“But every July the world knows that a struggle of epic proportions will occur and the man who emerges victor will have achieved true lasting fame and glory…. it is a marvelous gigantic event that has time to develop like a giant novel… a race of unbelievable difficulty with a gloriously rich history.” The Story of the Tour de France by Bill and Carol McGann
Watching all of France galvanize around the TDF has been more moving and special than we ever could have imagined. From the spectacle of the publicity caravan to the RVers and picnickers lining the roads to the crowds filling the small towns to the sea of color that is the riders and teams, the Tour de France is arguably the greatest sporting event in the world. Vive le Tour de France!
Some of the floats in the “publicity caravan” in Tallard before the start of Stage 15 from Tallard to Nimes.This float blended in with the race and the countryside.Shauna and Sally auditioning to become “float girls”. These green hands were very coveted freebies.Bike and biker sculptures of all kinds were on display.Much fanfare accompanies the start of each TDF Stage.
Our Bikestyle Tours leader extraordinaire, Grace Fitzpatrick, demonstrates ready position for nabbing goodies from the publicity caravan.
Tour fans fill every available space to cheer the riders on their way with shouts of Allez! Allez! Allez!The Tour de France racers moving up to the start of Stage 15 from Tallard to Nimes.…..and they’re off!The riders soar through St Marie de Campan at the bottom of the climb up Col du Tourmalet. The tiny spectator under the hanging flower baskets in the upper left of the picture is Shauna.Well hello!Riders, crowd, pageantry, alpine backdrop… the race comes through Risoul.A rider launches at the time trial in Bergerac. German Tony Martin, the world time trial champion, crushed the field over the 54-kilometer (34-mile) leg on Saturday in an hour and 6 minutes…averaging a mere 30 mph. Zoom.
Tour and Tour Organizer: BEST OF THE 2014 TOUR DE FRANCE, Bikestyle Tours.
