Tag Archives: cycling

Tour De France Photo Essay

One of the many joys of being an ex-pat resident of a country like France is getting to attend events like the Tour de France live without the hassles of around-the-world flights from Australia. We never imagined when we left Australia in December of 2010 that Mark would get to watch a stage of this famous race for two years in a row.

I’m turning the photo essay over to my husband Mark today since he’s the one who braved the drizzly weather to watch a Midi-Pyrenees stage of the 99th Tour de France on Sunday, the 15th of July.

Instead of being crunched by the crowds at the finish-line in Foix, Mark chose to watch from the village of Massat which is only about a 40 minute drive from our home in St. Girons. Here are some scenes in the village prior to the arrival of the caravan of floats and then the peloton of riders.
 

5 Jersey Display in Massat, Midi-Pyrenees, France


 

Man Waiting for the Tour de France in Massat, Midi-Pyrenees, France


 

Gendarmes in front of building decorated for Tour de France in Massat, Midi-Pyrenees, France


 
The caravan passed steadily by as people of all ages eagerly awaited the ‘goodies’ which are flung out to the crowds.
 

The pre-peloton caravan parade begins in Massat, Midi-Pyrenees, France


 

The Haribo (candy) parade car in Massat, Midi-Pyrenees, France


 

The Big Yellow Rider at the pre-peloton parade in Massat, Midi-Pyrenees, France


 

The Mickey Mouse comic book car in the pre-peloton parade in Massat, Midi-Pyrenees, France


 

Waiting and watching for the Tour de France cyclists to arrive


 
Zoom! After all of the waiting, it was quickly over for another year and people began returning to their homes.
 

Tour de France cyclists passing through Massat, Midi-Pyrenees, France


 

Walking home after watching the Tour de France pass through Massat, Midi-Pyrenees, France


 
Caps, keyrings, fridge magnets, packs of candy & snacks, wristbands, tote bags, blow-up pillow, glasses case, and more. Mark was much luckier this year since he picked a spot that had less people than his position in Normandy a year ago and he thus increased his odds of catching the ‘goodies’ that are flung out by the caravan of floats prior to the arrival of the peloton. He came home a very happy-chappy with a huge grin on his face!
 

A selection of 'goodies' that are tossed out to the crowd during the pre-peloton Tour de France parades through villages & towns


 
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Relaxing on a Tour De France Sunday

How to spend a gloomy and gray Sunday in St. Girons in the South of France? Sit alongside a very happy husband watching the live coverage on television.
 

Live Tour de France coverage on television


 
Can you see what’s on the console in front of the flatscreen TV? Those little pieces of sculpture are two cyclists that we bought in a shop in St. Lo up in Normandy. And the red and white polka dot hat is a souvenir from a previous Tour de France.

More soon!

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A Glimpse of Cycling Heaven in the Midi-Pyrenees

Almost a year ago, Mark got a chance to fulfil a long-held dream and go to see the Tour de France during one of the stages in Normandy. Little did we know back then that we would end up living in France and Mark would get to immerse himself in Cycling Heaven here in Europe.

It has been a rainy weekend — gray, yucky, not a good set of circumstances for walking around with expensive camera gear — so we’ve just stayed snuggled up in the house. And Mark has been rather run down with a bad case of bronchitis that, in spite of the meds that our new doctor gave him, he’s fighting to shake off.

But what excitement there was in his voice when he got up from watching a movie yesterday afternoon because he heard a lot of honking and noise coming through our teeny-tiny-village and then I hear him say excitedly, “Here they come!” Something made me grab my camera as I raced to the kitchen window at the front of the house and arrived just as the first cyclists were going by.
 

Here come the lead cyclists as they race through Engomer in the Midi-Pyrenees of France


 
Zoom! The cluster of men on bicycles was a blur — literally! You can see the sign on the other side of the road that states Salle des Fetes and Tennis Court quite clearly, but the cyclists themselves were a true example of ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ action.
 

A blur of cyclists pass the front of our house in the Midi-Pyrenees of France


 
They were followed by more police and ambulance services and several support vehicles with spare bikes on top. Then the clump of people and vehicles in this organised racing event wove their way through the valley and were gone in less than a minute.

We’re just entering the beginning of the cycling season and there will be a lot more such events, not to mention the Tour de France, in the coming months. What fun this is for a diehard cycle nut like my darling husband!

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Photo Of The Day: London Cycle Network Sign

London is proud of its status as a cycle friendly city — and these signs seen in the heart of the financial district attest to that encouragement to be more eco-conscious by getting out of a car and onto a bike.

 

London Cycle Network sign in the heart of the financial district.


 

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Photo Of The Day: Tour de France Parade

One of the stages of the Tour de France went through the nearby town of Vire in Normandy this past week on a particularly cold and rainy day. I opted out of going, but Mark decided to brave the weather and he was one of the many folks who lined the streets to watch the professional cyclists go by.

He caught this simply splendid shot between the rain showers when the parade came through town prior to the race. And it actually isn’t of a living cyclist — it’s a rather huge replica of a cyclist sitting atop a tiny little car. I just love this shot and I hope you will enjoy it too!

 

Cyclist replica atop parade car at Tour de France in Vire, Normandy, France

 

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Photo Of The Day: Guess What Is Coming To Town?

This may not get everyone’s blood pumping, but my cycle-mad husband was quite excited when he figured out what the sign said that I was photographing. This sign was on the sidewalk in Mortain in Normandy, northern France. Just a few more weeks to go!

Signs announcing the imminent arrival of the Tour de France

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Photo Of The Day – Rather Retro Advertising in Eastern Germany

“Goodness! That’s a bit of old fashioned cheesecake style advertising, isn’t it?” Mark looked over at what I was pointing to and smiled as he nodded yes and added, “It certainly is!”

This sign is mounted on the side of the bike shop in the village of Kroppen in Eastern Germany. We were eating lunch in the beer garden of the tavern across the street when I spotted it.

Hope it makes you smile, too!

Retro style 'cheesecake' advertising on bike shop in Kroppen, Germany

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