Monthly Archives: July 2013
Tour de France: stage 15
Bastille Day didn't get off to the greatest start for me. First I accidentally left my Allez Garmin sign on the train and realized it just in time to see the train pull away and then there was already a huge crowd waiting at the sign in! I did manage to find a place I … Continue reading
Tour de France: stage 14
It had been several days since I'd last seen Sean Kelly but he was here in Lyon today, sporting one of the free hats that is given out en masse daily. Today was expected to be a day for the sprinters. A big breakaway got away early and stayed away. It was a thrilling … Continue reading
Tour de France: stage 13
As keen as I was to get to the sign in area, I had to make a quick stop to make first. The night before, I noticed Lotto-Belisol's team bus and cars parked in front of a hotel around the corner from me. Earlier in the season, the team gathered the names of about 1,000 … Continue reading
Tour de France: stage 12
I'll start today by acknowledging I'm technically supposed to be in Copenhagen right now. So why am I still in France? If you've taken even a passing glance at this blog, it should be overwhelmingly clear that I'm having a ball following the Tour around the country, meeting cyclists and fellow fans. So even though … Continue reading
4 minute guide to Malta
I'd like to deviate from the Tour de France for a minute (actually, 4!). I'm starting to put together a series of 4 minute guides to some of my favorite places, so I hope you enjoy this one on Malta! Don't worry, there will be more Tour postings to come!
Tour de France: rest day #1
The riders get 2 rest days during the 3 grueling weeks of the Tour. I don’t know about them, but I’m happy to have had an off day! It’s not easy being a fan and having so many early mornings and long days in the hot sun. Sure, it’s tough to be a cyclist but … Continue reading
Tour de France: stage 8
Stage 8 marked the first day in the mountains for the centennial Tour. Rather than hike up the 6 kilometer climb with an average gradient of 8%, my friends and I hopped a ride up the mountain with the gondola. Normally I prefer to be at the finish line of a stage but today was … Continue reading
Tour de France: stage 7
In wandering around Montpellier last night, Fien and I discovered a couple of hotels where riders were staying. Not wanting to miss an opportunity to support the peloton, we were up early this morning and chalked a couple of quick messages to Jens Voigt and Svein Tuft (and Robbie McEwan) on the sidewalk in front … Continue reading
Tour de France: stage 6
I had already been waiting for several hours at my prime spot 5 meters beyond the finish line for today’s 176 kilometer stage when the police decided to tell me and the other 30+ people in my area that we weren’t allowed to be there! So frustrating! But the upside was that I relocated to … Continue reading
Tour de France: stage 5
With today’s stage from Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseilles being the longest in this year’s Tour, the riders had a relatively early start. For me this meant my shortest day of waiting yet at just 3 hours! I had company again, my dad and my new Belgian friends, so while Fien and I called out to our … Continue reading