Such wonderful service! It's hard to get lost when the bus to Poisy dropped me off roughly 502 meters ahead of the finish line for the sixth stage of the 66th Critérium du Dauphiné.
Lots of signs to direct both riders and cars of where to go (and where not to go).
There were a couple of bends in the final 500 meters, including a lazy right hander at 200 meters to go.
For a moment I was puzzled–where was the finish line? The massive gantry is always visible from a few hundred meters out.
So I set myself up a meter or two after the finish line and a few minutes later, the gantry, a massive arm, swung out across the road from the top of the timing truck.
A metal leg was installed to support the gantry's weight. I've never seen one set up this way before and I was impressed. It seemed really compact and efficient.
The official time keepers checked and rechecked the cables several times. The final few kilometers were largely flat (though with a short, punchy 15% climb thrown in), so it looked like a good chance for a sprint or breakaway finish.
Installing the final you-are-here touch to the finish line.
A little before noon, the first of the team buses began to arrive. Daniel Mangeas, the legendary voice of the Tour de France, stepped out of his commentary box to chat with the crowd and greet the bus drivers.
Mangeas checked his stats, wandered around the VIP area, and occasionally shouted out race updates to the eager spectators.
With about 50km to go, Mangeas kicked into action and began to commentate the race. Over the years, I've learned to do 2 things in French: get around comfortably as a tourist and talk about cycling. Please don't ask me too much in French about my teaching career but I'll gladly discuss Cav vs Kittle with you en français. Much of my cycling French I've picked up from listening to Mangeas, but I could hardly believe my ears today. He reported a breakaway of about 16 riders including Jan Bakelants and his teammate Zdenek Stybar. While Bakelants wasn't a GC threat at over 6 minutes off the lead, the breakaway had a big enough lead that the stage winner was certainly among the escapees.
No ASO race is complete without floppy PMU hands. And hats, lots and lots of hats. I myself picked up 2 today.
I had to double check with my neighbors (we'd become close over the afternoon as they were curious about me, the only person to arrive hours early who neither qualified for a senior citizen's discount nor peed standing up), but this man I'd seen all day working with the finish line cameras and cables is a member of France's Olympic bobsled team. Everyone needs a day job!
With about 15km to go, the race was really moving. In the excitement, a radio reporter from France Blue walked right up to me and started asking me rapid fire questions. I immediately interrupted to say I only speak a little French but I did my best to keep up and he asked if he could put me on the air. It always happens that they ask different questions in the actual on-air interview, so there were a couple of moments where I had no clue what he had just asked me, but I think it went well enough. He seemed happy!
Mangeas reported that Pim Ligthart, Lieuwe Westra, and Jan Bakelants had gone off the front of the breakaway. They didn't have a massive gap but were holding steady at about 20 seconds.
Less than 10km left and the photographers were jumping off motorcycle and jockeying for position.
Ligthart cracked, leaving Westra and Bakelants to duke it out. They worked together for as long as necessary and then began watching the other. With 200 meters to go, Westra attacked! Bakelants was slowly slowly slowly reeling him in. At 30 meters, Westra swung right, almost boxing Bakelants in, but he suddenly swung out left, leaving enough space for Bakelants to surge ahead and claim his first victory of 2014!
Rounding out the top 5, Bakelants's teammate Stybar, Pim Ligthart, and Jens Keukeleire, respectively. Jens Voigt is just visible as he rolled in for sixth place.
Nearly 4 minutes later, a peloton of about 50 riders came home. Race leader Froome had crashed with 7km to go and the peloton obeyed an unwritten rule to wait for him.
Neither Froome, bearing evidence of his crash, nor Contador looked too happy with the day's ride.
Simon Gerrans and Daryl Impey led a group in.
Bakelants had ridden in to the podium area and no one paid any attention but when the yellow jersey showed up, the press perked up.
Ivan Santaromita and the peloton at nearly 7 minutes down.
Two riders I can always count on to ride together: David Millar and Ryder Hesjedal.
How did Poland do today, you ask. Maciej Bodnar, my favorite Polish rider, had ridden in the break, so the 2 Michals of Omega Pharma-Quick Step (Kwiatkowski and Golas) rode in together, leaving Sylwester Szmyd the last Polish rider on the road.
Among the media vans, I spotted one that had a very different job.
In all my years at the races, I'd never before seen the van where the winners' jerseys are pressed with the team logo. The first batch of jerseys are ceremonial: they are always long sleeved, zip up in the back, and meant to be worn just on the podium (pictured below).
The next batch of jerseys take longer. This is the jersey the rider will wear the following day so the logo must be perfect, as must be the fit. Often a rider will receive a few jerseys in different sizes just to be safe. Never in my life have I seen someone folding with such love and caring precision.
Riders continued to trickle in. George Bennett and Jack Bobridge.
On the podium, Jan Bakelants was thrilled to recieve his cow, flowers, and medal (not pictured)! Is it a coincidence that he tends to win when I'm at the stage? You decide.
Showing no signs of fatigue from a tough Giro, Belkin's young gun Wilco Kelderman remained in third overall at 12 seconds down.
Italy's Alessandro De Marchi kept the climber's jersey.
Some races will open up the road to let fans closer to the podiums. ASO tends not to do that. This guy tried to quietly sneak in among the professional photographers but security was having none of it.
Froome retained both the yellow and green jerseys. He told the media his crash wasn't bad, but judging by his tight lipped smile and banged up limbs, he was understandably eager to get off the podium and out of the spotlight as soon as possible.
It was the usual traffic jam for team cars and buses trying to make their way out.
Lions piled up in Sky's window attesting to Froome's dominance.
Bakelants's cow and flowers were already waiting for him in the OPQS bus.
A sizeable crowd lingered at the anti-doping control for Froome. I decided to move on–it had begun to rain lightly and I don't really need to interact with a man immediately after he's filled a specimen cup.
