2023 Tour de France, Stages 10 thru 15 (thru the 2nd rest day)

Wow, the race is just a half-stage from being half way done...it always sneaks up on me...one day it's the start, then a few stages, and BAM...half way! 

Today's stage wasn't the most exciting to watch, but it looked VERY HARD for the riders...it was hot, quite fast, and did I mention HOT? 97 at the finish...yikes!

Crazy that Vingo and Pogo were off the front early on...can't recall seeing that before! Lots of possibilities, tho I was really rooting for Nielands (the solo breakaway guy)...held off some serious firepower until about 2k, really gave it his all. And then won by Bilbao (wasn't he the breakaway guy on Stage 1, name the same as the finish town I recall, but he couldn't hold off the speedy guys tho he was pretty close. In the end the Peleton finished a ways back, no change in the top riders whatsoever. Gosh, this seems to be the first day that I can recall that there wasn't any fireworks in the top of the GC ranks! Poor Nielson had a long day, didn't get any points and was off the back (on purpose maybe, saving energy for tomorrow?)

Tomorrow is another 'hilly' stage. Hope it isn't quite so hot, that really makes a ride hard (at least for me, I SUCK when it gets hot...my body goes into survival mode and I can barely make the bike move. 

And hey, I'm done with the stage and can actually do something ELSE for a bit before bed! I have the TV all to myself thru the end of the Tour now (Jeannie flew to Hawaii for a girls trip, she got there just this afternoon).  All right...I'm out.

2023 Tour de France, part 1

 Well well well...here we are, it's THAT time again! Thought I'd resurrect the old Asylum for a month or so. Renewed my Peacock Premium Plus subscription (only need to pay for 1 month, and I get the Plus that means no commercials which is a serious bonus for only $5 more). Anyway, I just watched the Team Presentations. Hopefully it will be a great Tour, lots to be looking forward to!

First of all, Cav is BACK! And the question everybody is asking is "can he win ONE MORE STAGE?" I sure hope so...he sure deserves it. Sagan is there, Pogacar is there, Uran is there (not even team leader, I guess that means he's not planning on being a contender?), Bernal is there, Ewen and Kristoff are there, gosh...my brain is overloaded from all the teams and all the riders names I DO recognize...there are a LOT! Not many Americans tho...Quinn Simmons is there, who else, oh, can't forget Sepp Kuss! And who else...hmm, gosh, can't think of anybody else (American that is). Lets see, oh...Vingegaard (his spelling and pronunciation still boggle my mind, I might just spell it phonetically...Vin-ga-go....how's that?) Who else of note (to my sad little brain)...Mas, and hey... Bardet is still riding, he's got to be getting close to retirement. Of note, Roglic is NOT there this year. So much for that dogfight to the end...unless Vin-ga-go can step it up and take on Baby Face! We shall see soon enough!

Well, for now that's all I can think of...can't wait to see/hear the boyz back together again...mostly that is...I was looking to see who's onboard this year... copied this from the Peacock Live Coverage page: 

 NBC Sports’ cycling play-by-play caller Phil Liggett, universally known as the ‘voice of cycling,’ will cover his 51st Tour de France alongside analyst Bob Roll. Liggett and Roll will be on-site at each stage, along with reporters Steve Porino and former professional cyclist Christian Vande Velde.

 Paul Burmeister will host daily pre-race and post-race studio coverage alongside Sam Bewley and Brent Bookwalter, who make their NBC Sports debuts as cycling analysts.

So no more Chris Horner, that really sucks! Wins the Giro and can't get a team, was part of what I thought was the best combination they've ever had and not gone. He's the Rodney Dangerfield of Cycling...can't get any respect! 

 OK...need to get dinner. I have FIVE whole days off...taking tomorrow off, then Monday off, and Tues is the 4th of July, so back to work on Weds for me (yep, still working...I'm looking at the end of January to retire finally). 

Susie, congrats on your recent retirement, Rae, hope you come back, always great to hear from you two. Anybody else going to stop by? Please do and leave a comment. Tour Time is always one of my favorite times of the year!