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| Arrivee |
Thursday 29th August 2013
I had missed this event in 2012 due to being back in Scotland, so I was up bright and early awaiting the arrival of the 3rd stage - course en ligne - from Charroux which covered a distance of 109.4 kilometres. My street, and surrounding streets, had been closed and many people gathered along the steep climb of rue du Puits Carré.
My short walk to and from the town centre each day is by this route. In fact, I have on the one occasion only, actually cycled it myself. A feat not to be repeated I might add. My preferred route now is by a longer and gentler incline.
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| The Tension Builds |
Many visitors, townspeople and neighbours joined me as the cavalcade of officials', security and sponsors' cars passed by. As the sponsors' cars passed, little gifts of key-rings, caps, horns etc. bearing their company logos were scattered towards the spectators, .
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| Why Are We Waiting? |
The atmosphere was one of great excitement under the increasingly hot Poitou-Charentes sun. As midday approached, each passing police convoy of cars or motorbikes was greeted in anticipation of the much awaited race leader or leaders.
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| He Is Here! |
With camera at the ready, and after many false alarms, the leader suddenly appeared, quickly followed by the peloton itself. The steep hill was treated with what seemed contempt as they quickly passed us by, urged on by the crowd's roar of encouragement.
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| We Are Comin Tae Get You! |
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| Allez!!! |
The race itself was to continue out of town for another 43 kilometres or so, through surrounding villages, before returning once to the finish on Avenue Maurice Bailly a short distance from my house. We would have enough time to walk to the finishing line. Along with Gilbert and Jean Marc, and many other spectators I quickly walked to take up position as close to the action as possible.
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| Let Me In! |
When we reached our objective it proved to be difficult to find the ideal spot due to the number of spectators already there. The atmosphere was tense as we were kept informed of the race details, and the distance left for the competitors to ride, over the speaker system.
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| And The Leader Is? |
The crowd strained to get a better view as the countdown to arrival reached under 1000 metres. The roar and noise of the crowd increased as the leaders quickly approached their objective. The commentator's voice high in the control room captured the intensity of the occasion. In a blur of various bright team colours bikes and riders flashed by, my camera attempting to capture the moment.
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| Him In The White! |
Within seconds the main field followed to further bedlam and cheers.
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| Did Ye See Who Won? |
It would be some time before the victor would mount the podium and we three retired to the shade of a sponsor's bar for a drink and some sustenance. As we stood there in the cool, slaking our thirsts, there was still the occasional very hot and tired competitor being cheered across the line as reward for their efforts.
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| Gaun Yersel Son!! |
The Classement was as follows:
1st Nacer BOUHANNI (France)
2nd Armindo FONSECA (France)
3rd Maxine VANTOMME Belgium)
Philip Lavery from Ireland was 36th.
A French winner went down well with the crowd needless to say!
The Podium presentation can be viewed here
However the day was not all over yet. Later that afternoon the same riders would once again be crossing that line. This time taking part in a course contre-la-montre individuel (time trial) which again started in Charroux but only over a course of 22.800 kilometres.
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| The Finish Line |
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| Allez! Allez! |
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| The Crowd Encouraging The Competitors On |
1st Thomas VOECKLER (France)
2nd Mikhail IGNATYEV (Russia)
3ed Arnaud GÉRARD (France)
A thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable day.
Further details of the Tour can be found here.
Click here for International Tour du Poitou-Charentes slideshow.
