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Stage 1: Brest - Plumelec... LIVE!

Copy_of_pineapple_face_tiny by Chris... on in Live Races

Le Tour Stage 1



Tour-generic-live-1_medium
Great start to the 95th Tour de France today: a rolling road stage through Brittany that will make for some interesting racing, and an utterly unpredictable finish. Check out the last two kilometers:

Profilkmsvignette_1__medium

Who does this favor? The sprinters might have trouble getting to the line, though I wouldn't put it past Oscar Freire or Erik Zabel. There are opportunistic fastmen out there like Filippo Pozzato, George Hincapie, Marcus Burghardt, Philippe Gilbert, and so on. I'll stick with Freire, but with the yellow jersey going automatically to the stage winner, there will be no lack of interest throughout the peloton. Don't forget: 3.30am Pacific start at the Versus website, 5.30 on broadcast. Enjoy!

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No pure sprinters will survive the final kilometres

says Rolf Sörensen on danish TV, who rode the final 40 km’s yesterday. Some pretty steep ramps of 8-9% that will take care of the McEwan’s and Cavendish’es of this world. He says it’s made for Valverde if he wants to contest it.

People usually overrate these final hills so I’ll stick with Freire too, he’s a beast and Rabo desperately want some none chickenrelated news.

by Jens on Jul 5, 2008 5:47 AM EDT   0 recs

got

a link for live feed?

by blamire on Jul 5, 2008 6:22 AM EDT   0 recs

http://www.versus.com/tdf/

click on the Versus Stage 1 small box on the top right of the video window

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 6:33 AM EDT   0 recs

at the moment, just video and ambient noise

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 6:34 AM EDT   0 recs

...they're litterally just streaming the stage live for now?

Any luck in figuring out who’s in that small break?

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 6:36 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Good Morning gang! :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 6:34 AM EDT   0 recs

And now someone has started chatting and telling us who's who.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 6:38 AM EDT   0 recs

The break has a 35 sec gap for now.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 6:38 AM EDT   0 recs

http://www.letour.fr/2008/TDF/LIVE/us/100/index.html

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 6:38 AM EDT   0 recs

click on "all in the gaps" in the live gap window

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 6:40 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Morning all!

(I can’t believe I’m up this early on a Saturday!)

by Megabeth on Jul 5, 2008 6:38 AM EDT   0 recs

At least you're out on the East coast.

I feel for those on the west… It’s almost like classics devotion if they sign on soon.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 6:39 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

early on the east coast? nah....

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 6:40 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

very true

Mark isn’t appreciating my commentary. “So, there are eight of them. A blue guy, an orange guy, another blue guy…”

by Megabeth on Jul 5, 2008 6:41 AM EDT   0 recs

I'll type the list if no one else is. Give me minute...

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 6:42 AM EDT   0 recs

break

perez (euskadi), arieta (ag2r), lequatre (agributel), tschopp (bouygues telecom), schroder (milram), jegou (fdj), de la fuente (sdv), auge (cofidis)

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 6:43 AM EDT   0 recs

Morning all

Great feed from Versus so far

by PopUp Rolen on Jul 5, 2008 6:44 AM EDT   0 recs

1.20 gap

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 6:44 AM EDT   0 recs

i think it's the feed for australia....

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 6:44 AM EDT   0 recs

Break -

Perez – Euskatel
Arrieta – AG2R
Lequatre – Agritubel
Tschopp – Bouygues
Schroder – Milram
Jegou – FDJ
De La Fuente – SDV
Auge – Cofidis

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 6:44 AM EDT   0 recs

ah, look how neat she keyed in....

as i just bothered with small caps and abreaviations

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 6:46 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ESPN has an article on Will and Danny from slippies.

Here’s the linky.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 6:49 AM EDT   0 recs

Hello all

Is that Nathan O’Neil announcing on VS?

by roadside on Jul 5, 2008 6:59 AM EDT   0 recs

morning roadside!

Looks like we are in for a rainy day…perfect staying inside and watching Tour weather.

by Megabeth on Jul 5, 2008 7:00 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Indeed

Megabeth, did you read the Johan book yet?

by roadside on Jul 5, 2008 7:02 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

good golly

My computer (and perhaps me) is too tired to reply correctly…my response appears below. (Sorry about that!)

by Megabeth on Jul 5, 2008 7:07 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

got nothing

on versus. do you have to be in america?

by blamire on Jul 5, 2008 7:01 AM EDT   0 recs

what country are you in?

