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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2013 11:55:45 GMT
The Tour caravan is something stunning.
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Post by Radchenister on May 29, 2013 12:32:08 GMT
Last time I actually watched the Tour in person was in 1999 Stage 5, Bonneval to Amiens (a certain LA was making the French news at the time for his doctor's note and saddle sores ! ) Now he's crossed out in the stat's though: www.procyclingstats.com/race/1003481-Tour-de-France-1999-Stage-6-Bonneval-AmiensWe were waiting on the finish straight for about an hour and a half, watching the circus come through, then the entire Peloton wanged it through in about 30 seconds at high pace . Cipollini won, Armstrong was having a hiding away phase in the race (well he was in 4th overall actually but went on to win), I think it was the few days when he was sweating over the status of his positive test and 'the doctor's letter' was produced for the UCI. I always think of it as a Forest Gump style 'I was there in the background' moment - people in bars were talking about what Lance was up to and I think everyone who followed cycling closely knew he was bending the rules even then. The race end is circa 20 minutes in - I am visible for a brief moment at 19:57 but you'll never spot me , the mrs and I had one of the green wavey hands a couple of hundred metres from the finish. Edit: actually, if you can freeze it at exactly 19:57, I am on the right in a blue shirt with arm out horizontally, wobbling one of the Green PMU hands lol - it's like time travel YouTube, lovely weather as I recall, we drove down from Hesdin in sunshine and had a great leisurely day out, parked just below the viaduct which forms the finish and walked up some steps right onto the finish straight.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2013 12:51:02 GMT
I always think of it as a Forest Gump style 'I was there in the background' moment - people in bars were talking about what Lance was up to and I think everyone who followed cycling closely knew he was bending the rules even then. I'm envious of you and anyone else who's made it over to the mainland for any of the big races. One day I'll go, one day. I was getting abused by people (mainly new to cycling) in 1999 for saying he was doping and I wasn't amongst the first to pick up something dodgy was happening. The early people spotted he was probably a cheat during the Vuelta of '98. *sigh* All of my illusions were shattered by the Festina Affair.
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Post by Radchenister on May 29, 2013 13:03:29 GMT
To watch it properly I would like to be on a hill climb vista point and watch them wind up the valley, the atmosphere is good at a finish but it's a bit of an anti climax, as they fly past and it's all over in seconds.
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Post by Phil on May 29, 2013 13:32:48 GMT
I've often wondered if being at the finish is the best place to be, all over in a blink of an eye. My best mate and his wife happened, purely by coincidence, to be in Paris for the final stage of last years Tour. I was trying to convince them to go down and watch but no interest, would've gladly swapped, you get to seem them do the final few laps at least in that situation.
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Post by Whitestar1 on May 29, 2013 13:38:42 GMT
I always think of it as a Forest Gump style 'I was there in the background' moment - people in bars were talking about what Lance was up to and I think everyone who followed cycling closely knew he was bending the rules even then. I'm envious of you and anyone else who's made it over to the mainland for any of the big races. One day I'll go, one day. I was getting abused by people (mainly new to cycling) in 1999 for saying he was doping and I wasn't amongst the first to pick up something dodgy was happening. The early people spotted he was probably a cheat during the Vuelta of '98. *sigh* All of my illusions were shattered by the Festina Affair. I am like you fluffkitten, I am dying to go too. Lucky you rad. One day hopefully next year I will go for the final stage. By the way the final stage for this year is it really at night?
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Post by Radchenister on May 29, 2013 13:43:08 GMT
Paris is pretty good as it's the final finish, it's 'Paris' of course and they do laps, so you get a few bites at the cherry. A hill top finish would be better than a flat or roll out one ... but one consolation is you see much more on TV whatever finish it is .
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Post by Whitestar1 on May 29, 2013 13:50:09 GMT
That true rad the Telly gives us an advantage but to be there at the finish in person is very much a defining moment that's unlikely to be ever forgotten.
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Post by Radchenister on May 29, 2013 13:55:24 GMT
Make the Tour of Britain a date in your diary; that's not too difficult to achieve - hop a train if you have to.
I'm toying with the idea of cycling to Paris for the finish of the TdeF but it's only in the wacky idea phase at present, although I have sussed I can do here to Newbury and stay with a pal, then onto Portsmouth and stay with my uncle and then across to Le Havre and half way to Paris in a hotel, ride into Paris on the final morning - watch race and then reverse.
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Post by phred1812 on May 29, 2013 15:01:19 GMT
The pictures of the Caravan I posted earlier were taken near Peyresourdes in the Pyrenees. It was a fantastic day - perfect weather. We had to walk around 15 kms from the town of Arreau becase the police had closed the road. The Caravan makes it a lot more exciting as it builds up the anticipation with the crowd and relieves the boredom of waiting hours for the racers. Brad was in yellow and you could see the riders coming for a a mile or two up the opposite valley. My one regret was that I didn't have a bike. There were zillions of them including some really exotic stuff. Once the race had gone by, they all set off at once down the mountain which must have been a real buzz and I really wanted to be amongst them
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Post by Phil on May 29, 2013 17:38:37 GMT
Make the Tour of Britain a date in your diary; that's not too difficult to achieve - hop a train if you have to. I'm toying with the idea of cycling to Paris for the finish of the TdeF but it's only in the wacky idea phase at present, although I have sussed I can do here to Newbury and stay with a pal, then onto Portsmouth and stay with my uncle and then across to Le Havre and half way to Paris in a hotel, ride into Paris on the final morning - watch race and then reverse. That'd be a good trip Rad. I'm thinking of taking in some of the ToB, my best mate and his family live up in Carlise so was thinking could go see the start then hop in the car down to Keswick and Kendal. Not sure it's worth it though, as you say you see more on the TV.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2013 15:29:10 GMT
So no Wiggo then
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2013 15:30:17 GMT
Wiggins has just been ruled out of the Tour. The official reason is that he's not recovered from his chest infection and has a knee injury. When Sky started suggesting the knee problem came from a poorly adjusted pedal I started smelling a smoke screen, they're way to professional to let something that basic happen, looks more like his feud with Froome and what seems to be a complete lack of motivation have gotten in way. Teamsky press releaseAlso don't think his ego could handle having to play a support role to not only Froome but Porte as is suggested in the Daily Fail article. BTW, Wiggins' contract is up at the end of the year,it would not surprise me to see him either retire or move teams.
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Post by Radchenister on May 31, 2013 15:31:44 GMT
He might just be ill Fluff?
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2013 15:31:56 GMT
That's what I thought when I first saw it
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