I agree, to many commercials! I was hoping ESPN or some other station would have picked up de Tour. Thank god for the mute button.

Wonatriver has a point. If it wasn't for all the big name companies that pay for the advertising time slot, the athletes would not have the sponsors and therefore would not have the income and motivation to get to the level where they are today. Try competing in a less popular endurance sport without Lance Armstrong and all the sponsors. Take open water swimming for example. There is no TV coverage even for World Championship events, and there is very poor athlete support even for national team members. I've won 5 national titles (see profile), but I don't earn enough to cover my expenses, let alone to pay the mortgage. I know I need some cheese with my whine, but I'm just saying... It does seem like a pain, but it's an economically necessary evil.

If Bernard Hinault had gotten cancer instead of lance Armstrong (all Hinault got was bad tendinitis one year) and a commercial had been made out of it, Vincent would be weeping and talking about heroic acts but, instead, because it's Lance -- and apparently because Vincent can't get over culture shock -- Vincent attacks the bad taste of the ad... get a clue, and a heart: it's an homage, it's moving and should remind all the naysayers what an awesome inspiration Lance is. Oh, and I'm not just "French-bashing" Vincent here... I'm French too (we're not all so snotty we can't grant admiration where it deserved). Vincent probably worship real (French) heroes... he probably has a poster of Richard Virenque in his room... you know, the French rider who got busted with more drugs on him that a West Side druglord.

Oh yeah, but where is the Nike commercial of Lance (last year). That was cool!

Commericials kill YOU. I have yet to see a complete commercial, its calld PVR (Personal Video Recorder) or TiVo!

I have managed to reduce my viewing time from the full format of 3 or 4 hours (if you sit and watch the whole thing live) to an hour or an hour and a half, its called fast forward and of course rewind to re-view a particular good racing clip. You could also record on to VHS but you can't view and record with it. PVR and TiVo allow viewing while you record, show starts at 5:30am (PST), I wake up at maybe 7 or 7:30 and watch without viewing a comercial and get some good rest as well.

Get a PVR or TiVo! Now! The longer you wait the more personal time you'll waste, unless your personal time is worth nothing, then keep watching the way you are.

I have to say, I discovered something about myself after having watched this years Tour on OLN. I'M A MITCHUM MAN!

I agree OLN left allot to be desired. My seven year old wants a bow flex so he can have ripped abbs. Yipee! I wanted to see more of the race each day and more interviews, before and after coverage etc but it was all removed...for you guessed it...powerpar, bow flex and cervelo! I was very disappointed with the coverage. Maybe next year, I will watch from France!

A