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 7:11 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

britain.

and the website i usually use says live feed will start in 2 hours time :(

by blamire on Jul 5, 2008 7:24 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If you've got Sky

ITV4 are said to be running all the feed they have if you press the red button on your remote

by Monty. on Jul 5, 2008 7:26 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ta

ill go have a shot

by blamire on Jul 5, 2008 7:27 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

did you go to eurosport?

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 7:30 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

according to www.eurosport.com schedule....

they should be streaming live video now
go further down the page on the right hand see for the eurosport/eurosport 2 player

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 7:32 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

sorry,let's try this again

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 7:33 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm halfway through it.

Not sure what I think of it yet. He’s a little too “look how great I am” but then I like his descriptions of what it’s like in the team car.

by Megabeth on Jul 5, 2008 7:05 AM EDT   0 recs

Goodmorning everyone!

Anyone else wondering why they’re up so early after a night of celebrating?

by dwilson on Jul 5, 2008 7:10 AM EDT   0 recs

Thanks...

same to you. :-)

by dwilson on Jul 5, 2008 7:17 AM EDT   0 recs

nice gap of 8.04 for the 8-man break

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 5, 2008 7:21 AM EDT   0 recs

Morning everyone!

Jeez I thought they’d let the “random french guy” have the polka dots for a few days but De La Fuente is probably going for it from day one.

by Jens on Jul 5, 2008 7:21 AM EDT   0 recs

Ahhhh... my coffee has been ground and brewed

and now I am much happier… :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 7:23 AM EDT   0 recs

Live video and audio

at http://www.cyclingfans.com/

for when Versus stops showing.

by Toyota on Jul 5, 2008 7:23 AM EDT   0 recs

The finish

I can see some GC contenders losing some time today with the climb to the end… like the Giro stage 2, people don’t foresee time gaps, but there’s a definite possibility today for some small gaps.

by BDBrian on Jul 5, 2008 7:23 AM EDT   0 recs

Morning All

Brittany is looking very orange this morning

by Monty. on Jul 5, 2008 7:25 AM EDT   0 recs

KOM sprint.

So fun to have racing back!

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 7:37 AM EDT   0 recs

KOM

Voeckler first
Schroder 2nd.
missed who was 3rd.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 7:42 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

hey wolverine

holy smoke…..it’s early!! soooo is that the eurosport feed online?

by steph- on Jul 5, 2008 7:44 AM EDT   0 recs

Morning guys and gals

You all are excited – like kids on Christmas morning. You’d think it was the first Saturday in July or something….........

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 7:45 AM EDT   0 recs

Still got a snowpack up there Hons?

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 7:48 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

By summit you mean downtown, right? ;-)

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 7:51 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

More or less

It was great that they were able to get the snow plows through before the Jazz fest started

by Hons on Jul 5, 2008 7:53 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Good Mornin' :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 7:49 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

morning

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 7:51 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I see you corrected your signature.

Sounded pretty funny reading you were all about bubblegum.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 7:55 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Great line from a great movie

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 7:59 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

You... you look like your face fell in the cheese dip back in 1957

Great movie indeed…. formaldehyde-face!

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 8:08 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

There you go - well played

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 8:17 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Morning all

CdE, Rabo, Credit Agri on the front.

I guess that means that Valverde, Friere and Thor think they have chance today?

by Hons on Jul 5, 2008 7:45 AM EDT   0 recs

Will VV want to take the jersey this early

and put his team to work?

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 7:48 AM EDT   0 recs

He implied yesterday

that he might. I shook my head sadly.

by Hons on Jul 5, 2008 7:50 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If he does

and his team actually defends it, he won’t win the Tour. There isn’t a flat stage from now til the first rest day (July 15th). Every stage between now and then is either very bumpy, climby, or a TT.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 7:53 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Works for me

well…fulfills my predictions at least.

by Hons on Jul 5, 2008 7:54 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

The uphill punch towards the end

should keep this exiciting all the way to the line.
If Tony is feeling good he could have a go at it. Maybe someone messed with Jens! food and got him going this morning though… tee hee

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 7:54 AM EDT   0 recs

If I were betting

I’d put my money on Oscarito. I wouldn’t put it past Ricco either since he’s got no design on the overall. It’s be just like him to take yellow and then give it up on stage 4’s TT.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 7:56 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Just don't see

Valverde going for this stage win.

by steph- on Jul 5, 2008 7:57 AM EDT   0 recs

Me neither really, but strange things happen in the heat of the chase

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 8:00 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Here it is

I new I saw it somewhere:

“Having seen the parcours of this stage, it is one which would suit me perfectly,” he stated. “It is the first day of the Tour and everyone will be motivated to show their form, to try to win. The roads will be twisting and it will be necessary to avoid risks. It is certain that I and the whole team would love a stage victory.

