British and Irish on top in Tour de France!!!!

[leslie10646]

Any of you semi-addicted to the Tour, like me? I watch for the brilliant scenery, glimpses of railways (plenty of them, but never seen a TRAIN!) and a bit for the race itself.

Anyway, today, Bastille Day, a Brit, a Welshman, to be precise, and so a CELT, won the Stage!

But, but, but, just behind him, having torn the race apart earlier was a very brave  Irishman Ben Healy, who now leads the Tour and wears the fabled Yellow Jersey! 

Only the fourth Irishman in history to have ever worn the famous jersey, so well-done Ben!

So, while @Past-Avenue races cars up hills, Ben CYCLES up them ......

I should whisper, for rivet counters among you, that although Ben was born in Birmingham, in his youth, he chose to compete for Ireland

Edited July 15 by leslie10646

[David Holman]

And the Lions play the first test in Australia on Saturday. Always good to play the Aussies. Even better if we can beat them.

[Broithe]

The last few years, the Ras na mBan has passed few miles away and I have ventured out to watch.

On the first year, a chap was sitting in his car 100m away, with sandwiches, etc. I assumed he was also waiting, but he wasn't - it was just a coincidental stop. he kept looking at me, sat under a road sign at my preferred vantage point.

Suddenly, a horde of Guards arrived and he became concerned that he was embroiled in a dangerous situation, as he thought they had come, en masse, to arrest me, as suspicious as I look. Once that emergency was resolved, he then had to establish a change of route, as his intended road would not be available for a while...

 

The ladies were very impressive - that day involved going up to 500m...

 

Last year, there was just me and one cop - much less of a sideshow, but the race was still as impressive. We waited for the last tail enders to pass and let the traffic off again - actually, there was very little disruption.

 

It looks like I can do it again this year - https://rasnamban.com/2025-route/

Worth having a look, if it passes close to you.

[Angus]

Chapeau Ben Healy,

He deserved the win today.

[leslie10646]

Yes, Ben made a valiant effort today - I thought it was very gentlemanly of him to allow a Frog to win one stage in his home race?

Good Tour for the Celts, as Oscar Onley, a young Scot, is riding right out of his skin! (4th, to Ben's 9th). the first ENGLISHMAN is 25th and over a hour behind Onley! In fairness, Adam Yates is there to work for the man in the lead - Pogacar.

Still haven't spotted a train!