2017 Race Guide

Today's the day .......................... to close the book

For the last few years, we've bought one of these - and it has become our Tour de France  bible for the duration of the race.  At £8.99 I suppose it is quite expensive for what is after all just a magazine but it has everything you need to know to guide you through the three weeks.  You also get a free pair of smart yellow socks and the chance to win £100 in the Tour Sock Selfie  Competition. 

Of course, they have to compile it well in advance of the actual race and so there's a bit of informed guesswork to some of it.  But it's amazing how accurate it turns out to be.  I have thumbed through it a million times to find out who's in what team, what the route for the day is, strengths and weaknesses of particular cyclists and umpteen other queries.  It usually comes up with the goods.

But after today's Stage 20 Time Trial in Marseilles, all the main winners have been decided.  Chris Froome has won his fourth title - but it did go right up to the wire.  The only question that remains is what on earth are we going to do with ourselves on Monday when there's no Tour  to watch ...................... ?