Author Archives: Kathryn
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
Tour de France: stage 4
In Tour de France parlance, yesterday was a rest day for me (no cycling) and I had a long transfer (a 5.5 hour ferry from Bastia to Nice). I still had time for some arts and crafts, so I celebrated Canada Day by making a sign for Garmin. I’m so sorry to say I … Continue reading
Tour de France: stage 2
After yesterday’s excitement at the finish line and seeing so many cyclists afterwards, I knew it would be tough for today to top it. The plan was to catch the start of stage 2 as it left Bastia and headed through Corsica’s categorized mountains for Ajaccio. As usual, I was up and out the door, … Continue reading