Good luck !

I can't see him winning the mountains jersey.........he's not going to be going for all the intermediate climbs along the route, he'll only go for the ones that are stage finishes. He's not going to be getting in breakaways and mopping up points......

It is clearly not a open race this year. Bookies have it as a 4-in-5 chance of a Froome or Contador win. Not going to dine out on either of those odds.

Lengthy Kimmage interview with Froome (with interjections from Michelle Cound) in two parts:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/othe...-30391816.html
http://www.independent.ie/sport/othe...-30394950.html

I've just looked at last year and Froome finished 2nd in the Mountains competition, so maybe I was a bit hasty........

perhaps you can win Polka Dot and Yellow.......

Didnt they get double points or something on the last climb at annecy that quintana won, and picked up KOTM. Rolland got a few points early on, but then blew up.

I think the KOTM is bound to go to one of the top riders this year.

They often win both. I dont think anyone could win yellow and green, although merckx did. ( i think merckx won all three) Not sure if he was the last.

the trouble with that bet is Froome wants the outright win NOT the king of the mountains
on stages where there are points with 4 mountains half the points come on the 2nd of the 4 mountains and no way will Froome or GC riders be busting a gut to scramble for those points

I just checked. I thought it was quite regular for riders to win GC and KOTM, but it looks only Hinault and Merckx. Perhaps a bit different if froome and contador chase one another all the way. We'll see over the next 3 weeks.

Yes the really top GC riders rarely contest the King of the mountains

the green jersey looks a certainty for Peter sagan he is an incredible bike rider (Barring a crash)

Yes, i thought that. He's 4/6 on betfair - seems a really good bet, if you are used to sticking big amounts on.

Must just add to this thread regarding the tour.. I live on the stage 1 route and today there have been thousands of cyclists in large groups doing the stages also with cars
the A59 York to Harrogate road was Chaos at one point with riders 6 deep and a 6 mile tail back with traffic that could not get past the large groups

There will be 10 French helicopters in the Uk following the tour 6 camera Heli's and 4 carting the VIP's around
in addition to that this afternoon a bunch of french Police (uniformed) have checked into a local Hotel so not sure what they are here for - possibly advise our Local force??

also this afternoon the organisers were showing the many yellow vested marshalls the various roundabouts and giving them instructions on what to do

cant wait now... bring it on

Just on this point of the GC riders and the KoM..........I hadn't taken into account the double points on mountain top finishes which are likely to be contested by the GC contenders

Given that........I'm quite surprised that so few Yellow Jersey winners have won the KoM

Although Quintana did win KoM last year and finished 2nd on GC so I guess he wasn't that far off winning both

Of the 'recent' winners I'd have Pantani as the most likely winner of both being a mountain goat but he only finished 2nd in the KoM the year he won Yellow

I guess my original point still holds.........that they don't contest the majority of climbs but get enough points on those stage finishes to be up on the leaderboard but not quite enough to win it

spot on

We now find out why Simon Yates got his unexpected Tour place - Darrel Impey has failed a dope test.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/28127539

Double points is new, i think. it makes a big difference if you cant win kotm by pinching allthe intermediates. Thats why i think froome will win both.

I dont think rodrigues is after this tour, and froome is better than contador, i hope.

Just had 8 fly overhead here in Huddersfield together wondering if they are for the tour as they were flying south to north.
Listening to Leeds Bradford airport comms I think they are.

Team presentation tonight, live on Eurosport and ITV4.........

I used to watch these ages ago but nothing really happens and I haven't bothered for years..........

At least tonight's affair should be in English. The problem I find is that France Télévisions never bring up the right captions at the right time. Some riders you're still left wondering as to who they are.

On-bike cameras will be permitted for four riders on each stage (though not broadcasting live): http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/us...ampaign=buffer

Tinkoff-Saxo have toned down the yellow in their kit. It looks in lime in some shots and pale yellow in others.

I would not want to ride skinny tires on that smooth stage surface especially in trainers on clipless pedals.

This is cringeworthy already. Jill Douglas botching up the very first team. Or was it the graphics? See what I mean.

Skipped over the first 7 minutes. I might skip over the next. This looks dire

Michael Matthews of Orica Greenedge is drop-dead gorgeous. I shall support him.

Last time that happened...............1970 (Merckx)

Double points is not new, it has been around for a while (at least for the last decade or so, probably even longer).

Rodriguez is doing the tour as preparation for the Vuelta (he is also coming back from some injuries sustained earlier in the year, so not on full strength).

I think the presentation in the end was not bad at all. Much better to have the interviews all in English rather than having to watch in French with English commentators just giving you rough translations.

Gendarmes are always with the Tour, no matter which country it's in.

Today the place has gone totally ballistic with traffic and Cyclists never seen so many bikes in my life and that includes the Amsterdam car parks
my Town (Otley) is on route and we have been swamped by thousands of Cyling groups doing the stages
yesterday I saw Garmin Sharp Team Saxo & Giant Shimano out training on our local roads

the hundreds of camp sites are now getting plenty of trade as well
popped upto Harewood house the official start - and the site is huge probably the size of a small town
bring it on now