report on London TdF 07 stage in today's Grauniad

[davek]

Not much we didn't know already, though there is a diagram of the
proposed route for the prologue - starts on the Mall, right at Trafalgar
Square on to Whitehall, right into Victoria Street, right again into
Buckingham Gate, left at Betty's on to Constitution Hill, over the
middle of Hyde Park Corner, through the arches, on to South Carriage
Drive, right turn over the Serpentine, right again to go back along
Serpentine Road, round the top of HPC, down Constitution Hill and on to
the Mall for the finish.

That is part of my commuting route when I'm working in Kensington and
even I can get up a fair speed on those roads. Imagine how fast a
rampant Bradley Wiggins at full pelt could go... I'm getting
over-excited already!

There are a couple of fairly sharp turns, though - the one at the end of
South Carriage Drive and the one coming down from Hyde Park Corner on to
Constitution Hill will be pretty tricky at speed.

As for the first stage proper, it just says "towards the Channel". So
that would back up Folkestone or Canterbury as the most likely options
for the stage finish. I can't see them finishing in Ashford. Horrible
place. Dover is possible, but Folkestone would be nicer.

d.

 

[Simon Bennett]

davek wrote:

> Ashford. Horrible
> place.

Agreed. But apparently one of the most desirable places to live in the UK*!

*according to a survey, I don't know which one

 

[Dave Larrington]

In article <[email protected]>, Simon Bennett
([email protected]) wrote:
> davek wrote:
>
> > Ashford. Horrible
> > place.
>
> Agreed. But apparently one of the most desirable places to live in the UK*!
>
> *according to a survey, I don't know which one

The one commissioned jointly by the "Kentish Express" and a consortium
of Ashford estate agents...

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
Beware of the opion.

 

[Arthur Clune]

Simon Bennett wrote:
> davek wrote:

>> Ashford. Horrible
> Agreed. But apparently one of the most desirable places to live in the UK*!
>
> *according to a survey, I don't know which one

(*) The one of people with no taste?

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

 

[MartinM]

In the event that the proper stage visits Ashdown Forest again my back
garden (or even house if you're quick) is at anyone's disposal,
otherwise contact the (Japanese) agent for Larrington Towers
hospitality group plc (2012).

 

[elyob]

"davek" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Not much we didn't know already, though there is a diagram of the proposed
> route for the prologue - starts on the Mall, right at Trafalgar Square on
> to Whitehall, right into Victoria Street, right again into Buckingham
> Gate, left at Betty's on to Constitution Hill, over the middle of Hyde
> Park Corner, through the arches, on to South Carriage Drive, right turn
> over the Serpentine, right again to go back along Serpentine Road, round
> the top of HPC, down Constitution Hill and on to the Mall for the finish.

http://www.tourdefrancelondon.com/

There seems to be a london website for it. I'm really not sure what the
countdown is counting down to though. Any idea what is happening on the 9th
Feb at14:03:42?

 

[Simon Bennett]

elyob wrote:

> I'm really not sure what
> the countdown is counting down to though. Any idea what is happening
> on the 9th Feb at14:03:42?

Official announcement of UK stage routes?

 

[elyob]

"Simon Bennett" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
> elyob wrote:
>
>> I'm really not sure what
>> the countdown is counting down to though. Any idea what is happening
>> on the 9th Feb at14:03:42?
>
> Official announcement of UK stage routes?
>

Could be, however I thought the stage routes weren't released until after
this years TdF. Also, strange time to release. 2pm would be better than
2:03.42pm

 

[MartinM]

elyob wrote:
> "Simon Bennett" <[email protected]> wrote in
> message news:[email protected]...
> > elyob wrote:
> >
> >> I'm really not sure what
> >> the countdown is counting down to though. Any idea what is happening
> >> on the 9th Feb at14:03:42?
> >
> > Official announcement of UK stage routes?
> >
>
> Could be, however I thought the stage routes weren't released until after
> this years TdF.

Don't they have to pass an act of Parliament to close roads as they did
in 1994? so maybe routes in progressive car-led economies need to be
further in advance?

 

[John B]

elyob wrote:

> "Simon Bennett" <[email protected]> wrote in
> message news:[email protected]...
> > elyob wrote:
> >
> >> I'm really not sure what
> >> the countdown is counting down to though. Any idea what is happening
> >> on the 9th Feb at14:03:42?
> >
> > Official announcement of UK stage routes?
> >
>
> Could be, however I thought the stage routes weren't released until after
> this years TdF.

