Strangers & Aliens

...is without doubt hiring a motorcamper and following the Tour de France for three weeks. Not only do you get to see one of the greatest sporting events of the year, but the scenery it passes by....wow! Catch a bit of the Tour with the highlights every evening (not today, it's a rest day) on ITV4 at 7pm. Or, if you've injured yourself in a freak yachting accident, you can watch it live in the afternoons on the same channel. However, if you're going to watch you need a potted guide; so (deep breath):

The Tour is several races within a race. The GC (general classification) is for the guy who competes in the quickest time overall - at any point the leader wears a yellow jersey. But there is also a points competition (with different points being awarded for the first few places at different parts of each stage and in varying amounts depending on the flatness of the stage). The leader of the points competition wears a green jersey. Then there is the King of the Mountains competition, which also works on a points basis based on who passes the summit of various mountains they climb of varying difficulty. The leader wears a polka dot jersey. Got it? In addition, team members help one another because riding in a slip stream is easier than leading and team members can encourage one another. Simple really. Add to this the sheer spectacle of riders riding down mountains at 75mph and up them at 25mph AND the spectacular scenery and you've got a nice hours viewing.

Or a dream holiday.

What's yours...?