Le Tour 2016

[Baz]

That time of year again folks......enjoy!

Tour de France 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and route for Stage 1

The first stage of the 2016 Tour de France gets underway in just a few hours. The most prestigious race in cycling is set for its 103rd iteration, scheduled to run from Saturday, July 2 through Sunday, July 24. The race is starting from the French department of Manche for the first time in its history, and will have a stage finish in Andorra.

On Saturday, the first stage, a flat-oriented stage covering the start from Mont Saint-Michel through to the finish in Utah Beach, Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. The stage runs 188 kilometers (117 miles) and will get underway on Saturday bright and early in the United States, at 6 a.m. ET. Television coverage of the stage will be broadcast on NBCSN, beginning at 6 a.m. with coverage running through noon.

A live stream of the stage and all stages throughout the course of the race will be available via NBC Sports. Those who don't get NBCSN can order a subscription to NBC Sports Gold for $30, which includes ad-free streaming of each stage.

The first stage is expected to be largely uneventful, though it's a windy route and could be deceptively treacherous. Getting the peloton through the first bit of windy coast and into the next is the top priority on the day, as noted in Podium Cafe's preview of the opening stage. Strong breezes should come in from the ocean and that could have an effect on anybody in the field, particularly sprinters looking for an early advantage. But feature-wise, the stage is rather barren and straight-forward.





Tour de France coverage for Stage 1 on Saturday

Time: 6 a.m. ET - 12 p.m. (approx)

Route: 188 km from Mont Saint-Michel to Utah Beach, Sainte-Marie-du-Mont

TV: NBCSN (6 a.m.)

[Baz]

I always try to watch the expanded night version and will do so tonight.....

[stevej37]

I also will be watching...one of the best events of the sporting year. These guys are animals...I don't know how they do it at the pace that they maintain...incredible!

[Baz]

That was a crazy finish yesterday...the Manx Missile does it again!



Really surprised Kittel couldn't maintain his lead....

[nostatic]

My wife has become enamored with Peter Sagan, so we're DVR'ing the full races and she watches them all.

at Tour of California earlier this year

[look 171]

Todd, please tell your wife that I HATE Sagan. I can't stand him, typical sprinter (I know he's more then that), boyish attitude. He lost more respect when he pinched the podium girl's ass. I know, with a nice ass that close to me, I want to pinch it too.

So, who's the favorite this year?

[Baz]

Cool photo, Todd.

Sagan is awesome....(no matter what 'anyone else' says! )

I would think CF is the favourite, this year although I'm sure NQ, AC, TeJay, and RP will be in the conversation....

[Baz]

Wow....exciting finish! Feel bad for the Belgium rider.....I really thought he'd get it but didn't happen.

[snbush67]

Sagan in yellow and green. My favorite, he is the rock star of cycling.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by look 171

Todd, please tell your wife that I HATE Sagan. I can't stand him, typical sprinter (I know he's more then that), boyish attitude. He lost more respect when he pinched the podium girl's ass. I know, with a nice ass that close to me, I want to pinch it too.

So, who's the favorite this year?

He's matured a lot in the last few years, and does a ton with kids cycling in his home country. He seems like a genuinely nice guy - and his interviews are hilarious.

He also blasted the peloton for dangerous riding and stupid crashes. He's becoming one of the more "mature" guys out there.

As for overall, hard to go against Froome - Sky is a machine and they leave very little to chance, though this may be Quintana's year.

[herr_oberst]

Phil Liggett is a car guy! He interrupted himself to talk about some deux chavaux' on the side of the road!

[Scott Douglas]

It was that close today....

[Baz]

^^^ Yes he is, Herr Oberst....he's quite the historian as well and along with Paul Sherwin a real pleasure to listen to!

I decided to watch this morning instead of waiting for the expanded edition. What a finish! I was thinking all along that the Manx Missile would be a contender on this stage.....and he did not disappoint!

Those spectators drive me crazy with their disregard for the rider's safety by encroaching into their pathway.....some of them are completely and utterly clueless!

AC's had some bad luck but it's early yet and we still have the mountains coming up.

I agree that Sagan is one of the good guys in cycling...very entertaining as well as a fierce competitor! I actually bought some green Oakleys to pay homage to the guy....lol...

[Baz]

What a fantastic finish once again in today's Stage 4!

Congrats to MK....so happy to see him back after such an awful 2015.

Today's post race interviews were fantastic....a lot of variety and detailed questions with many different cyclists. So happy to have this coverage to enjoy!

How about the "young Texan" Lawson Craddock? Very composed on set and so far very composed in the race.

Third day for Sagan and the yellow jersey....keeps things interesting.

All in all a great day for cycling......

[jyl]

Stage 5 will be interesting. A succession of stiff climbs, 3 X 5-6 km at 8-11% will be selective, with screaming descents between them. I don't see Sagan, Kristhoff, or other climby sprinters/fast puncheurs making it. I think it'll be the GC types and the Ardennes types. Alaphillipe, Martin, Nibali, Costa, some of the climby domestiques, etc. If Sky and Movi work, they can probably put Contador to the sword, or make him crash again. I'd love to see EBH get a stage here but not sure he can keep bossing it for repeated fast hard climbs.

[Baz]

EBH...yes.....one of my perennial favourites.

Good call on today's stage.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Belgium riders get 1 and 2!

The production of this year's event is nothing short of outstanding.....

[KNS]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Phil Liggett is a car guy! He interrupted himself to talk about some deux chavaux' on the side of the road!

He was commenting on VW Kombis the other day as well.

Several years ago my wife and I were in Paris and got to see the final stage around the Champs Elysees. The night before we were in the lobby of our hotel and watched Liggett, Sherwen, Roll, Andreu, Bruyneel and the whole TV crew check into the hotel (saw 'em at breakfast the next morning as well).

[Baz]

Cool story, Kurt!

Did you hear his comment after yesterday's stage finish?

“The Manx Missile just scored another direct hit”, Phil Liggett 7/7/2016


OK I didn't get to watch today's stage 7 due to work responsibilities and I notice it will not be re-broadcasted later today so here is the end results....



A more complete report HERE

Going to be some great stages this weekend......can't wait!

[Baz]

Sorry...and here's the current GC....

[Scott Douglas]

Glad I watched it this morning, didn't know there wasn't going to be Prime Time coverage tonight.

What's with that banner coming down at the end of the race?