What are you favorite grand tour stages (tdf, giro, vuelta)?
This is going to be controversial but I have to go with:
There was a stage that Boasson Hagen won at the 2011 TdF, stage 17. It was mountainous but not a hilltop finish and it also had a great race for the GC at the end with Voeckler almost crashing a few times on a technical and dark (forested) downhill. It also really inspired me because they rode through a place where I’d been previously for skiing and somehow it really inspired me seeing them going up there.
The next stage where Andy broke away was pretty awesome too. As well as the one after that with Rolland winning on Alpe D’Huez.
Speaking of Rolland he really made this year’s Giro for me with all of his attacking.
What are you favorite grand tour stages (tdf, giro, vuelta)?
Whichever stage on any given year that includes Stelvio in the Giro, or Alpe d’Huez or Ventoux in the Tour.
There was an very innocent stage last year I think in the 2nd week of the Tour where the crosswinds caused an massive division on the stage. Contador and his team gapped Sky and made up some time (time gap never materialized in the race). But stages like that, is where I just love watching people ride a bike. That was pure bike tactics 101.