The Tour de France started today in England

NBC Sports, or NBC-SN, twenty one stages in all, they'll be in France
on Tuesday.

NBC is also offering a premium web stream of each leg; commercial free/HD. $30 for the entire race, or $5 for each leg.

I am watching it for the scenery, but I am also a bicycle rider. They rode through a cute little town, Ripon, that I now want to visit. Harrogate also looked interesting, although it is much larger. Tomorrow's ride for them begins in York, ends in Sheffield. Should be some more interesting towns and scenery. Some of the interesting-looking places on the route tomorrow include Addingham, Knaresborough, Huddersfield, and Holmfirth (Last Of The Summer Wine country).
http://letour.yorkshire.com/stage-2/map
As Dave said, then Stage 3, Cambridge to London on Monday.

From the tfl website, note that many streets and bridges in London will be closed Monday (of course):
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tour-de-france/travel-disruption-and-advice
Tower, Southwark, and Westminster bridges will be closed much of the day. The Mall will be closed from 16:00 Sunday 6 July and will reopen at 23:59 on Monday 7 July.

Take note, those of you who will be visiting London and trying to get around on that day. The final two paragraphs on this page describe the route they will take in London: https://www.tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tour-de-france-2014

"The route then reaches Greater London, where the world's greatest cyclists will ride close to Woodford Green, Chingford, Walthamstow and Snaresbrook before approaching central London via Leyton, Stratford, West Ham, Plaistow, Silvertown, Leamouth, Poplar, Wapping and Shadwell.

Once past the Tower of London, the final kilometres of the route will take them along the Thames, towards Lower and Upper Thames Streets and Victoria Embankment, before riding past the Houses of Parliament, around St James's Park and finishing, with Buckingham Palace as a backdrop, on The Mall in St James's Park between 15:30 and 16:00*."

There is a box to click for "Watching the action", for anyone wanting to stake out a spot as a spectator.

Huddersfield!! That reminds me ...

In Huddersfield, in Huddersfield there was a cow that wouldn't yield.
The reason why she wouldn't yield? She didn't like her udders feeled.

I don't generally tune in to the Tour till they reach Paris. So, I'm confused: why is it starting in England? Does it always?

Le Tour started last year on the Island of Corsica, and in 2007 in London. 2010 in Rotterdam, 2012 in Liege. Just mixes it up a bit and I think the idea is to attract new fans to cycling. By watching when it gets to Paris, you're missing twenty out of twenty one days, but it's a start ;-))

Michael, at this time of year the TDF competes with RS for DVR space!

And Rebecca, watching it and making note of places to visit is known as travel obsession, not a bad way to go...

Interesting. I had no idea. They should call it the Tour d'Angleterre et France. :)

Don't push it ;-)) Just watch the stage tomorrow, should be great with lots of climbs. In particular, watch the last ten minutes or so to really see some team strategy play out, with each team protecting the sprinter or their best positioned teammate until just the right moment. Poor Mark Cavendish crashed hard today just before the finish in Harrogate, which is where he grew up. He was hoping to have the maillot jaune presented to him by Princess Kate and the rest of the young Royals, but it was not to be.

emma, I see William and Kate are taking in Wimbledon today; I trust they came through Holmfirth on the way from their duties at the TDF yesterday? All the big events they get to, it's amazing! ;-))

Spoiler alert!!!

Mark Cavendish.

:,-(

That man is A Freak of Nature! Unfortunately, Nature won yesterday. Still can't believe he's OUT of the TdF! It just won't be the same.

Besides the gorgeous scenery - both natural and man-made - I have a strong affection for the little vignettes on the side of the road - giant bicycles formed with hay bales, jerseys made with flowers, etc. So creative!

Well....theres some great write ups online.
Interesting that the PM was at the start as he had backed the Edinburgh bid for the start!
2.5million is the police estimate of the turnout with about 60'000 on the Holme Moss climb..Sids cafe would have been busy.
The Guardian"pic of the day" is worth a google,as is the Yorkshire Post front page.
Great weekend in the white rose county.

