but I'm very pleased about Bradley Wiggins.

Go Bradley!
As you may know I loathe sport (anyone for a "not the Olympics" thread?), but I have to say I am very excited about Bradley Wiggins winning - it will really annoy the neighbours.

A friend in Bristol who is a practitioner,teacher and writer of Reflexology was a few years ago on a plane going to a conference in US..She was working on laptop on her preparation for lecture on Hand Reflexology.Young man sitting beside her became interested and asked her to demonstrate on his hand.He was amazed how quickly became relaxed and drowsy.

He was_ Bradley Wiggins!_ already an Olympic cyclist.
Isn't he doing well.I'm cheering him on all the way.

And Bradley Wiggins still leads!

JessM
I've also been enjoying Tour de France.The scenery and vistas are magnificent.
DS has always been keen cyclist -8 yrs ago he did LEJOG on his own over 2 wks and raised over £5,000 for Cancer UK. 3yrs ago he did L’Etape Du Tour (amateurs' day gruelling mountain stage of the Tour de France route)-He finished in first 20%.
He'll be 50 this year- cycling has kept him fit and when in deep depression he goes on a long cycle ride.