Professional Cycling For the Fans - TdF 2005 Stage 13 Photos

Yesterday in the Miramas-Montpellier stage. Not many, but perhaps not too bad. :rolleyes:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/masong4/imagestdf05.htm

nice pics. well done. the tree tunnel especially. must be thrilling to hear and feel and see that peleton fly by...

And don't forget, smell the peloton fly by too. :)

So I guess you did get up and make it to the Tour. How did you end up making it happen?

Koffee

And don't forget, smell the peloton fly by too. :)

So I guess you did get up and make it to the Tour. How did you end up making it happen?
No smells to speak of. ;)

And I think you may be thinking of another post, where he said he was traveling from Germany (?) pre-breakfast. I only had an hour and a half drive from home in La Drome.

nice pics. well done. the tree tunnel especially. must be thrilling to hear and feel and see that peleton fly by...
Thanks.

It is very exciting, in fact. Things build up over the period of about two hours after you are set up (one hour before the caravan arrives, which is about an hour before the first rider is expected), because the roads are closed.

First a few police and officials. Then the caravan, and more police, officials, press, and photographers. As the riders are nearing, many more police and officials and team cars - every few seconds. Then you see and hear the helicos, so you know they are really coming! The phalanx of police motos and TdF official cars roll into view - fast - and you can see the first riders, followed by many more photogs and a team car for each team represented in the group. A similar thing happens for every other lead group, and then the peloton, whenever they arrive.

I have to admit that I almost always end up wiping my face at one point or another. Cycling is my passion now, and being that close to the world's best, doing their best, makes for some very emotional moments.

I would recommend it unconditionally for anyone who has the chance to go.

being that close to the world's best, doing their best, makes for some very emotional moments.

Nicely said gmason. I know I choked up when I got my first live glimpse of the Tour on the climb to Ax-3-Domaines two years ago and if it wasn't so bl**dy hot, and I wasn't so dehydrated after riding 80 kms in that heat and then standing a couple of hours in the searing Pyrenian sun, I probably would have burst into tears ;-) Seeing them go up that very same climb today, and Totschnig wheel through the corner where I was standing, brought back a flood of wonderful memories.

BTW, I am so envying your lifestyle in France, and I check out your photo albums whenever I find myself jonesing for a little bit of that beautiful country.

It is very exciting, in fact. Things build up over the period of about two hours after you are set up (one hour before the caravan arrives, which is about an hour before the first rider is expected), because the roads are closed.

First a few police and officials. Then the caravan, and more police, officials, press, and photographers. As the riders are nearing, many more police and officials and team cars - every few seconds. Then you see and hear the helicos, so you know they are really coming! The phalanx of police motos and TdF official cars roll into view - fast - and you can see the first riders, followed by many more photogs and a team car for each team represented in the group. A similar thing happens for every other lead group, and then the peloton, whenever they arrive.

I have to admit that I almost always end up wiping my face at one point or another. Cycling is my passion now, and being that close to the world's best, doing their best, makes for some very emotional moments.

I would recommend it unconditionally for anyone who has the chance to go.
terrific description. gives me a major case of the yearns for '06....

BTW, I am so envying your lifestyle in France, and I check out your photo albums whenever I find myself jonesing for a little bit of that beautiful country.
I am retired after 41 years of full time employment and several prior part time. But ... I tell anyone who really wants to do it to ... wait for it ... do it! I know it sounds a little flippant, but if you want to badly enough, you usually can. I did, and I did. And I never look back. It took several years of planning, but it was well worth it.

And thanks for checking out the Web site. It was done originally to let family and friends back in the USA see what we are doing, and it gives me a little project to work on as well. I am glad others like it too. :)

...I am so envying your lifestyle in France, and I check out your photo albums whenever I find myself jonesing for a little bit of that beautiful country.
envy is not a strong enough word.... gmason, i'll pay for my plane ticket if you would hire me to be your butler? bodyguard? driver? gardener? car washer?

Thanks.

It is very exciting, in fact. Things build up over the period of about two hours after you are set up (one hour before the caravan arrives, which is about an hour before the first rider is expected), because the roads are closed.

First a few police and officials. Then the caravan, and more police, officials, press, and photographers. As the riders are nearing, many more police and officials and team cars - every few seconds. Then you see and hear the helicos, so you know they are really coming! The phalanx of police motos and TdF official cars roll into view - fast - and you can see the first riders, followed by many more photogs and a team car for each team represented in the group. A similar thing happens for every other lead group, and then the peloton, whenever they arrive.

I have to admit that I almost always end up wiping my face at one point or another. Cycling is my passion now, and being that close to the world's best, doing their best, makes for some very emotional moments.

I would recommend it unconditionally for anyone who has the chance to go.



Reminds me of the Tour in Den Bosch, '96. After the adrenaline rush of seeing the bunch fly past,then car after car after team car at 65kmh.....there's Museeuw in the Belgian champ colours, glued to the bumper of the Mapei car, spinning the 11 and eating a Powerbar!!

Awe inspiring.