Photo: When the Tour passed through Macon a couple of years ago, there were art installations and festivities everywhere.
The Tour de France didn’t come anywhere near us this year, but it does pass close to us more often than not. We’ve seen it in the countryside, we’ve been to one of the starts, and we’ve watched the now disgraced and dethroned Lance cross the finish line at the Champs-Elysées. And if we can’t catch it live, we’re glued to the TV. Ron likes to follow the race closely, but I watch it more for the gorgeous scenery. Even my mom back in the states, who has no interest in cycling, watches it with the volume turned down, to see the spectacular views of mountain and coast and village.
Today I came across some old photos of our crowd at the tour one year. Tour-watching is not quite like being a spectator at a regular sporting event. Here’s how it works.
First of all, you arrive early in the morning to set up camp in a good spot. It’s a perfect, sunny day, and everyone’s in a fine mood. The prime spots are always on a long climb; they go down in a blur on the descent. Of course you have packed picnic supplies, wine, sun hats, and chairs.
There are hours of merrymaking before anything happens. The crowd grows restless, then suddenly the parade begins. This is in form of sponsors with trucks and floats and decorated convertibles and other assorted vehicles, tossing small prizes of dubious value to the spectators. After a seemingly endless number have passed, and you’ve collected all the detergent samples you will ever need, you hear the whir of the TV helicopters—the riders are coming!
And at last, the riders, the leaders first and then that colorful pack, the peloton, zipping up those hills at speeds you and I might ride DOWN the mountain. And in a couple of seconds, pouf! The main event is over. If you linger too long with your camera, you will have missed the action. (And of course you also get to watch, like it or not, those infantile French men who love to don bathing suits, tutus, or superhero costumes and desperately seek their own three seconds of camera time by throwing themselves in front of cyclists and chase cars, thus endangering not only their own lives but also those of the cyclists. Note to tour director: please instruct chase cars to just run right over them, and let’s get them out of the gene pool.)
So it’s all a bit like a very long (time-wise and miles!) tailgating party, where the game lasts only a few seconds. But what a fast and furious game it is!
In the COMMENTS: Thank you to Jonelle, Jan, Melinda, and Natalia who have moving stories of cat rescues (Note: except that my husband specified a one-cat rule as a condition of our marriage, I’d be one of those ‘cat ladies’ with a hundred cats.) Marilyn (of the Marilyn du Jour blog), I will surely name the next abandoned cat Hemingway, as alas, there is always another one. Claude, love the title, too funny! Patricia, I’ve heard the SPCA in France doesn’t neuter because it’s ‘not natural’. As if it were natural for domestic cats to be homeless! Thanks as always for the kind comments. And going back to the French Village post of the week before, John, it probably is a lot like Sullivan’s Island!
Favorite Reads, and some shopping: Our friends Chris and Sue over at the European Market website scour all of Europe to bring you unique gifts that are Euro-chic, which can be delivered to your door. This week they’ve interviewed me for their subscription newsletter—do subscribe if you haven't! Here is a link to their facebook page, where they've posted one of my recipes.
And if you're shopping for summer reads, our good friends at The Daily Basics and the Shelf Pleasure Book Club have great recommendations for you this week.
13 thoughts on “Hanging Out at the Tour”
Love the colorful cycle art photo!
Infantile men are not only french, Lynn.
Yesterday I have seen one of those specimen donning nothing except a small star-spangled banner over his “strategical” parts.
Guess he was coming from the other side of the big pond…
Love the suggestion about what to do with the idiots who run alongside. Helen and I have often thought what a lot of good could be done by an AK47 wielding Tour Official.
Thank you for this post…….lovely and yes, I would watch, as your Mother does, to see the beautiful French countryside! Merci!
Annette Ledoux Heath
I’m glued to the tv as usual watching the Tour. I was a bit disillusioned after the Lance news though, but I guess the scenery and excitement forced me to overcome my cynicism. At least they don’t seem superhuman anymore. They actually get tired. Maybe it’s cleaner now. I hope. Thanks for an insiders take on being a roadside spectator!
Oh my gosh. It’s like tailgating at the Tour! 😉
I would watch the Tour, if I got coverage here, but I don’t.
We came oh-so-close one year with the boys. Alas, we couldn’t envision finding a place to park. I was front and center on one of the Tour of California stages in Sacramento. “Whizzing by” doesn’t do it justice. How the photographers actually capture these maniacal speed-demons is beyond me. But it was a lot of fun to be part of the crowd. Nothing like Tour de France, though, I’ll admit. It’s been a fun year–Corsica a total surprise. We’re hard-core US viewers. Thank goodness for Phil, Paul and Bob!
Your post is the highlight of my week – every week, Lynn – LOVED this one! xxxooo
I started watching for the scenery but now (after years of watching) I also appreciate team tactics more and more. There are still fine points I don’t quite grok but I’m learning and I love it! And the scenery still grabs me as well… mmmmm!
I confess that I am not much of a cycling fan,but like your Mom,Lynn, that gorgeous French countryside absolutely captures my mind and my imagination!
Your descriptions are wonderful(!) and as always, your post starts our weekend off in the best way!
Thank you!
I love watching the Tour on TV for the scenery too but have loved watching the caravan and peleton three times like you describe including once on Mont Ventoux. Missed being there this year but enjoyed the TV coverage.
Next year the Tour starts here in England, in Yorkshire to be precise, Bronte country – the scenery will be pretty special too. Also we Brits have gone cycling mad over the last few years so there will be a good show.