TdF Stage 1: I miss the Prologue

I’m all for mixing things up a bit to keep them fresh, but I sure do miss the prologue. For many reasons really. First, I absolutely love time trialing. The mindnumbing solidarity, the leg searing pain, knowing that if you have a good day, it’s entirely because of you, and if you have a bad day, it’s entirely because of you… pushing to your limit and then holding it for as long as you can. Let’s face it, they don’t call it the “race of truth” for just any old reason.

In the Tour, I think the prologue does a lot for the fans who come out. It’s a mixed bag really though. Time trial bikes tend to be the flashiest, highest tech things out on the road with two wheels, and that helps to capture the imagination of the fans. Most importantly, it let’s you go put out a chair and watch 180 riders go by at 40-50mph in pure agony. For the little kid who is seeing the race for the first time, the full day exposure and specticle that is the opening day can serve as a memory, and a hook, for life. Unfortunately, prologues may rather boring TV, which is how most of the world gets its Tour de France exposure. It also happens to be how the ASO, teams, and their sponsors make the most money. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing, but it makes it easier to understand the changes.

Having said all that, and also having, in general, very little excitement for this year’s Tour, I loved stage one. I mean really loved it. As much as I feel for Duclos-Lassalle, crashing out of the Tour 50 miles into the race is all part of what makes this race to beautiful (ironically, Chris Boardman crashed in the prologue in the mid 90’s going into Plumlec, the same town, and had to abandon). It’s amazing how the first 2 percent of a sporting event can determine the remaining 98 percent like the Tour can. Unfortunately, the first stage claimed another victim – Juan Mauricio Soler went down hard and injured his wrist. I remember so vividly when he won the mountain stage last year, attacking hard and just flying around all the top contenders of the Tour to go on for the win. Nobody knew who he was, nobody remembered he was up the road, and he stole the day. It’s unfortunate he may not be able to stick around for this year.

Of course, the finish was brilliant. The raw power and speed of Valverde to overcome Kirchen in the last 200m is just unimaginable. I may not have been very excited before the start of the Tour, but stage 1 has given me pretty high hopes for the rest of the month.