Since @Gorsnak hasn’t started it, I will create the 2025 TdF thread. I’m behind, just finished watching stage 2 highlights. Interesting wipeout on the cobblestones on stage 1.
Brian
I’ve been watching since the grand depart on Saturday, the 4th stage now is only 12 km before the finish. Just another very exciting stage. I don’t want to spoil the OP who’s just into 2nd stage, but all in all a very nervous tour so far, many crashes already.
Historical outcome today:
Tadej Pogacar scores his 100th win as a pro.
I finished watching stage 4. Bummer about Philipsen --I’m not sure having to abandon early is better than having to do it late.
The commentators mentioned that riders are putting a lot of effort into 1 or 2 KOM points – I particularly enjoy the KOM competition, but the real fun is when the race gets REALLY hilly.
Brian
Didn’t it used to start on a Friday? Was there some change to the schedule this year, or is my brain getting fuzzy?
Games inside games, teams need a certain amount of “points” for their license.
A day in the polka-dot jersey does wonders for that, as does winning even a single point.
(Winning anything in the TdF is beyond the majority of all professional cyclists)
Pogacar stole a minute from Jonas today in the TT. Vingegaard had looked good so far, on a level with Pog, but today he suffered a bit.
Pogacar becomes one of the few to hold the Yellow, Green, and Polka Dot at the same time.
Is his winning (barring injury) a foregone conclusion? I wouldn’t bet against it.
Hopefully there is some competition for Green and Polka Dot at least.
Brian
So apparently Pogi’s horrible tt at the dauphine was just a fluke. He’s certainly in a comfortable position for the moment, though one bad day in the high mountains could reverse his and Jonas’ positions.
Regarding the contesting of early kom points, snagging an early polkadot jersey is one the most achievable goals for many middle of the pack riders. Get in a breakaway, sprint to the top of a 3rd cat, and you get to take part in the podium ceremony and start at the front of the race the next day in a conspicuous jersey that you’ll get to keep as a memento. And so lots of guys try to pull this off, and the early kom points are heavily contested.
By contrast, to get an early yellow or green jersey you have to win some stages, which is a much taller order.
The green will go to someone else, Pogacar holding it is a bit of a fluke caused by the dropping out of Phillipsen.
I cannot see the polka dot go to someone else, as winning mountain stages is almost his whole strategy to win the tour.
Today he loses all three jerseys in one fell swoop. And it won’t faze him a bit.
And great solo flight and win by Ben Healy. Very impressing. Van der Poel in yellow again.
Greg LeMond awarded Congressional Gold Medal.
I have a T-shirt that says I biked with him – though I didn’t (he was scheduled to attend an event that I attended, but he had to back out)
Brian
Again, I got behind, watched stages 6 and 7 highlights today.
Stage 6: Great job with a stage win by Ben Healy - and two US folks in the top 10 for the stage
Stage 7: Pogacar reclaims yellow, gets Green, and s second by one point in Polka Dot. The crash seemed a bit atypical* – but with a lot of bikes close together it doesn’t take much to cause a chain reaction.
Brian
* Probably just my impression – the facts likely show it was very typical
Watched stage 8 highlights. To be honest I don’t remember anything remarkable.
Brian
Finally caught up on the 2025 stages. Also started watching Tour de France: Unchainged season 3 on Netflix. It really is an amazing show.
Netflix also has a documentary about a season of Movistar.
“El dia menos pensado”
It also gives some great insights in the workings of a pro team.
My favorite moment in unchained is when the French team is trying for Gaudu to win a stage and you can tell from the start Gaudu never has the legs, Gaudu never has the nerve to tell his team.
A great demonstration of how to create a atmosphere of fear and how to demotivate a team utterly.
On the flip side there is what MvdP did with Rickaert today.
You wanna be on stage today?
Let’s do it!
Great sprint finish
Yeah, it was a great finish, and all the usual suspects were on their own, because all their helpers had to get used up in catching van der Poel at last minute. It was a much more exciting stage than anyone had expected, with Matthieu and Rickaert going on one of the greatest breakaways I’ve ever seen.
Yea for Yates.
Yet wow for Healy. 
First Yellow for an Irishman in 38 years!
Day off, then a tour around Toulouse - haven’t been yet sounds pretty flat.
Then Hautacam! I’d expect a major shuffle in the GC. Anyone got a favourite for the GC win? I don’t recognze any of the top 20 or so.