Comments on: Summer Media: Vive le Tour!

By: Top Sports Star

Top Sports Star — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 05:04:59 +0000

Bicycle racing has been around for a long time – since the mid nineteenth century. However, it didn’t take the form it has today until around the beginning of the twentieth. Now, some of the first races that were established for cyclists are still among the most prestigious.

By: Christopher Cwynar

Christopher Cwynar — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:16:10 +0000

Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I agree with all of your observations, particularly your characterization of the coverage as the Travel Channel crossed with ESPN3. France has such variegated regions in terms of the landscape and flora and I always enjoy seeing it featured on the coverage. I also like your point about finding the vid where Armstrong debunks ‘the look’. It’s interesting to think about how far we are now from the late 90s when I recall having to set the VCR to catch whatever scraps of tour coverage TSN (Canadian ESPN) might show on the big race days. Now, there is more coverage than one could reasonably watch and there are so many historical highlights (racing and commentary) on YouTube. It’s a cycling fans paradise!

Have you any sense of the big stages of this year’s race? I admit that I am not certain as to the impact that the non-uphill finish mountain stages might have on the race. There are some huge climbs, but I fear that the descents to the finish might wipe out the advantages won on those passes. I would be interested to hear perspectives on the role that these days might play in the race.

By: Christopher Lucas

Christopher Lucas — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:09:13 +0000

I love this event, too. I’m a sucker for any of those endurance sports events anyway, but the Tour, to me, is pretty much the perfect background television experience. I can get other tasks done while I “watch” and the tone of the commentators keeps me updated on the drama (or non-drama) of the moment, and I know from the map and ongoing story when and where attacks are likely to happen. A lot of the coverage feels like the Travel Channel crossed with ESPN3, and you’re right that a great deal of the pleasure of the English language coverage comes from the familiar eccentricities of Liggett and Sherwin. I wait eagerly each year for the first time Sherwin shouts, “He’s in AGONY!” Following your links I found this clip in which Lance Armstrong debunks “The Look,” which is easily one of his most famous moments on a bike. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF3vHjnXCe8 Armstrong, of course, may not be most reliable narrator of his own legend – I think he was *really* enjoying undermining Liggett – but it’s interesting anyway. The clip also gives some insight into the tactics and strategies of the racers. Thanks for the fun article!