10 – The riders really don’t appreciate people running alongside them on the climbs all that much. While riders understand that it is the fans who ultimately pay their salary, the various Devil-types, Antler-people and flag-runners can be terrifying. And though their safety records are pretty decent, accidents do happen. For the domestique groups that in so many cases can no longer even stay in contact with the big, laughing, sprinter’s group, the potential danger is greatly compounded because the folks on the sides of these climbs have been there all day … imbibing heavily. Yes, I have been known to come through late enough that the hill runners have run out of all their adult beverages and have become angry. I call for a “traveling” rule, like in basketball. Hill runners are only allowed 5 steps and then we throw tomatoes at them.

9 – Every time I see a rider doing that thing where they rest their forearms on the top of their handlebars like they are time trialing, I secretly wish the UCI offices would catch on fire. Do you all remember the Cinelli Spinaci bars? They were small extensions that made it possible for a rider to effectively do this while actually having something in their hands. Well, the UCI in its infinite wisdom called for a ban on these things, costing Cinelli millions – yet it is legal to “pretend” you’re using them.

8 – Each one of the domestiques will make many, many trips from the peloton, back to the cars to fill their cages, jersey pockets, inside front and back of jerseys and even shorts legs with water bottles and cans of Coke. It really only becomes tedious if just when you’re about to make it back to the front of the peloton with your extra 16 or so full water bottles, someone decides to attack.

7 – Despite the fine job of commentating from Phil, Paul, Bobke, and the rest of the fellas, sometimes you need to trust your own eyes more than their call. Nope, when the peloton is one long line, they are not riding calmly along – they are riding hard.

6 – Frankie Andreu’s accent is from Michigan. I know this because he sounds like most of my family who live there. I remember that when I used to talk with him in races, I would listen to his English, translate it into Flemish, formulate an answer in Flemish and then translate that back into English. Then I would speak it with a hint of an Australian accent because all my English-speaking friends at the time were Aussies. I am quite sure Frankie thought I was “touched.”

5 – Yes, they get bored too. Long stages are important but when those all day breakaways go up the road and the tempo in the peloton is slow and controlled it is easy to get really bored.

4 – By this point in the race, the vast majority of riders only feel “normal” when they are actually in the race – every other aspect of their day is a chore.

3 – The mechanics carefully inspect each tire on each bike every day. If they see even the slightest little crack or flat spot from an inadvertent skid, the tire will be pulled off and a new one glued on. Think about how many little cracks, slices or flat spots that your own tires have after just a couple rides — the Tour de France uses up a lot of tires.

2 – Most people I have watched the Tour or other bike races with are always amazed by the police, photo, and film armada’s apparent level of chaos. It might look frightening, but the motorcycle guys – at least the photo and film people – are true pros. I wouldn’t hesitate to descend anything, at any speed, with any of them riding inches from me.

1 – If we get the chance to see another big Cavendish finish, watch the camera angle from the front and/or overhead very closely. Since we’ve already seen how fast and powerful Cav is, watch the teammate who is on his wheel. That rider will be making quick, little movements back and forth, in an attempt to keep other sprinters from poaching a lead-out from Cav himself. That would even give the late Dale Earnhardt chills.