Based on the timing of this article, I will sound like a bandwagon fan, but screw it. I. Love. Cycling.
Every year since I can remember, my dad would let me and my brother stay up later than we should have to watch the Tour de France (or more importantly Gabriel Gate). Sorry mum.
Now, no matter if I have the day off, or if I’m working at 5am the next day, I try my best to stay up and watch the breakaway get caught with just a few kilometres to go.
I tune in at 10pm, as every red-blooded Aussie does, waiting to see just how big the margin is between the peloton and that tenacious breakaway group.
Two minutes? Five minutes? 15 minutes??
I know it. You know. The breakaway knows it. They will get caught.
But what if they don’t? Just like Greg van Avermaet didn’t on Wednesday?
That’s what dreams are made of.
What other sporting event can you watch where the primary viewing is of 17th century castles and you’re still glued to your seat?
People say Test cricket is dying. That it only goes for five days (hopefully).
The Tour to end all tours is 20 plus.
Sure it’s a once a year thing, but still.
I’ll admit, I only know maybe 30 of the riders in the tour, but the commentary is the best of any sport (sorry Richie Benaud).
How can you make 200 kilometres of the same thing exciting is baffling to me.
It’s the time of the year when people put aside what’s best for the team to go on a breakaway – because they’re travelling through their home town.
Or don’t, because they believe in their younger teammate as – a name I forget – did for Bryan Coquard on Stage 4.
Now wouldn’t you love to see Brad Haddin open the bowling at the SCG in his final match?
Forget the Euros (which I download the morning after), the Tour is where it’s at.
I don’t care who wins, I don’t even know why I like the race, but I’ll be damned if I don’t travel to the south of France to try that cheese Gate was talking about.
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