My interest in the World Cup just went down to almost nill... finally, the return of a sport where intentionally flopping to the ground would likely cause a serious injury and ruin your chances of success, rather than possibly giving you a competitive advantage.

Britain may not have anything like the Alps or Pyrenees, but man, some of those inclines today looked tough!

Sad to see Cavendish out of the competition. He's one of the most thrilling cyclists of our time, and he's always a good interview subject. Also, looks like Alberto Contrador can still cause a panic when he starts to accelerate uphill.

The hills are as nothing against whats to come,but rather than gentle alpine switchbacks our roads often head straight up the slope,a couple of roads in Sheff.have handrails for the pedestrians to "brake" with.
There was a great cut away to the race leader on the Midhope climb,blowing hard and shaking head at the route.
The big alpine passes climb at about 11%, so a stiff 33% on that last hill must have seemed a cruel twist.

The flopping in the World Cup is a disgrace. A player "writhing in pain" trying to get a sympathetic call is not what sports should be about. Another great feature of cycling is that for the most part, it's a free event to watch, and it gets you out as an equal to the person next to you, no organized seating except maybe at the velodrome.
Honorable Mention for yesterday goes to Jens Voigt, at forty two he's the oldest rider in the race, he held off the young bucks until kilometer number sixty. A bit more magnanimous than Cav in the interview, too ;-))
This is Jens' last Tour de France.

Heart goes out to Cavendish, won't be the same without him.
A pal told me about the scenery, so I had to see for myself. Absolutely breathtaking!
Great for the UK economy!!

I'm a huge Tour fan and love the race and racers as much as the amazing scenery. It was heart breaking to see Cavendish and Garrins crash. Agree it wont be the same without Cav. He's so fun to watch.

And Yes...Yay for Jens Voigt!!

Yes, it is sad to see Cav out of the tour.......but in his own words, it was his fault. Nice to hear someone take responsibility for his own actions......

The tour has always been like Christmas in July for me. I wake up early, drink my coffee and am usually late into work these three weeks. In 2009 I had just quit my job and was watching the tour each morning. I couldn't stand it anymore once the tour was over and had to visit France. Booked an airline ticket the next day and bought the only open seat on the RS Villages and Vineyards of eastern France. Loved every minute of it and plan to go back next year.

My wife and I love watching the Tour de France because it usually comes just before we leave for Europe. So much of the coverage includes the scenery and micro-explanations of the sights. Today we saw York and Yorkshire which brought back last year's trip. There was even a 30-second mention of Yorkminster. In 2011, we were lucky enough to be in Paris on the last day and finally saw it in person. This year, we're leaving for our trip two days after it ends.

It's a little like going through old photo albums.

Aside from the Rick Steves shows, the Tour de France is our favorite taste of Europe.

One guy who's probably not sad to Mark Cavendish out of the race... Marcel Kittel!

Supposedly even in France over half the audience is more interested in the scenery rather than the race.

Okay, I am hooked on the Tour De France. Thrilling, watching them climbing the hills in Yorkshire, peddling 60 mph down the hills, hoping no one crashes, watching the sprinters' moves play out at the end of the course.

Some wonderful views yesterday of York Minster, and, as someone else mentioned, a great short profile of York Minster, its history, and interior shots. Later, there are some overhead shots of Rievaulx Abbey.

Today's coverage opened with beautiful overhead views of Cambridge. More cute villages to see next time: Saffron Walden, Finchefield, Chelmsford, and Epping. Epping Forest is a preserved forest, and park, but I want to visit there, also. Somewhere around there is a preserved hunting lodge that was used by Elizabeth I. The views of London were spectacular! And kudos to them for doing a 30-second profile and history of Westminster Abbey!

Yes, Dave, you are right! Researching new places to visit in England is my travel obsession!

