Nicholas O’Donnell seems to have read my mind about why I like the pro-tour when he writes:

I love the fact that I can watch Cav, perfectly led out by Mark Renshaw, win on the Champs Elysses; that I can see Cancellara race and win a TT around Monaco; watch Voeckler cut loose in the Massif Central in the third week of a tour when the legs of the sprinters are tiring; and sit up late to see the fireworks as the GC favourites battle it out in the climbs of the Alps and the Pyrenees. Yes, that’s right, I don’t want to see the same type of rider win every stage of the Tour. I want to see all different kinds of racing with all the different kinds of tactics required given a chance to play out – and see the best riders in the world all get a chance to claim a Tour stage win, the most famous of victories.

Read the rest of his post about why we need variety in race routes (or a variety of races) here.

Moreover, if you follow road cycling as a sport and love beautiful images, you cannot not subscribe to his blog.