le Tour

So, this year (as with every year) I look forward to watching the tour.  It started off this weekend and I got to watch PLENTY of tour coverage on Versus with Paul and Phil (the best cycling announcers out there).  Here's the rub, during the week, I'm in the office when live tour coverage is going on.  So I have a couple of options.

1. Record the live coverage or watch the replay when I get home in the evening.  I could do this, but it is always so much more fun and exciting to see the action live!
2. Watch one of the free feeds online.  I did that this morning via some links I found on CyclingFans.  The coverage wasn't bad, but there were drop-outs and not the best quality picture.  But for free, it is not a bad option at all.
3. Watch the Versus feed online via their TourTracker.  Unfortuantely, this option costs... $30!  Now, you get great HD coverage and probably extra awesome displays and information and all that.

I'm a bit torn.  For one, their FAQs says: "Are Phil and Paul the commentators for the live stream?  The live stream will have commentary throughout with a mix of Phil and Paul along with other commentators from Match."  So I do get some Paul&Phil.  But lets look at the pricing.  There are a total of 20 Stages plus the prologue.  They just completed Stage 3.  4 of those remaining will be on weekends.  An additional 4 will be while I am in California.  So, 20-3-4-4 = 9 Stages remaining where I could watch it online.  For $30 I just don't think it is worth it.

Versus, I would like to support you, I really would.  But $30 is just too much.  ESPN was great this year with the World Cup.  They offered every single match FREE online at ESPN3 (though I think there was a deal with academic institutions and Comcast).

For now I will either watch it through somebody else online or catch the recaps when I get home @ night.