END OF AN ERA - TOUR END

our de France isn't just a sporting event; it's arguably the premier annual spectacle in the world, and that's no exaggeration. Its truly monumental global reach is underscored by a reported cumulative television audience of 3.5 billion viewers annually*. This places the Tour as one of the planet's most-watched sporting events, frequently ranked second only to the FIFA World Cup. Each year, the race is broadcast in approximately 190 countries by around 121 different television channels, collectively delivering over 4,700 hours of TV coverage. 

2307.02 IT'S JULY SO IT MUST BE...

It's my favourite time of year. The weather is warmer (although we still get plenty of rain), the days are long and I get to enjoy the greatest bike race in the world. July is a wonderful time of year.

2207.18 BYE BYE BORIS

The Prime Minister has finally quit after years of lies and basically taking the piss out of the British people. But I have to talk about night's out, birthday celebrations, bike racing and of course, the weather!

1907.26 RIDING TO FIND MY CYCLING MOJO

I've been a cyclist for many years, in fact I'd say I was cycling before it became popular (but I have no figures to back that up). Last year I rode out on an extremely hot day - it was a stupid thing to do, I almost collapsed on my way home. I had never felt so bad. I made it home but I didn't get back on the bike for almost a year.

1812.25 THE CAPTAIN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

I like to take this opportunity to look back on my year at this time. As usual I'm publishing this post at the same time the Queen gives her address to the commonwealth. In reality I'm probably eating my dinner at this point, if you're catching up later I'll probably drinking beer.

1807.28 TOUR DE FRANCE

In a summer that's been obsessed by the football World Cup I finally get my little oasis of pleasure with the best sporting spectacle of the year - The Tour de France, the world's biggest bike race.

1712.25 THE CAPTAIN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

At the time I publish this (and if you're in the UK) you're probably sat down to your Christmas Dinner (I'm northern, dinner is at lunchtime - subject for another time) or sat in front of the TV watching the Queen give her address to the commonwealth. There's a chance you've decided to read this in which case I'm honoured, if you're catching up later on then that's fine too. Ok it's time for me to take the time to reflect on the year behind me.

1707.23 TDF ROUNDUP WEEK THREE

The final week came and so did the Alps. With Chris Froome in Yellow and Adam Yates in the young rider's White it was all to play for. It was a still a long road to Paris.

1707.14 TDF ROUNDUP WEEK TWO

Everyone who knows me knows that knows that July I spend watching the cycling on telly. It's Tour de France time of course, the 2nd of the grand tours and arguably the most famous. We're 2/3 through and almost at the Champs-Elysees.

1707.07 TDF ROUNDUP WEEK ONE

Everyone who knows me knows that knows that July I spend watching the cycling on telly. It's Tour de France time of course, the 2nd of the grand tours and arguably the most famous. 

1612.25 THE CAPTAIN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Well that's another year almost over, another year closer to the grave. So Christmas comes around once again and as always I find myself reflecting on the year behind me.

1607.26 TOUR WEEK 3 and ROUND UP

Week 3 saw Mark Cavendish pull out to concentrate on his preparation for the Rio Olympics and Chris Froome further his lead and guarantee his hold on the Yellow Jersey. Quintana never got his challenge off the ground and some said that the Tour lacked drama. Although the challenges rarely came, the professionalism of Team Sky and the way they kept control was amazing.

Peter Segan wiped the floor in the points (Green Jersey) competition, ever the showman he certainly entertained.

So the Tour came to Paris and Froome took (or rather kept since he had it since his stage 8 victory) the Yellow Jersey for a third time. Surely a knighthood is deserved.

My free time is free again. I can't believe another Tour is over. Roll on La Vuelta!

1607.16 TOUR WEEK 2

Week 2 had an explosive start with Chris Froome amazing everyone with a stage win on Saturday and controversy over his 'punch' when an over enthusiastic fan got too close. 

We went into the first rest day on Monday with 3 of the 4 jerseys on the backs of British riders (Froome-yellow, Yates-white, Cav-green).

The week saw Mark Cavendish lose the green to Peter Segan but the yellow and white were retained by Froome and Yates.... but not without drama.

Nairo Quintana failed to ignite the expected battle with Froome and Alberto Contador abandoned the race.

The biggest drama happened on the iconic mountain finish of Mont Vento on Thursday. A crash within the last 2km involving a camera motorcycle left Froome without a bike.

Photo: CyclingNews.com

He was forced to leave his broken bike (run over by another motorcycle) behind and run up the mountain in a finish to a stage that had already been shortened because of high winds.

Photo: CyclingNews.com

By the time Froome got a replacement bike it had cost him more than a minute against his rivals for the overall in the Tour de France, the race officials later reversed the time gaps due to the crowd-induced chaos, keeping the Team Sky rider in the maillot jaune.

Chris Froome cemented his lead in Friday's time trial and goes into the final week looking strong with a 1 minute 47 second lead.

But as much as the Tour de France gives me pleasure it is tainted with sadness with the terrorist attack on families celebrating Bastille Day in Nice. My thoughts are with those affected by this. This year is unfortunately going to be remembered for the hatred of a few against the innocent. We must continue despite these attacks on our way of life. Ride on my friends... 

1607.09 TOUR WEEK 1

Well there's been one name that stands out for this first week of the Tour de France - Mark Cavendish. He's had a great week winning 3 stages, getting to wear the maillot jaune (yellow jersey) for the first time and ending in the Green. His wins have put him ahead of Bernard Hinault (The Badger) and second only to the great Eddy Merckx for individual stage victories. 

Cav in Yellow

Froome and Quintana are sitting in 6th and 7th places respectively and are in perfect position to go head to head in the following weeks. Contador is nursing some injuries following multiple crashes early on. Nibali is not having a great tour and is possibly still not recovered from his success at the Giro but I still wouldn't write him off just yet.

1607.01 ALMOST LE TOUR

After all the doom and gloom of the last week I'm glad that it's finally July which means Le Tour de France, 3 weeks of the best road cycling set against some of the most beautiful scenery. This year promises to be a threeway battle between Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana. Following some very grand departs in Yorkshire (which I was there for) and various other locations, this year is a more domestic affair starting in Mont-Saint-Michel and finishing at Utah Beach Sainte-Marie-du-Mont.

The next three weeks promises to be exciting, anything can happen and invariably does.