unusual flag
 

have been seeing fans on the tour stages waving a flag with a design similar to the usa stars/stripes. except it is black/white and the star field appears to consist of about 10-12 little pine trees? anyone seen that and know what it is? cheers.

Sounds like the flag of the Bretagne region of France.

I can answer that one as I am from there.

It's the Brittany flag. They are not pine trees but ermines. It is rather recent (1920s), its creators were inspired by the US and Greece flags.

It is a rather popular site along the Tour as many riders are originated from this western region of France, the most famous being Robic, Louison Bobet, and Bernard Hinault.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Brittany

Yup.

Breton flag.

Looks cool.

many thanks. what a peculiar flag! those bretons!

I see a lot of flags I don't recognize, must be other regional flags,provincial or whatever. I recognize the flag of lorraine and aquitaine, but others i am not familiar with.

One of them - red and green with X and cross is the Basque flag. You see a lot of them.

Description is: The Basque flag is the regional flag of the Autonomous Region of Euskadi. It is flown subordinate to the Spanish flag. The red represents the blood shed by the Basques in their fight for independence, the white for the Catholic faith and the green is for the Oak of Guernica.

The flag of flanders also seems to be making an appearance quite often.

The Flemish Lion has appeared on the side of the road at the Tour Down Under! That's a long way from home!!

Yeah, the Flemish Lion seems to be the flag for all of bike racing.

No problem with that here!

Looks great on a jersey too. :p

Agreed. Lion of Flanders, and Madonna di Ghisallo medallions dangling from saddles. Must be July.