Celebrating the British Victory

Although that title is a bit misleading. Cycle teams really don't think nationality-wise. It's about your team mates.


A few celebratory pictures from my living room.


Close up of Cav on his way to the fourth Champs-Élysées win.




Cav riding in line.




The best of British cycling together.




Oi! Bloody Right Light Jumping Cyclists!




The move onto the Champs-Élysées. Note the celebration about to happen, and may just see the Lotto bottle on the shelves. Given from the back of a support vehicle on top of the Col du Solour in 2010. It was full of a rather sweet pink, hot liquid (it was pouring with rain at ~1500m above see level). Quite what else was in the drink, we didn't know!

Some Alpine Tour de France Pictures

With the 2012 Tour de France almost upon us, I thought I'd put up some of my pictures of Alpine places visited in previous years. Some of these they are going to this year, some not!


First, a place they aren't doing this year, Col d'Izoard. We camped there, within a dozen yards of the top, in 2006. The Race going over with the eventual winner, Oscar Pereiro, in yellow.


Col d'Izoard, the mountain view north.


Col d'Izoard, the road view north. This was to Briançon. I picked up a Tour de France roundabout sign from there, right in front of the Gendarmes. Mind you the race had already gone through, so it was fair game.


Col d'Izoard, the road view north east.


Col d'Izoard, the view south through Casse Déserte, a notorious spot at the end of the climb from the south.


The view back up through Casse Déserte, towards Col d'Izoard. Yes, I cycled down then up for a bit of fun. Got caught behind a car on hte way down. Ain't just always the way! 


Col d'Izoard, the Coppi Memorial. Also Louison Bobet remembered here. Europe remembers it's cyclists in the most beautiful places.




Now on to Col de Richemond, which is a much smaller climb. They are going over this in 2012. We camped on the banks of the Rhone the day before and came up on the day. It was a last visit during the 2002 Tour. First, the race going past on it's way up the east side.


Col de Richemond. The view back down to the Rhone valley where we camped.


Col de Richemond. Le Train Bleu taking Armstrong up.




Col du Galibier. One of the main climbs in the Alps that we visited in 2002. This year it's not being used. This is the view north.


Col du Galibier. And the view south-east towards Briançon.


Col du Galibier. The Henri Desgranges memorial. That's the guy who thought of the race in the first place (or Géo Lefèvre some say). His idea to sell his newspaper was to highlight the delights of the French countryside, including it's many wines and cheeses, by sending round many journalists following the cycle race. in the first year, 1903, there were 6 stages with the longest being 293 miles, around twice as long as nowadays.




And onto Col du Glandon. This was done a lot in the late 1990s and early 2000s. We visited in 2002 and 2006 but only as a ride through. In 2006, I did cycle up from the lake just to the south of the summit. Mainly as I only had a few minutes before the race was due to pass. This is the view north towards Col de la Madeleine.


Col du Glandon. Me at the sign.


And this is the view Col de la Croix de Fer, which is the main climb with Col du Glandon on it's slopes.




So onto Col du Lautaret, which isn't in this year's Tour. We camped on it during 2006. Here's a Tridem going up the west side.


Col du Lautaret. The view of the Lautaret glacier, pretty much on a level with out campsite.


Col du Lautaret. The race comes past and we got a Cofidis bottle, from Bradley Wiggins himself!


And a last col, the Cormet de Roselend. They aren't going here this year. We visited in 2002, camping just at the head of hte valley before coming up on the day. Yep,  that's my car parked right at the top.


Cormet de Roselend. The view south towards Bourg Saint Maurice. We could see them climbing for ages, steadily becoming a bit more than dots, until they appeared below.


Cormet de Roselend. The race comes past, eek, my car!




For people that don't know, to while away the time before the race appears, the Publicity Caravanne passes throwing out freebies. The vehicles are all shapes and sizes.


Final Goodies Haul from the 2006 Tour.

Some Pyrenean Tour de France Pictures

With the 2012 Tour de France almost upon us, I thought I'd put up some of my pictures of Pyrenean places they are going to this year.

This is the Col d'Aubisque finish in 2007 with Cadel Evans just getting to the top.


This is the view from half-way to Col d'Aubisque towards Col du Solour, again in 2007.


This is the view from Col d'Aubisque towards Col du Solour, again in 2007.


This is the finish in Luchon in 2009, with Ballan just coming in.


This is the main street in Luchon in 2003.


This is the main street in Luchon in 2003 with the race coming through.


This is a wine merchants in Luchon in 2009. I got read out on the Eurosport coverage about this!


This is the start in Luchon in 2009. Wiggo just heading for the start line.


This is the signing on in Pau in 2007. This is where the yellow jersey of Rasmussen did not appear.


This is the view from Col du Solour of the Cirque du Litor, in 2007.


This is the view from below Col du Solour of the Cirque du Litor, again in 2007.


This is some of the wildlife on Col du Solour, in 2007.


This is the view from Col du Solour, in 2007.


This is narrow top of Col du Tourmalet, in 2005.

Some Pictures Taken Along the Way

A photojourney

I have several hundred photos, far too many for here. Here's a few.

The rural scene at our first night hotel and restaurant.


The view up valley from our campsite at Port de Pailheres.


The view down valley from our campsite at Port de Pailheres after the fog cleared.


The begining of the caravanne.


The surprise rider, Rafael Valls Ferri.


Carlos Sastre cycles past Lorna


Carlos Sastre on TV on Port de Pailheres with Lorna in Turquoise in the middle of the shot.


A few more riders with the Polka Dot, Chartreau.


The view from just behind our tent on Col de Portet d'Aspet.


A butterfly just behind our tent.


The French entertainment. He didn't stop for 5 hours. The loved him.


The view down the valley towards Portet d'Aspet.


Voeckler in the first set of riders over Portet d'Aspet.


Schleck, in yellow, over Portet d'Aspet.


And the sprinters, with Mark Cavendish, bring up the rear.


Tommy Voeckler's win in Luchon on the TV coverage.


And our view of the same.


Andy Schleck trying to limit his losses into Luchon after the chain debacle.


A wine shop in Luchon, with a bike in the window?


Bradley Wiggins cycles past the Shack Attack tour bus at Luchon start.


Mark Cavendish has a mechanical at the start in Luchon.


Thor Hushovd on his way to the start at Luchon.


Eric Zabel, 6 times green jersey winner and Mark Cavendish coach, at Luchon start.


Christian Prudhomme, the organiser of the Tour de France, at Luchon start.


A butterfly in the hills near Port de Bales.


Another butterfly.


Lance Armstrong's escape group going into Pau.


That arrow is mine.


Our shelter when the rain appeared.


The view down the La Vallee d'Ossau above the clouds.


Another butterfly.


Our shelter at the col de Soulor, at 1540m above see level.


The 3 amigos, parked together as they always are.


Contador, in yellow, with Voerckler behind.


Lance Armstrong comes past with George Hincapie.



TV Coverage of Col de Soulor with my car (green Saab with yellow arrow) on left.


TV Coverage of Col de Soulor me (grey lump) and Lorna (white hat back from road) on left.


TV Coverage of Col de Soulor me (grey lump) on right.



Mark Cavendish's bike.


Mark Cavendish's bike detail.


Mark Cavendish.


Mark Cavendish's detail.


Sky management.