tour de france

Boston.com’s big picture blog points to an amazing series of photos from this year’s tour, including a tilt-shift shot of the peloton, and Devil Guy.

Le Tour is probably the most visually spectacular sporting event going, team. Except  Waikato Stadium with lingering shots of Hamilton’s CBD in the background, of course.

London. It’s fantastic, and it’s holding the Olympics after China - but surely that crap mascot can be improved?

The BBC’s John Motson is yer archetypal statto / sheepskin coat-clad football commentator - but he’s still got a potty mouth

Some footballer scores - only to have it saved by the world’s bandiest-legged doctor guy. He’s not happy

Some mountain bike buy gets fully rad over the Tour De France

Britain’s David Millar (here he is talking to Rough Ride’s Paul Kimmage) may have placed third in this morning’s time trial, but he definitely takes the cake in bike design - here’s his time trial machine, complete with Union Jack wheels to match his British TT champion’s jersey.

You might look like a dork riding to work in gear that matches your bike, but hey, if you’re in the Tour De France you can get away with this shit.

Not so sure ’bout the socks, however.

Le Tour started early yesterday morning - here’s the best places for coverage on the web:

The Guardian and The Times have extensive coverage and photos, alongside Le Tour’s official home page. Cycling News has loads of reports and photos, along with geeky bike porn

Here’s a Google Map, with loads of interactive bits n bobs

Interested in having a go? Each year the Etape du Tour gives weekend warriors the chance to ride a real live stage before the pros. This year the 189km stage took in the terrifying Col du Tourmalet - a 23.5 km climb at an average 7.5% gradient. Here’s two accounts of riding Tour stages, but to truly get a picture, watch this video of the notorious Mount Ventoux. Bugger. That.