Le Tour de France 2007

After a hiatus of an hour you knew things were approaching - the TV helicopter was hovering gradually closer up the forested climb. Suddenly there was a burst of action. Team cars came speeding through then there were numerous biker cops followed by a car telling everyone to get out of the way as the Tour was about to arrive, and also that the peleton had been split by the climb. Everyone dropped their baguettes and jumped to their feet, grabbing their cameras and giant green hands.

Two riders were off the front, one of whom is the current (as I write this) race leader, Michael Rasmussen. He is a climber and, as ever, is after the King of the Mountains prize so it was no surprise he was out front trying to win climbing points.

Then followed a few smaller groups containing the incumbent King of the Mountains leader, Sylvain Chavanel (in the white and red polka dot jersey) and Fabian Cancellara who had been in yellow all week but this would prove to be his last day in the lead.



The groups gradually got bigger an bigger and it was all blur of colour and noise, interspersed with endless bikes and cars with officials, teams media etc. I must admit did not really take it all in. The groups came through at speed and the camera fired off shot after shot after shot. It was over and they all disappeared over the summit within a couple of minutes or so.



Only afterwards was I able to review the action through the countless photos I had taken on burst mode and pick out who had gone through. It was a tough job taking photos of something moving so fast and I didn't do a great job, however I was pleased with my first go.

The walk back to the car was bizarre - joining hoards of people walking up the middle of normally main road. Then suddenly everyone was gone and people were replaced by cars and motor homes. On the descent back down it was almost as if the Tour never came through - there was still a bit of a party going on one of the bends (well it was Bastille Day) and that crazy crane was still there. We were able to take in some of the scenery too proving why the Tour de France has the best stadium in the world!

It was an amazing experience for someone who avidly watches the Tour each year on TV, as much for the love of France as for the sport. The atmosphere and buzz was unique - something that you will not find anywhere else on earth. They love the Tour here - and so they should.