Jens Voight is The Man! And what about Chris Horner, a few weeks younger than Jens, picked up by a new team and still going strong? Too bad Bradley Wiggins and David Millar weren't selected by their respective teams so they could ride in the U.K. stages, or the rest of this year's race.

The Yorkshire crowds were phenomenal, and pretty well-behaved, giving the racers room to ride. Hope those that got too close didn't get hurt and didn't hurt any riders. The field of yellow sheep were funny -- guess that's where the fabric for the original race leader's yellow jerseys came from? The roads were in fantastic shape, too -- wish we had the same quality of paving over here!

@Theresa-just to throw in a bit more of an international focus, yesterday's Stage 2 winner, who caught everyone else off-guard right at the finish, was Vincenzo Nibali, an Italian riding for a Kazakh team, in England, during a French race, on an American bicycle. Vive Le Tour!

Supposedly even in France over half the audience is more interested in the scenery rather than the race.
Now that's interesting, and a little funny, too.
Yes, the commentary is fantastic, with Liggett and Sherwen being British, and very familiar with France, they really have some nuggets of helpful info on sights.
Phil Liggett described Marcel Kittel as an 'exceptional human specimen', or something like that. Kittel won four stages last year, very impressive.
Nibali just won the Italian championship last week, too.

Is there any way to watch the first two legs online now( without paying the $5 streaming fee)? I missed them and would love to see that countryside. Did watch the London part today.

Sasha, unfortunately I don't think so. As you probably know you can sign up for live streaming, but it does not say anything that I can see about viewing previous stages. Do you know any cyclists up there who may have DVR'd it?
http://tourdefrance.nbcsports.com/

They may well have enjoyed an easier day today, yesterday came with 10,000ft of climbing.

@Tom- I apreciate your comments about intentional flopping - and it's also nice to return to a sport where arbitrary extra time (or mileage) isn't just tacked on at the end :-)

As you probably know you can sign up for live streaming, but it does
not say anything that I can see about viewing previous stages.

It does and you can view the previous legs if you signup and pay.

and it's also nice to return to a sport where arbitrary extra time (or
mileage) isn't just tacked on at the end :-)

Don't be ridiculous there are all kinds of gentleman's agreements going on in cycling, and lots of cooperation between the different teams and individuals racers.....it's often not an all out race, best man wins.

Michael, I don't see that option-I hope it is an option, I would love that myself but here is what it says. Am I missing something? It seems like purchase would need to be made before the first stage to view all stages.

Single Day Access
Choose this option to view live streaming of coverage for same day** access.
**Purchases made after 12pm CST will receive access to the next day's coverage.

All Access
Choose this option to view live streaming of coverage from purchase date to the final day of Tour de France, July 27, 2014.

With the All Access pass you can view any of the previous legs on demand, I have it and have done it. $30 is a bargain for uninterrupted commercial-free HD coverage. Here's what it says on my screen:

http://gyazo.com/2f48174903b11a01216826fa631bd78f

Nice! Thanks very much, they don't make that clear initially. Sasha, are you listening?
Dave

Ha! Strategies, luck, and "gentleman's agreements" still don't move the finish line (or photo-finish camera) down the road beyond its original, pre-determined location.

And, everything that contributes to making the first-place finisher the Best Man, the best man always wins.

Yes Imammlistening but there is only onenstagemImwant to see, Stage Two. Someone kindly suggested waysnImcould view innonna UK website must most of the content is restricted ( not available in the US). I will look into getting just the one stage for $5 if that is possible. Thanks.

Maybe after the day's racing, videos show up on YouTube?

