Tour de France - Photos / 12th Stage 2008 Tour de France.

A series of photos takes at mile 95 of yesterday's Tour De France. We tried to position ourselves at the top of an uphill grade in order to have a chance at better photo taking. Still a photographer only has about 90 seconds to capture all the action. You can always expect the presence of the cyclists by the sound of the helicopters. Perfect day, slightly overcast day. Couple photos taken after the Tour passed, when we rode about 15 miles attempting to follow the Tour's tour. This year, I did not capture the Tour's leader wearing the Yellow. But one photo shows the TV camera tuning in on a FTJ rider following a Cofidis rider. Can't see the cyclist's numbers so we'll never know who they are.
Cycling home after the tour was a great experience, since we were able to bypass about 10 miles of backed up cars. / And no anger towards cyclists bypassing stalled cars admidst stalled traffic. Mostly we heard 'Allez.'

Couple more photos.
Hope someone will find stage 12 photos of interest. An explanation of the photos above. from top down, left to right.
photos one thru six. The warm up session where floats pass by throwing gifts by the sponsors to the fans. Photo 2. Our bikes to be used in an attempt to follow the tour, as soon as they pass. Next a favorite beer float for Panache. Unfortunately they did not pass out samples./ Photo 6. A surprise to wanna be photographers. Fans were sprayed with "Vitesse" water in an attempt to cool us off. Sort of an unwelcome gift should they spray your camera, head on. ( A close up of photo # six, the guy with the nozzle is not a terrorist. Its just water.)
Photo seven thru 11. Taken as The cyclists pass. Photo 12. Our mini tour in an attempt to follow "Le Tour." . An Aude valley pass at approx. mile number 105 , with 'Le Tour' no where in Sight.

Second set of photos. .1. All the gifts one gathers as the sponsor's floats personnel throw stuff at the fans. Photo number 2. A close up of TV cameras panning in on the lead cyclists at mile 95. Since we were not at the start line, sorry no photos of Ricco being arrested. Did not affect the fan's enthusism. Still lots of allez's to be heard. Try not to miss out on catching the Etap hotels gift pen set. It includes a 40% off certificate for a stay at their hotels. Among our gifts passed out by the 20 some passing floats/ sponsors were laundry soaps, mini sausages, a Champion red poka dot cycling cap, Vitesse water, Chaise d' espagne key chains, the local newspaper, pretzels, a LCL backpack, pen sets, and ranger style sun hats, reflecterized tape for your bike , vision wipes for getting the sweat off of your glasses and finally a paper bullhorn for yelling at the passing Tour.

great pics. thanks. later.

Cool!

Anybody have a pic of Sven Krauss wiping out and breaking his bike in half?

thanks for posting these cycle
they give a good impression of the atmosphere
all that for 90 secs...

Nice!

thanks for posting these cycle
they give a good impression of the atmosphere
all that for 90 secs...

It was a great day. With the speed the tour passes, I found my digitial camera not fast enough to keep up to the tour. My plans for hoping they'd slow down atop the hill to be a false hope. After we rode back to Maury, it was like vultures raided the towns pantrys. We stopped at a couple bistros for a beer and a sandwich. No food was to be found. The crowds must have been really hungry.