I think you are right, but they announce stage towns earlier.
I suspect February 9th will see the announcement of where the road stage
will finish.

John B

 

[Mike Causer]

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 14:08:31 +0000, elyob wrote:

>>> I'm really not sure what the countdown is counting down to though.
>>> Any idea what is happening on the 9th Feb at14:03:42?

>> Official announcement of UK stage routes?

> Could be, however I thought the stage routes weren't released until after
> this years TdF.

The first one or two stages are generally announced at the same time as
the prolog. The remainder of the stages come out in October.


> Also, strange time to release. 2pm would be better than
> 2:03.42pm

Clock's wrong on swerver. Bloody amateurs!



Mike

 

[elyob]

"MartinM" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> elyob wrote:
>> "Simon Bennett" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> message news:[email protected]...
>> > elyob wrote:
>> >
>> >> I'm really not sure what
>> >> the countdown is counting down to though. Any idea what is happening
>> >> on the 9th Feb at14:03:42?
>> >
>> > Official announcement of UK stage routes?
>> >
>>
>> Could be, however I thought the stage routes weren't released until after
>> this years TdF.
>
> Don't they have to pass an act of Parliament to close roads as they did
> in 1994? so maybe routes in progressive car-led economies need to be
> further in advance?

According to this site I just found (http://www.tdfblog.com/) "The route is
to be announced February 9." ... so that confirms it then.

 

[Tom Crispin]

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 13:48:31 -0000, "elyob" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>"davek" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Not much we didn't know already, though there is a diagram of the proposed
>> route for the prologue - starts on the Mall, right at Trafalgar Square on
>> to Whitehall, right into Victoria Street, right again into Buckingham
>> Gate, left at Betty's on to Constitution Hill, over the middle of Hyde
>> Park Corner, through the arches, on to South Carriage Drive, right turn
>> over the Serpentine, right again to go back along Serpentine Road, round
>> the top of HPC, down Constitution Hill and on to the Mall for the finish.
>
>http://www.tourdefrancelondon.com/
>
>There seems to be a london website for it. I'm really not sure what the
>countdown is counting down to though. Any idea what is happening on the 9th
>Feb at14:03:42?

From the website you gave:

"Today's announcement is great news for cycling and for London and we
will unveil the route at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference centre on 9
February."
--
Let us have a moment of silence for all Americans who
are now stuck in traffic on their way to a health club
to ride a stationary bicycle. -
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (Oregon)

 

[POHB]

"davek" wrote
> Not much we didn't know already, though there is a diagram of the proposed
> route for the prologue - starts on the Mall, right at Trafalgar Square on
> to Whitehall, right into Victoria Street, right again into Buckingham
> Gate, left at Betty's on to Constitution Hill, over the middle of Hyde
> Park Corner, through the arches, on to South Carriage Drive, right turn
> over the Serpentine, right again to go back along Serpentine Road, round
> the top of HPC, down Constitution Hill and on to the Mall for the finish.
>
> That is part of my commuting route when I'm working in Kensington

My commute includes a bit of the route too, South Carriage Drive, HPC,
Constitution Hill.
I'll have to time myself for a laugh so I can see how much more ridiculously
fast the racers go.

 

[David Martin]

POHB wrote:

> My commute includes a bit of the route too, South Carriage Drive, HPC,
> Constitution Hill.
> I'll have to time myself for a laugh so I can see how much more ridiculously
> fast the racers go.

I'd expect them to be doing something around 40mph as they pass BP
coming up to the finish. Constitution Hill is deceptively fast. It
should be a rattling good prologue with great opportunity for iconic TV
coverage.

...d

 

[John Hearns]

Total supposition on my part,
but for the stage out of London going over Shooter's Hill would
make sense, and there would be some climber's points at the top.

 

[Tom Crispin]

On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 10:53:36 +0000, John Hearns <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Total supposition on my part,
>but for the stage out of London going over Shooter's Hill would
>make sense, and there would be some climber's points at the top.

That would be nice and convienient for me.
--
Let us have a moment of silence for all Americans who
are now stuck in traffic on their way to a health club
to ride a stationary bicycle. -
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (Oregon)