I subscribe online to BBC History Magazine, and just opened the latest edition. It contains an article that some of you may enjoy, "Yorkshire's Top 10 Historical Sites As County Prepares For Tour de France"

http://www.historyextra.com/feature/united-kingdom/yorkshire%E2%80%99s-top-10-historical-sites-county-prepares-tour-de-france-2014

Tomorrow's stage will be an exciting one as they ride over nine secteurs of pave , the real-deal cobblestones made famous in the annual Paris-Roubaix race, departing from Ypres, passing through Roubaix, and finishing at Arenberg-Porte du Hainaut. You can get an idea of what it's like to ride a race bike on the cobbles here:
http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2014/us/stage-5.html

Today's stage starts in Ypres, Belgium, home of the In Flanders Field Museum. Our itinerary this year takes us there four weeks from now! We'll be on four wheels.

I love watching the Cobblestone Classics. They usually throw a monkey wrench into the best-laid plans, and cause the field of riders to drastically spread out, in a way that you usually don't see in the pure sprint races.

So sorry to see Chris Froome out.

. . . and Andy Schleck. Things may be looking up for Contador, if he can stay away from any more "bad meat."

Today's stage is an instant classic. Although he isn't my favorite GC guy, it was very sad to see Froome forced to abandon. Nibali looks like the real deal, and it's nice to have two Americans in the top 20 within striking distance once we hit the mountains/time trial. GO TALANSKY and TEJAY!

Tough to see Chris Froome limp to the car and get in, now out of the race. Hope he isn't badly hurt. The announcers said, near the end of the race, that there had been so many crashes they had quit counting them. The rain was really bad news, as if the cobblestones weren't tough enough.

Today it's a 222 km stage from Tallard to Nimes, finishing right next to the Roman Arena there, with some great aerial shots. A bit of rain made for dark skies and mixed with the afternoon sun for some outstanding colors of Provence. The last ten km or so is worth watching.

In the lead for over 120 miles and get passed in the last 10 yards!

Yeah that really hurt, PLUS they gave the "most aggressive rider" award for the day to the other guy he was with all day who had been dropped by the Garmin rider. Ouch.

Anyone else besides me finding this year's iteration... well, a little less exciting than usual? Andy Schleck, Alberto Contradour, Chris Froome, and Mark Cavendish all dropped out of the race. Bradley Wiggins, Tom Boonen, and Thor Hushovd didn't even join the competition this year. Fabian Cancellera and Frank Schleck haven't pushed the envelope nearly as much as they usually do. And no disrespect to Vincenzo Nibali, who it looks to have this thing in the bag, but his performance has been more clinical than thrilling.

Doping aside, I miss some of those massive battles from the last decade between Lance Armstrong, Jan Ulrich, Alberto Contradour, the Schleck brothers and Ivan Basso.

Not having a time trial early in the race may have changed its complexion and the teams' strategies, along with all the big-name withdrawals. The peloton seems a bit less colorful, too (Tinkoff-Saxo's flourescent kits notwithstanding) with so many teams sporting predominantly-black uniforms this year.

Tom, while I too miss those chases with those great names, I have to say that I think it's been a pretty exciting tour. There's lots of new blood, some really good work by the French teams and others.
As for Mr. Nibali, he doesn't appear to sweat, does he? Clinical is the word for it. I'd love to know who's doping and who's not, as I think those numbers have changed dramatically in the last several years, and I don't mean to suggest that he is.

And Cyn, I would like to see a time trial, is there one tomorrow? That's probably Tejay's only chance to get to the podium, and I think one is coming up. I don't want to look right now because it's hard not to find out who won the stage today, and I haven't watched it yet-so please don't tell me ;-))
All in all, a great Tour...

I miss Lance, Hincapie, Tyler Hamilton, Leipheimer and many others named above but everything changes and moves on and I've had to change my thinking and adjust to the "new" group of riders. For me, this year's Tour has been really enjoyable to watch. I've enjoyed the race itself and the great scenery. Thank goodness Bob Roll, Paul and Phil are still with us! I might lose interest altogether if / when they're gone. Never heard of Nibali before this Tour but I'm happy for him. I'm actually sad the Tour will end this Sunday...

