Paris1972-Versailles2003

And this was a historical event for me. I have followed the Tour de France since even knowing much about France as a young teen living in Madrid. Little did I know that I would married into a family that was livid about it and even went after the stages around Pau to see it live! I followed soon too. And behold , living in our beautiful Morbihan breton we got a surprise passage of the Tour de France near us and just on the route I took to work!! This was the town of Saint Avé!  Here is my updated version of this passage in July 2015!

So the story began, for the short of it, I am a fan, and followed it with the family to the the town of Pau to see the races over the years since. Another turning poing , we moved to the Morbihan in Bretagne in 2011. This past Sunday, was our baptism here. The tour de France 2015 was coming again to Bretagne ,and this time again to the Morbihan, just too close to miss it. The 9 stage against the clock was run right on my usual route to work!!!! So we set up our bag and went on to see it!!

We knew is popular, not only here but internationally as well, so the stages are all packed with people. The caravan was to start by 13h10 or 1:10pm and the first team of races were to follow by 15h10 or 3:10 pm in our post. I chose to come in by 11h and parked in the city residential area for free and secure off rue Michelet in Saint Avé.  We walk down about 7 minutes to the giratoire de Beauregard or traffic circle of Beauregard on the road D126 intersection with the road D135 in Saint Avé. This is just around the entrance to the Château de Beauregard (see post).

There were plenty of folks already but we found a nice spot right on the traffic circle on the side of the passing of the team trials or against the clock race. Lots of goodies to eat and folks to talk, and share all, even the souvenirs the caravan was throwing at the crowd. We stayed from 11h to 16h45….or so.

As said, the caravan is all the sponsors of any kinds that comes in with a disneyaise show even Mickey was there!!! ,and then the road is prepare for the racers. As this was a team trial, they go out together as a team each on intervals of 5 minutes. The call of order  was  Orica, Bretagne-Séché, Lampre, FDJ,Europcar,Bora, Lotto, IAM, MTN-Qhubeka, Lotto Soudal,Trek,Astana,Cannondale, Cofidis,Katusha,Movistar,Giant,AG2R La Mondiale,Etixx,Tinkoff,BMC,and Sky. Needeless to say BMC won it over Sky.

My favorites were Lotto Soudal with Tony Gallopin, Giant with Warren Baguil, Tinkoff with Alberto Contador, Movistar with Alejandro Valverde, BMC with Tejay van Garderen, Katusha with Joaquin “perico” Rodriguez. Oh you know the names…

The overall top  5 leaders so far were:

1. GBR Froome, Christopher 31 , Team SKY 31h 34′ 12”

2.USA Van Garderen Tejay 61 BMC Racing Team 31h 34′ 24”+ 00′ 12”

3.BEL Van Avermaet Greg 68 BMC Racing Team 31h 34′ 39”+ 00′ 27”

4.SVK Sagan, Peter 47 Tinkoff-Saxo 31h 34′ 50”+ 00′ 38”

5.ESP Contador, Alberto 41 Tinkoff-Saxo 31h 35′ 15”+ 01′ 03”

The entire day was fun for the whole family and was able to get back in town many times stop for bread and such this time there was even the Sunday morning market! Now keep up with the race as it winds thru France.  The next stage is on from Tarbes to Pierre-Saint-Martin on stage 10. tomorrow been 14 July National Day here is a holiday ! so enjoy the races!! As we did!! in home turf!!

These are older posts on the Tour de France which for the memories of always want to keep in my blog and pick this memorable post , the first one close to my home (see St Anne d’Auray for the latest one).

The Tour de France 2019 106th edition from 6 to 28 July 2019 starts from Brussels! At Albi and or Toulouse this year for the 11^th stage! We had base at Pau ourselves couple times as the family came down to meet us there. Albertville is one town my dear late wife Martine lived and worked before meeting me and she was an avid follower as well of course. Then, to finish in our beloved Yvelines dept 78 at Rambouillet to Paris Champs –Elysées would had been wonderful. The route is 3,460 kilometers long, divided into 21 stages. For the first time, the famous brand Panini is launching an album of vignettes, this collection includes 352 vignettes and 42 cards that will represent runners, team jerseys, bikes or even stage cities. 150,000 albums are distributed before the Tour. The youngest winner in history , Egan Bernal of Colombia. Impressive and many friends very happy about him. I know his native town as visited and the area too. He is from Zipaquira in the vally of Boyacà where they have a wonderful Cathedral in a salt mine with the 14 steps of Christ awesome. This is not far from Bogotà. From the 5^th position my favorites Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck) – 3’45” France, 6º Mikel Landa (Movistar) – 4’23” Spain, 7° Rigoberto Uran, (EF Education First) Colombia 8° Nairo Quintana, (Movistar Team) Colombia 9º Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)   Spain, and 10° Warren Barguil, (team Arkea-Samsic) France

Update on the Tour de France 2020 !!! It will be run after all, now from Saturday 29 August to Sunday September 20 2020. All has been approved!!!  Originally scheduled from June 27 to July 19, the Tour de France will take place on the planned route, without change, from Nice to Paris. The Southern Grand Départ from Nice will have three exits with an initial stage for sprinters and on the second day there will be a mid-mountain exam with 4,000 meters of unevenness The women’s event, the Course by the Tour de France with FDJ, which was scheduled for July 19 on the Champs Elysées, is also postponed to a date which remains to be defined, but which will take place during the Tour de France 2020.

The official Tour de France (you can see it in French, English, German, and Spanish): https://www.letour.fr/en/

Hope you get to see one up close, it will catch up with you. Remember, this is the best , the top, the only one, the Tour de France! Well there are other good ones, but this is the best!

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!