Vive la Difference

July 10th: Vive la difference

La tour de france has been really good to watch so far even this early into the event. The massive crowds in England and the attacking early stages have made great viewing. I first got in to it during the heady days when it was on channel 4 with Phil Ligget being able to effortlessly put across what it must be like to have kittens whilst watching a race involving a heap of brightly coloured blokes on bikes.

Over in France in the late 80's early 90's I would buzz from town to town during July with my stock Del Boy French phrases al a "qui a gagner dans la tour monsieur et deux bières whilst your at it pal"!

I think this year could be the year that a similar excitement of years gone by returns for me.

I ended up totally disengaged with the sport after a while due in part to all the crap around doping scandals etc. However, given we have a contrite David Millar doing a great shift (allegedly dope free) and some other cracking riders, it's shaping up to be superb. I'm particularly looking forwards to the Mountains, but the Aberdeen Minks will be in New York so it might be challenging getting to see it. However, the Discovery Team might ensure it gets some coverage.

Back in the days of the Minks French phase we used to love all the gear. We even had bellies that didn't look to obscene when we wore cycling tops from time to time. Mine was always the Peugeot vest. Hero's of another age aka Simpson, Roche, Anderson and Robert Millar all wore this vest so it was important to me. Who ever designed it deserves a medal it's so simplistically bonnie. But the good thing about it all is that everybody's tastes are different. Vive la difference!