Hey Dave- the lone time trial in this year's TDF is on Saturday, the penultimate day, with an individual T.T. of 54 km from Bergerac to Périgueux. Anything can happen, but of course each rider will have a team car tailing them whole way, so mechanical problems shouldn't cause any extreme time loses or gains. Challengers could move up, or leaders can put the crowning, finishing touch to their lead.

Have you attended any T.T's in person? We cheered on 2 stages in France in 2008 (but not a T.T.) and have twice been in Vail for the Pro Cycling Challenge T.T. It's something to behold!

Too bad there's no longer a Basque team for today's Basque stage. Allez! Allez!

That's great I thought there was one coming up, I do wish there were two this year, seems that has been the norm for the TT in years past. We've seen several stages of the Tour of California over the years, and I still kick myself for missing the TT in that race that was just 50 miles from home a couple years back.
Gotta admire Chris Horner yesterday, but Nibali left him as if he were standing still! We hope to get to Le Tour one year.

We watched the final stage on the Champs Elysee in 2001 when Lance "won" and it was so much fun. We watched the start of the Tour of California the first two years when it started in Sausalito. We got to meet Lance, Hincapie and Bob Roll... such a thrill for us.

After watching yesterday's stage I got suspicious of Nibali.... it just seemed too easy for him. He was passing all the top mountain climbers who were struggling while Nibali wasn't struggling at all... in fact, he didn't seem out of breath or even to be breaking a sweat. As though he was leisurely riding on a flat road. At the end, he just got off his bike and was talking to his "people" like he hadn't just killed himself getting to the top. Maybe it's all the past doping scandals but it made me wonder...

(gasp!) Susan, such a conspiracy theorist ;-) The Tour of California passed by my house (about 2 blocks away) a few years ago - in a heavy, driving rain - but still it was a thrill! Got some good photos...AND my new - definitely water proof - rain gear passed its first test! Unfortunately, I had to miss the time trial in my hometown this year while I was caring for my in-laws in TX :-( It was all planned - all I had to do was stand in my veterinarian's parking lot for a front-row view (sigh)...Oh well, next time.

Who.Is.Vicenzo.Nibali?!? Wow...

I don't think having so many of the 'biggies' abandoning the race this year would have changed the outcome had they stayed in the race. But...there's no way to ever know the answer to that.

I prefer seeing someone who, while not entirely not a contender, seems to come out-of-nowhere. For me, he (Nibali) has been a nice contrast to the last few years when - before the start of the race - it's announced that "all eyes are on Chris Froome" or "this is Bradley Wiggins year!". I've followed the TdF for years, and sometimes I don't even know who the predestined winner is that they're talking about!

On to the time trials...Nibali had better be fast ;-)

Wow, Susan... I hate to be another conspiracy theorist, but I was thinking the same thing watching him in the Pyrenees yesterday. It kept reminding me of Floyd Landis' ride in the alps several years ago. It just made me wonder...

BTW - Love Bob Roll!

Not you, too, Linda ;-) Now who doesn't like The Bobke? And how about Christian Vande Velde in studio? Me likey...

I'm thinkin' about chilling a bottle of the bubbly for tomorrow's ride...Who's with me?

Linda, glad I'm not the only one who thought that... might just be the two of us though... ; )

That's a great idea Eileen!... wish I could join you... Stupid Open House.

I wondered the same...

Make that 3 now :)

Nice sprint by Kitell to finish out the Tour today. That was CLOSE!

I'm not going to start with the allegations... congrats to Vincenzo Nibali and Italy (they could use some good news these days). He took control of the race early and did what he needed to win. It wasn't the most dramatic win we've ever seen, but that's probably because he didn't need to do anything drastic.

Hey, I just noticed that the white jersey winner also placed on the final podium. Thibaut Pinot, there's a name to look out for next year.

I'm already looking forward to the Cobblestone Classics (Hell of the North) next spring.