“To take the yellow jersey in the first day would be fabulous, even if taking it would also bring responsibilities. We will see how things go.”

by Hons on Jul 5, 2008 8:00 AM EDT   0 recs

Oh

that’s Valverde at the team press conference

by Hons on Jul 5, 2008 8:00 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't believe

it for a second. HIs eye is on yellow not a stage win.

by steph- on Jul 5, 2008 8:04 AM EDT   0 recs

Sure, but

with great power comes great responsibility. His team will be under some pressure to hold it for at least a little while. The first TT should be veeeeeeeeeeeery interesting from a favorites point of view.

What they all really need is for little Tommy Voeckler to win today. He’ll kill himself (and his team) to keep it as long as possible.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 8:07 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

And who's in the break? Little Tommy!

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 5, 2008 8:08 AM EDT   0 recs

eurosport commentators

are talking about hwo unfair it is that Astana isn’t at the tour while Rabo and Cofidis are.

Team Gunners

by callmecayce on Jul 5, 2008 8:08 AM EDT   0 recs

Hopefully

the media gets over that soon. I’m not saying it’s not fair, but that horse is demised and well flogged…and there is a race going on.

by Hons on Jul 5, 2008 8:12 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

well

It’s not fair that they keep talking about. I mean, I’m glad Astana aren’t there.

Team Gunners

by callmecayce on Jul 5, 2008 8:13 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

they need to give

that debate a rest!

by steph- on Jul 5, 2008 8:11 AM EDT   0 recs

although

Now that I think about it, they’re probably talking about things that the casual fan who only watches the Tour don’t know about …

Team Gunners

by callmecayce on Jul 5, 2008 8:13 AM EDT   0 recs

True

so, i’ll forgive them today. But if we are hearing about how contador would have won by the time we are in th e alps…..oooooh, i don’t even know what i would do

by Hons on Jul 5, 2008 8:17 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree!!

Ugh…..just don’t want to hear that debate. It;s doneand over/

by steph- on Jul 5, 2008 8:18 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ha

It’s cycling, the debates will never be finished.

Team Gunners

by callmecayce on Jul 5, 2008 8:19 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Just wait

until Johan shows up in the Versus commentary booth in the third week. I think we might hear about Astana again.

by Katiek on Jul 5, 2008 8:28 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If they want to catch everyone else up, okay. Most won't know a lot of what we've followed.

I am just tired of some saying how this tour will have asterics because they aren’t there.
That kind of thing is irritating me.
The faster guy wins and that’s that.
We can’t do anything about who isn’t there anymore and it’s all about reaching Paris and even those there this morning won’t make it.
Every year has riders that aren’t in the line up. Anyway, off my box. :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 8:17 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah

But it’s a big deal because it’s the former winner …

Team Gunners

by callmecayce on Jul 5, 2008 8:19 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't want to take anything away from that

but I’m just tired of so many assuming that he would be the winner. There’s a lot of great riders in that field.
He’s amazingly talented and I enjoy watching him race but this mess is just done for me.
We’re live and enroute… ;-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 5, 2008 8:22 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

well

I’m not a Contador fan and I don’t miss him.

Team Gunners

by callmecayce on Jul 5, 2008 8:23 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

oh, and my bad

They were actually responding to listener emails on the topic. People were asking why Contador, et al, weren’t there.

Team Gunners

by callmecayce on Jul 5, 2008 8:20 AM EDT   0 recs

or the argument

that somehow this tour will be boring or not valid,,,,drives me nuts.

by steph- on Jul 5, 2008 8:20 AM EDT   0 recs

people

actually say that it will be boring?

Team Gunners

by callmecayce on Jul 5, 2008 8:22 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs