Le Tour

[Neil Young]

Just watching live coverage and Contador has been mentioned as a contender. It's a good call - he won Paris-Nice.

Wow, it looks amazing. I wish I was there now but it was impossible.

[Neil Young]

Is there a stage today Neil ?

Yes, London to Canterbury. The roll-out has just started.

[Guest]

Yes, London to Canterbury. The roll-out has just started.

And tomorrow I guess they'll be back in France ? I haven't really been paying much attention to Le Tour this year to be honest as my favorite rider, the great Jan Ullrich isn't competing. I'd have to find one exceptional upcoming rider from that lot.

[Neil Young]

And tomorrow I guess they'll be back in France ? I haven't really been paying much attention to Le Tour this year to be honest as my favorite rider, the great Jan Ullrich isn't competing. I'd have to find one exceptional upcoming rider from that lot.

Yes, they start in France but go into and end up in Belgium.

As Gordon Brown would say, it really is a "Tour of all the Countries".

Ullrich was a great rider but you do know why he retired, don't you?

There are plenty of good up-and-coming riders - if you're looking for a rider who will contend the Tour then Dekker and the Schleck brothers (only one is on Le Tour, the other came second in the Giro) will probably come good but it's unlikely to be this year (I was a litlle disappointed with Schleck's performance yesterday).

You're better off just seeing who comes through in the Tour. Cavendish stands an outside chance in the sprints (his experience and lack of support from the team make it hard for him though).

[Neil Young]

Correction: they've just had the official start on Tower Bridge and the roll-out has started. The earlier ride was an "unofficial" ride through the streets of London to show off the peloton.

It really does look amazing. So lucky the weather has changed.

[FatTony]

Millar has made an early push. A little too soon, but then it is a very flat route.

[Helios Creed]

[Helios_Creedalert]I've just realised I actually held Cancellara's winning bike on Thursday. Nice bike. Extremely light.[/Helios_Creedalert]

(goes away to do some research..)

[Helios Creed]

I just got back from London. A fantastic day and Cancellara was brilliant.

CSC in yellow!

Ah, I understand now - thought you meant they'd changed their strip. Doh!

[Neil Young]

(goes away to do some research..)

It was off-camera, if that helps your research.

Talking of which we were standing at the corner where and when O'Grady fell off. Sadly we were the other side of the apex on the inside and so didn't actually see it. The speed those cars come round the corner following them it's amazing riders don't get run over all that often when they fall.

[Neil Young]

Millar has made an early push. A little too soon, but then it is a very flat route.

The gap's coming down already.

[FatTony]

The gap's coming down already.

5 mins ahead though of the peleton though.

I think Millar might have this.

[Neil Young]

5 mins ahead though of the peleton though.

I think Millar might have this.

I think it's highly improbable. CSC won't want Millar (or anyone else) to be in with a chance of taking the yellow jersey and the sprinters' teams will take up the chase in the last hour. Five minutes is nothing when you're being chased by a fresh peloton on a flattish stage over dry roads.

[Helios Creed]

It was off-camera, if that helps your research.

Talking of which we were standing at the corner where and when O'Grady fell off. Sadly we were the other side of the apex on the inside and so didn't actually see it. The speed those cars come round the corner following them it's amazing riders don't get run over all that often when they fall.

I was finding out who Cancellera was....

[Neil Young]

Good point made by David Harmon on the commentary: Millar will take the King of the Mountains jersey if he wins the "Cote de Goudhurst" (as it's called in the official TdF magazine). That does seem a more realistic objective for Millar than going for the stage.

[Helios Creed]

I think it's highly improbable. CSC won't want Millar (or anyone else) to be in with a chance of taking the yellow jersey and the sprinters' teams will take up the chase in the last hour. Five minutes is nothing when you're being chased by a fresh peloton on a flattish stage over dry roads.

It is amazing how quickly even an 8 minute lead can be made up when the peloton starts to speed up. Was watching the coverage while I made breakfast. Well, brunch really. You don't get completely what you would get at breakfast, but you get a good meal.