Tour de France

Did you see all the yellow sheep that were 'lying down'? I was a bit concerned about that as I don't think I've ever seen a sheep lying down and wondered if the yellow dye had, well, made them die .

I really can't get excited about the Tour de France

It's not the same without Bradley Wiggins imo

Oh it was such a shame. But what a fabulous day for Yorkshire. The scenery, the weather was beautiful and the crowds.

My DH has been glued to the tour de france all day, only because it's in Yorkshire and he loves Harrogate. He has no idea otherwise, I had to explain the different jersies to him at the end of the stage. "King of the mountains" he exclaimed, "there aren't any mountains in Yorkshire".

I watched it in French TV - far less adverts! And they were doing exactly as they do in France and showing the most lovely shots from a helicopter - for all churches and large houses the name was shown and they gave good descriptions. A great pity about the crash at the end - when shown from above you could see that the man to the left of Mark Cavendish turned into him and caused the mayhem. Such a pity at the end of a great day and Yorkshire looking so wonderful.

Oh no!! (to nonu's OP. (haven't heard any news today). That's awful. We've still got another in it though haven't we?

Chris Froome He looks like a nice bloke.

I think Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish are a couple of grumps [MC even more so after today]. Neither with the charisma of Sir Brad.

Well - any port in a storm. We need someone to cheer on.

We have a very young rider - about 21 in the race too - Simon Yates.

Chris Froome had a face like the back end when they started off this morning riding from Leeds to the start at Harewood House - everyone else was laughing and chatting.

Simon Yates it is then. Come on Simon!!!

I find it really difficult to think of Chris Froome as British. He was born and lived in Kenya until his cycling took off and he moved to the south of France. He has never lived in the UK and had never visited it until the last year or so. To my mind he is Kenyan. I put him in the same category as Zola Budd (remember her?) Tony Gregg and various others who used/use the Union Jack as a flag of convenience. I really mind all these sports people who manage to qualify for the UK by dint of some distant relative being from here.

Tegan I agree with you about the grumps and I think Wiggo has been cheated of a place. After all he won the thing in 2012 and couldn't defend it in 2013 due to illness. So he is an undefeated champion!

At least nobody was putting tacks on the road [as they have in other places.]The scenery in North Yorks is lovely.Got any Wensleydale, Grommit?

My curiosity is aroused, why do people feel the need to make two posts on the same subject?

it seems , rather strange to me!

I love a mystery and love to get to the bottom of things , perhaps the people who post a second post could explain !!

The other one seems to be more to do with tourism. This one is about the race itself. Suppose the other poster didn't notice this one.

If one is being critical ., which one would NEVER be,.. . it boils down to being observant.

I take your point on board about the sheep , TEGAN but I am sure they would not do anything to harm them

Sheep often lie down, Tegan, to digest their food. Sometimes they don't bother standing up again for the next course, but just eat what is within reach from their comfortable lying-down position.

I don't think their owner would use a lethal dye on them. Sheep are too valuable to kill off for a short joke while the Tour is on. There are various coloured dyes which are mixed with sheepdip (done round about now to discourage fly strike and other nasties) so that the dipped ones don't get two dips while others miss out.

Shearing is done about now too, at least in the Scottish Borders it is. Before the sheepdip so that a) the fleece stays white ish and b) a shorter coat does not absorb and use up so much dip.

Been glued to the telly ALL DAY which is very unusual for me. My beloved Yorkshire looking wonderful in the sunshine and the huge amount of enthusiasm from everyone - even in places where the tour is going no where near. I am out tomorrow celebrating my mothers 101 birthday so will miss the 2nd day in Yorkshire.
It will be interesting to see if the Cambridge - London leg is greeted in the same way.
Such a pity about the crash at the end especially when Cavendish was hoping to win in his home town.

Phew; that's a relief [about the sheep, that is]. I must say I'm surrounded by sheep but have never seen one lying down; it was just so odd seeing ALL of them on their side; something Monty Python like about it, I thought.Now, had they been lying with their legs in the air I would have been really worried .

Yes! They put dye on the man sheep (ram?) 's underparts so they know when a ewe has been - you know.

I don't think I made that up.

You didn't.

They also mark the ewes later, after ultrasound scans, to show if they are carrying one lamb or two.

And then each animal has ear tags which show its pedigree, etc, etc.