The final day of Paris-Nice! I was among the first to arrive at the sign on but eventually a herd of people showed up.
In talking with Colin yesterday, we realized that we look for the exact opposite arrangement in how a sign on is set up. While he wants lots of space so he can move around and frame each shot just so, I want a smaller area for the riders so that I can plunk myself on the riders' path so they can't help but sign autographs and stop to chat with me. I was thrilled with yesterday's sign on in Mougins whereas Colin was pleased with today's! Despite my disadvantage, I still racked up 20 signatures with some help from my neighbors.
Jan Bakelants was one of the first riders to show up and, after he'd signed on, he leisurely rolled over to me, signed my poster (the one I snagged yesterday!), and made himself comfortable while we had a nice talk. When he left, I tried to explain to the curious onlookers around me that I kind of know a lot of the riders by now, so from then on, any rider I didn't know, the crowd did their best to get him to sign for me, “so that I could have more friends!” as one neighbor said. They were slightly over eager to get every single rider to sign, which is how I ended up with Thor Hushovd and Tony Gallopin signing 2 days in a row. Then again, without their help, I doubt I would have ever gotten Carlos Betancur in the yellow jersey to sign for me, so it all worked out.
There were a few misses: Tom Bonnen; Andre Cardoso to complete Garmin; Sylwester Szmyd for the Polish trifecta. A TV cameraman and reporter prevented Niki Terpstra from signing but a helpful worker notice the pair was blocking my mojo and he had them move off to the side.
Most importantly, I got familiar hellos and smiles and waves and laughs from Navardauskas, Tyler Farrar, and Taylor Phinney, just as I'd hoped for.
Team Giant Shimano at the start.
Rui Costa and Andre Cardoso.
Navardauskas, George Bennett, and Steele Von Hoff check their bike computers.
Pim Ligthart.
Tyler and Taylor together!
David Lopez smiles, Alex Howes snacks, and a Tinkoff rider looks cranky.
The jerseys.
Howes and Farrar.
FDJ.
The penultimate rider to get moving, Fabian Wegmann.
The 128 kilometer stage took the peloton on a loop over 5 categorized climbs and 2 sprints. A few riders opted to abandon and cut out a short loop with the final climb, so they rode in well before the peloton arrived.
The last kilometer was a descent and then dead flat so the race organizers got the sprint finish they were looking for. French champion Arthur Vichot claimed the stage.
Betancur celebrated staying upright to seal his overall victory.
There was a crash in the final kilometers involving Rui Costa, Luis Angel Mate (pictured below), Tony Gallopin (middle photo), and Rafal Majka (bottom photo).
Christian Knees, Niki Terpstra, and the peloton arrived in waves.
Stage winner: Arthur Vichot (France, FDJ)
Overall winner: Carlos Betancur (Colombia, AG2R)
Best young rider: Carlos Betancur (Colombia, AG2R)
King of the Mountains: Pim Ligthart (Netherlands, Lotto Belisol)
Best team: Movistar
Jesus Herrada.
Sprinter: John Degenkolb (Germany, Giant Shimano)
Aleksejs Saramotins finished the stage just ahead of the broom wagon.
2nd Rui Costa
1st Carlos Betancur
The race was over but Jose Rojas had to chug some water before going in for a doping test.
Team buses and mechanics' trucks lined the Promenade des Anglais.
Better than Where's Waldo: in this photo find Taylor Phinney, Connie Carpenter, Thor Hushovd, and Bobby Julich.
Today's 20 autographs: 21 Romain Bardet, 22 Carlos Betancur, 25 Samuel Dumoulin, 28 Alexis Vuillermoz, 33 Thor Hushovd, 34 Amaël Moinard, 44 Sebastian Hinault, 46 Jerome Pineau, 48 Aleksejs Saramotins, 54 Matt Goss, 78 Lieuwe Westra, 81 Tony Gallopin, 96 Cedric Pineau, 102 Jan Bakelants, 128 Fränk Schleck, 138 Perrig Quemeneur, 145 Jesus Herrada, 185 Marco Marcato, 188 Davide Villella, and 193 Koen de Kort.
I miss it already.