By Guest Author • 25th June 2012 • Posted in Tour de France
by Graeme Fife
27 September 1953, Lugano. Anquetil, a neo-professional, is on the start line of the Grand Prix des Nations, the end-of-season time-trial now superseded by the Worlds. Fausto Coppi leans over and tells him he’s riding too big a gear. Too late. He sets off in the rain, greasy roads, wins it by a street from Ferdi Kübler, the course record-holder, the first of an astonishing nine victories in the race. He was nineteen and the contre la montre became as fixedly his personal weapon as the eviscerating talons are to the stooping hawk.
Read the entire post »
By Guest Author • 28th July 2011 • Posted in Tour de France
Photo by Simon Mottram
We asked Yann Le Moenner, General Director of ASO, about his impressions of this year's Tour:
"I was particularly impressed by the incredible number of spectators at the beginning, but above all in the mountains. Admittedly, the performances of the French riders were the initial reason for this enthusiasm, but the variety of flags, in particular the Norwegian ones at the finish, was remarkable. As for the smooth running of the competition, although I have the viewpoint of an organiser who is concerned by safety during the race in particular, I too was won over by the sports performances that we witnessed this year. The guests that I had in my car were very enthusiastic about the race and asked our driver, Jean-Claude Bagot, the former rider, dozens of questions. This edition was wonderful from beginning to end."
Read the entire post »
By Simon Mottram • 27th July 2011 • Posted in Tour de France
Photo - Rob Saunders
The Tour de France is always a visual feast, but for the fan on the roadside it is the sounds rather than the sights that often make a lasting impression. This was particularly true on stage 19 of this year's Tour on Alpe d'Huez, where the exciting, contrasting and dramatic noises I heard seemed to reflect perfectly the unique character of this year's race.
Read the entire post »
By Guest Author • 27th July 2011 • Posted in Tour de France
Scan courtesy of Numerius
By Graeme Fife
No Prologue, racing from the first gun…two of the favourites, Contador and Evans scrapping for the win on Stage 4, Contador evidently keen to show he was still in the fight despite losing time from the off…The butcher’s bill was horrible and we lament the exit of them all, Wiggins in the form of his life, but bravo to the matured Sky team for sticking to it and Boasson Hagen’s stage wins. And that other Norwegian rider, curse of the rainbow jersey quashed by a magnificent Hushovd…Cavendish mastering the petulance in his make-up (sharp words from Peiper: Learn the métier, mate), canalising the emotion and giving full vent to the power in his legs for sweet green…Andy Schleck redeeming the failure to take on the Pyrenees with anything like the show of strength they demanded with a wonderful ride to the Tour’s highest ever finish on the Galibier, cheered on by Merckx, standing in the sunroof of Prudhomme’s car…Evans’ gritty chase behind him, taking the responsibility, square on, to close down the time gap…Voeckler, ah, Voeckler, driving himself to the limit and apparently beyond it, until he acceded and told the amazing Rolland 'Go on, take your chance' which he did, victory on l’Alpe d’Huez, over the whole pack of big hitters, Contador, Sanchez et al…Evans’ tenacious self belief driving him steadily to the overall win, limiting the losses and delivering a thumping time trial…but emphatically Voeckler’s Tour, his Europcar team, second division, ten days in yellow, fourth overall, stage win and the white jersey… Chapeau.
Read the entire post »
By Gem Atkinson • 26th July 2011 • Posted in Tour de France
Sunday was one of those rare but wonderful moments where my professional sphere allowed me access to a very sacred experience for a cycling fan. I found myself at the finish line area on the Champs-Élysées editing photographs.
The excitement was palpable as it seems written in the stars that Mark Cavendish would indeed seal his destiny and rightfully command the elusive green jersey. An anxious wait came for the peloton to hit the Champs-Élysées for those fast and furious 8 laps to seal what can only be described as the crowning jewel to seal one of the most open and exciting editions of this grand tour for many, many years.
Read the entire post »
By Guest Author • 22nd July 2011 • Posted in Tour de France
This year saw not one but two editions of the Étape du Tour: Acte I, which tackled the final mountain stage of the Tour and Acte II, a monstrous roller in the Massif Central. Rapha rode both and they proved to be worlds apart.
That Damn Mountain
by Kieran Riley
I have ridden up Alpe d’Huez many times. And watched it countless times on TV, either during the Tour de France or the Dauphiné Libéré.
Read the entire post »
By Jesper Grundahl • 12th July 2011 • Posted in Tour de France
It isn't just the riders in the world's biggest stage race flashing their frames, components and kits (and whatever else they may have to flash). This is, after all, the Tour de France so you give the best you've got no matter whether you're a ProTour squad or a TV Crew. As you know, there is whole lot more to Tour de France than just a bunch of riders trying to get from A to B without crashing into each other. Behind the scenes is an army of Press whose sole objective is to bring you the latest news and pictures of the Le Action.
Read the entire post »
