The Head of the Caravan

We were teased today by waking up to clear blue skies but within an hour of setting off on our big ride cloud had bubbled up and the rest of the day was overcast and quite cool. I've actually been as cold today as I've been all summer in England, but that was a small price to pay for the privilege of becoming part of arguably the greatest sporting event in the world. For it is the amazing roadside support of this event which makes it so very special. It never ceases to astonish me just how many thousands of people trek up to the top of these climbs to line the narrow mountain roads and cheer on the riders.

Those following the tour will know that today's stage was marred by an act of stupidity where tacks were somehow put on the road, resulting in a broken collar bone for one unfortunate rider and myriad punctures. We were oblivious to this as it happened a few hundred yards up the road from where we were watching, and I don't want to dwell on this one negative aspect of what is generally such a positive experience. From where we are staying we went down the main road to Tarascon, and then up over the Port de Lers at 1517m, a long but relatively straightforward affair. A beautiful and fast descent, clear of traffic, brought us to the delightful village of Massat where we had some lunch before climbing the fearsome Mur de Péguère. By Tour de France standards this is a very steep climb, up to 1 in 5 in places, and grinding up there certainly gives you a sense of the pain that the tour riders have to endure. We saw this etched on some of their faces a few hours later.

The best thing about riding these roads on the day of the Tour is the fantastic support you get from the crowd. All those cries of "Allez, Allez, Allez" are still ringing in my ears. It sure gives you a boost. I could have blipped Wiggo today, surrounded by his Sky Lieutenants of Froome and Porte, but I thought that I'd show a side of the Tour that you don't tend to see on television. Before the riders come through the crowds are entertained by the Caravan, a procession of promotional vehicles, throwing out all manner of tat. It creates quite a frenzy of activity as people compete (even wrestle each other) to catch the freebies on offer! This shot is kind of iconic as this vehicle always heads up the Caravan. When you've been waiting in the cold it's a great sight, as you then know it won't be too long before the riders come through.