Sunday, 17 July 2011

On ya Bike!

The weather forecast was a little out.  Rain overnight and strong winds today but mainly sunny.



Waiting for the riders

We did little first thing but set off before lunch to a road junction just south of the village of Aigne.  Here just a few kilometres from our house the Tour de France would pass by on Stage 15 Limoux to Montpelier.  It is an extraordinary circus.  First of all thousands line the route, helicopters are permanently overhead and sometimes landing in adjacent fields and flotillas of expensive vehicles heavily covered in logos pass by.  Then only motor cycles are coming and then riders appear.  First the five or six stage leaders and a few minutes later the Peloten.  About 200 riders come hurtling down the hill closely packed and there is hardly a chance to spot the yellow jersey.




Here they come!
 
A tremendous experience but incredibly they have all passed in 30 seconds. Then is is back home to watch the final section on TV.


Woodchat Shrike

Only birds noted were 2 Swifts and a Woodchat Shrike.

Postscript - Mark Cavendish (Isle of Man) won Stage 15

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