participantsWe booked our vacation this summer so as to be able to enjoy one stage of the Tour de France live in a small Alpine village. It was our second time and it was - once again - a fun and exciting event, although Armstrong wasn't there this time!! The whole event brought a festive atmosphere beginning the evening before the stage and lasted until the day after when the campers left the road sides.
The bikers were preceded by a publicity caravan of cars and trucks with advertising and small gifts for the public, a treat not only for the kids. The tour itself was through in less than 15 minutes and the peloton moved way too fast to pick out individual riders so I just randomly took some pictures...unfortunately the last edition of this sports event ended with controversial doping issues, adding a rather dirty touch to its reputation... find below my doping-free not retouched pictures for today's theme!
the festive atmosphere in the village, yellow t-shirts were given away
part of the caravan with my favorite snack!
Bikers through the village
The bikers were preceded by a publicity caravan of cars and trucks with advertising and small gifts for the public, a treat not only for the kids. The tour itself was through in less than 15 minutes and the peloton moved way too fast to pick out individual riders so I just randomly took some pictures...unfortunately the last edition of this sports event ended with controversial doping issues, adding a rather dirty touch to its reputation... find below my
I bet it was great fun to be there. Too bad about the dirty note it ended on but a clever take on this weeks theme.
ReplyDeleteLovely photo! ANd it is a shame how DIRTY this sport has gotten!
ReplyDeleteI have grown up watching the tour. We used to drive from my home in Switzerland to the closest spot they would come to!
I still love it and will continue to watch! The problem in THIS particular sport is that they are VERY strict and seem to not let anything through the cracks, compared to OTHER SPORTS!
What was the Village you stayed? It looks familiar, though then again so many villages look the same in the ALPS! ;-)
Great photos! THANK YOU!
Very interesting photos! Particularly the one with the heart, loved it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty village - and great graffiti
ReplyDeleteGreat photos as always Mar. Must've been exciting to be there in person! It really is too bad that cycling has been plagued by these doping scandals. Great shots nonetheless! Happy Hunting :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pics. I was delighted that the prologue took place in London this year. It was hugely well attended (me included. The drugs isue really has tarnished what is one of the truly great sporting events in the world
ReplyDeleteVery clever Mar. But you are right. The doping issue is a dirty one!
ReplyDeleteToo bad it ended on a dirty note. It looked like fun. have a great weekend
ReplyDeletegreat pictures. have to agree with Indiana Amy, i too loved the one with the heart :)
ReplyDeletehappy weekend ;)
Great shots! The Tour came through Ivry in 2003 but certainly did not look as pretty as in the Alps.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Even if there still is a lot of dirt in the biking sport, I'm glad you had a great time. these pics was great and I'll thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI do hope Tour de France will be a clean one next year and my dream is one day to see it with my own eyes.
Wishing you a great and clean end to your week:-)
those are beautiful photos. it is sad that doping among some athletes mired their professional life.
ReplyDeletestunning photos--I would have loved to have been there!! Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great adventure!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics, shame it had to be tarnished by the drugs :-(
ReplyDeleteWow, cool shots! I agree about Lance and the whole doping thing...that was sad. :(
ReplyDeleteIt looks so pretty there!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Mar! Isn't it sad how sO many events these days are "dirtied" by poor behavior OR "presumed" poor behavior? Tis sad! The pics are great! I know you had sO much fun there!
ReplyDeleteOh, lovely photos! I love the Alpine Village. I wished I was there.
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad that drugs have dirtied this event. Great shots!
ReplyDeleteGreat take on today's theme! Love the heart on the mountain.
ReplyDeleteGreat entry for this week! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures even untouched. Your life sure is exciting.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics you got!..But feel about sad how dirty this sports has done:(...c",) HAve a nice weekend!...
ReplyDeleteInteresting interpretation, and great photo's!
ReplyDeleteI like the graffiti in the Alps ! and am sure the bikers were pretty dirty too !
ReplyDeleteIs the graffiti a memorial in the alps with the t-shirt? All great photos,.. have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteInteresting take on dirty.
ReplyDeleteCome see mine.
That looks like a lot of fun. That Village looks so quaint and beautiful. France is still high on my list of places to visit ( btw I reopened that comment box on my dead blog if you ever need to leave me a note lol)
ReplyDeleteWow, I love the graffiti in the Alps!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! It is indeed a shame about the doping issues - it really does leave a bad taste. At least you had fun while you were there.
ReplyDeleteNice photos. I just wonder why sportsmen and sportswomen are still using drugs and steroids in competition? Don't you think it's a dirty tactic?
ReplyDeleteThat must have been an incredible experience. How cool that they hand out publicity gifts to the spectators. :) Great interpretation of the theme - it is sad that doping has dirtied the sport.
ReplyDeleteMy Photo Hunt this week.
Mar - what a great experience! Now can I tell you I'm probably the most jealous because I know and appreciate what you have been through..
ReplyDeleteThe pics are absolutely incredible and it is sad that something like this has happened.
Great use of dirty! Thanks for visiting too!
The bikers surely are dirty too after all that biking! *giggles*
ReplyDeleteI think they have to skip the Dom...
Nice touch!
Beautiful photos!!
ReplyDeleteMama Bear
Aw, my hubby loves to watch TDF and Isle of Man videos so when my son saw your pic, he recognized the bikes/race. It feels sad to learn about the doping incident, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteGreat weekend to you! :)
A definite different take on the weeks' theme. I thought maybe the alps were full of dirt therefore making them "dirty".
ReplyDeleteWhat a great take on this week's theme! I'd love to go see the race someday, what a fun trip that must have been!
ReplyDeleteYou've had two fantastic "happenings" that you saw this year...The Boating World Cip, and now The Tour De France....Amazing, Mar...truly! You and Mr. Mar do some very fascinating and exciting things! BRAVO TO YOU, my dear.
ReplyDelete"WORLD CUP"....LOL!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! Love the car with the pretzel on the front :)
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! Looks like a fun filled event. The heart on the mountain is marvelous. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI got an award the "Blogging Star" and as I am convinced that you are one too, I have choosen you. It's at your disposal on my blog !
ReplyDeleteHello Mar!
ReplyDeleteGreat and interesting pics! It's really bad and sad to learn about all this dopping!!! Hope the next one will clean! I'm a little late because I work again now! Have a beautiful sunday!
Great photo's. I especially like the action shot of the cyclists!
ReplyDeleteTAG! your it!
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity, so many well known cyclists are using the dirty tricks of doping. Else it's very fascinating to follow la Tour.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo's