The 2010 Tour de France got underway Saturday on VERSUS and the race began with a brutal first stage. This will be the final tour for Lance Armstrong. He faces the race favorite — and defending champion — Alberto Contador as well as the Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank. So Armstrong will have his work cut out for him.
I spoke to VERSUS lead broadcaster Phil Liggett just before he left London to join the crew in Holland for the start of the race, and we covered a lot of ground.
Liggett on starting the tour in Holland » This is a really challenging start to the tour. The first week is going to be really dicey for everyone. You have a country in Holland that is perhaps the most cycling-friendly country in the world. But the ironic part is that the race will be run in many parts on cobblestones and I can tell you that even the best riders in the world will be challenged on those roads and in the very early mountain climbs.
Liggett on Armstrong » This is his final tour, and winning it is not out of the question, but it is a very long shot. That said, he can go a long way toward assuring himself a podium finish by having a good first week on this wild course. For some reason this has been a layout that he has done well on. So for him to be a contender, week one is a huge key.
Liggett on the production » We set up early for the prerace show, and then my partner, Paul Sherwen, and I call the race. Once we finish we jump in a car at about 7:30 p.m. with a sandwich, a bag of chips and soft drink and drive to the hotel, where, if we are lucky, we arrive by 11:30 p.m. We do that for the entire tour. It is not glamorous but it is fun.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
