Yellow fever in the Vendée!
If you are a keen cyclist then you are now (like my husband!) most probably glued to your TV to follow the daily progress of this year Tour de France. We were lucky enough here in the Vendée to welcome the 3 first stages of the Tour and I must say that I absolutely loved it! The weather was sunny and hot, the spirit most festive and the riders in good shape (check out those figure-hugging lycra shorts ladies!)…
On Saturday, our group of British cycling fanatics headed for Bretignolles to support « our » heroes Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, a great location with the nearby beach of La Normandelière providing some much appreciated after-Tour relaxation! Sunday’s time trial event in Les Essarts provided the best photo opportunity as the teams wizzed past together in their aerodynamic outfits. But my Tour highlight was without a doubt Monday’s stage, starting from Olonne-sur-Mer, past our neighbouring town of Coex and all the way through Apremont where locals and tourists alike had turned up in numbers to encourage the riders – Vendée « home hero », Thomas Voeckler, getting the loudest cheer!
But I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t admit that, as a non-cyclist, I had just as much fun (if not more!) watching the Tour caravan go by, with crazy trailers, blaring loudspeakers and random freebies! I really hope you were there to experience this mayhem too – if so then I’d love to hear all about your day(s) at the Tour…
So it’s easy to see how the Tour de France has become such an institution – not only does it bring together the best international athletes in pursuit of the much coveted yellow jersey, it also brings everyday people together to enjoy the unique cheerful Tour atmosphere. This makes me think that perhaps politicians around the world should think about wearing lycra shorts more often…allez, allez, allez!!!!!
Tags: cycling in Vendée, Tour de France, Tour in Vendée
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Photos
One of the biggest events I had ever seen in the Vendée!!! No need to be fan, however you catch the fever…
The most difficult thing was to shout ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ to encourage our local team EUROPCAR without swallowing some of the millions of ladybirds!