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2020-08-29 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Tour de France: Skinny little men in spandex face uncertainty over COVID-19
[France24] Already delayed, the Tour de France sets off Saturday shrouded in uncertainty, flying in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and the imponderable question of how many of the 176 riders will avoid infection and endure three exceptionally tough weeks of racing to reach the finish in Paris. If the rolling roadshow gets that far.

Staging cycling’s premier race when COVID-19 infections are rising again in France represents both a health risk and an embodiment of French President Emmanuel Macron’s insistence that the country must learn to function as normally as possible with the virus.

Failure to safely steer the Tour to the cobbles of Paris’ Champs-Elysées avenue on Sept. 20 could cast further doubt on the feasibility of holding other sporting mega-events, including the Tokyo Olympics postponed to next year, while the coronavirus remains untamed. A key question posed by pushing ahead with the race will be whether it would have been wiser and safer to simply cancel it.

"Is the Tour adding to the human community experience this year? Or hurting it? That’s what needs answering," Jonathan Vaughters, boss of the EF Education First team, told The Associated Press. "If we choose to take on the risk of living life, then I suppose we might have to take the risk of letting events go forward that make life worth living, like the Tour. Is that responsible for the community at large? I think there are many opinions. Many."

Amid the pandemic, the usually boisterous celebration of cycling that for decades has drawn packed throngs of cheering roadside spectators promises to be a strange and more subdued affair, moved for the first time in its 117-year history out of its traditional July slot to a September month when many fans will be back at school or at work after summer vacations.
Posted by Besoeker 2020-08-29 02:57|| || Front Page|| [10 views ]  Top

#1 Stage 1 was rainy; lots of crashes & mayhem - just the way I like it.
Posted by Raj 2020-08-29 17:09||   2020-08-29 17:09|| Front Page Top

#2 Bicycle races - one step above skateboard competitions.
Posted by jpal 2020-08-29 17:49||   2020-08-29 17:49|| Front Page Top

#3 Sorry, man; I love cycling and feel the need to stick up for it. I'd love to see a skateboarder go over 60 MPH.
Posted by Raj 2020-08-29 18:07||   2020-08-29 18:07|| Front Page Top

20:28 Raj
19:40 swksvolFF
19:37 swksvolFF
19:31 swksvolFF
18:37 Old+Patriot
18:27 Frank G
18:02 Airandee
17:47 Besoeker
17:41 Skidmark
17:35 Dale
16:35 Grom the Reflective
16:33 Grom the Reflective
16:27 Grom the Reflective
16:24 Glenmore
16:00 Angealing+B.+Hayes4677
15:37 Whiskey Mike
15:37 Skidmark
15:33 Skidmark
15:14 DarthVader
14:55 magpie
14:49 M. Murcek
14:37 NoMoreBS
14:24 Grom the Reflective
14:10 Grom the Reflective









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