We are super fortunate that the final Stage of the Tour passes about 10km from our apartment, right on the train line from our place. The Tour is a funny spectator sport, because you wait around for 3 hours or so, and the bikes literally pass by in about 90 seconds, total. But no matter, there's lots to do on the sidelines. About 90 minutes before the riders come through, the official Tour Caravan comes whizzing by. Yes, whizzing - there's no slowing down here. If this was in the States, I guarantee you there would be an injured kid and a lawsuit. Here, the police drive by first and bark out over loudspeakers to keep your kids on the sidewalk. And good thing, because the caravan trucks (Tour sponsor companies) pass by way faster than I would have expected, throwing stuff out the windows of the tricked-out trucks to the spectators. Keychains, magnets, stickers, laundry soap, flags, hats. We scored (or, rather F scored) some serious loot!
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| Pleeeease! Give us free stuffffff! |
What's funny is that in the States, cycling is a rather elite sport. Here, it's the sport of the common people. The sponsors are all of the major brands of working-class France. Supermarket-brand dried sausages, cola-flavored syrups to add to your bottled water, Nesquik, even the official baguette (the Banette) of the Tour.
So, F and I went, and waited. And waited. And since F slept for most of that time, I got to enjoy some adult company, an awesome picnic spread complete with hot coffee, and tasted my first steak tartare. Nevermind that it was homemade, came out of a big mixing bowl, and I cannot guarantee that it had been properly refrigerated - the flavor was actually delicious. The texture.... well, it may take some getting used to.
Wait... here come the cyclists! Go! Go! Goooooo!
And then, in 90 seconds, it was over. But the spare bikes that went by next were pretty sweet too.
- E
Sounds fantastic! I'm jealous, even if it only lasted 90 seconds.
ReplyDeleteI remember watching a time trial at the beginning of the Tour in 2007 in London. It was great because I picked out a spot, got my camera, and got to watch each rider come by one-by-one which gave me time to take cool photos and appreciate all the gear madness that goes along with a time trial.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't mention what free gear you actually got though... dried sausages? soap? a John Deer hat? (oh wait, that last one seems improbable)