Toy bicycles in a shop window

The local toy shop has decorated its window for the occasion!

Last year, we missed the Tour de France. We were in Paris when the race passed through Canterbury, then in Canterbury when the race passed through Paris. It was ironic, but it meant that we didn’t get to see any of the famous race.

This year, however, the race passed within 100 meters of our apartment, so there was no excuse for not going out and having a look. We met up with Anne-Laure and Neil, who live just down the road, and watched the caravane go by. There weren’t as many people as I expected, so we staked out a good spot and watched the parade go by.

We were listening to the coverage. The riders were taking their time and were still 120km away by the time the caravane went past. So we trundled up to Anne-Laure and Neil’s place to open a nice bottle of rosé and watch the coverage on TV. The rest of the crowds remained in place on the road – two hours of watching nothing! When the riders were about 10km outside of Paris, we headed back downstairs to get a look.

The riders were all together in the peloton – the whole race passed us in 8-10 seconds. Imagine camping out for three hours to catch 8 seconds of action. Great to say that I was there, but not sure I’d rush back to do it again. Cycling is definitely a sport that’s better to watch on TV than up-close and personal!

Tour de France - Police Officers

Police officers block off access to the Quai

Tour de France - Aude in the sun

Aude gets ready to catch the parade

Tour de France - Police Motorcycles

Police motorcycles

Tour de France - Police Motorcycles

Police motorcycles

Tour de France - Crowd

The crowd begins to line the street to watch the caravane pass

Tour de France - LCL Caravane

The first vehicle in the caravane is the LCL rider

Tour de France - LCL Caravane

The LCL lion

Tour de France - Skoda Yeti Caravane

Advertising vehicle for the new Skoda Yeti

Tour de France - Skoda Support Car

The Skoda support car

Tour de France - Haribo Caravane

The Haribo bears coming down the road. No free candy for us, unfortunately.

Tour de France - Haribo Caravane

An army of Haribo cars

Tour de France - Antargaz Caravane

The Antargaz car

Tour de France - Aude

Aude decided to work on her suntan

Tour de France - BBox Caravane

BBox car

Tour de France - PMU Caravane

The PMU cars (PMU is a racing / betting shop)

Tour de France - Ricore Caravane

The Ricore car. Yes, this guy is basically driving a cup of coffee with a spoon sticking out of it.

Tour de France - Press Car

France Info Press car

Tour de France - Panache Caravane

A Panach buggy

Tour de France - Panache Caravane

A rolling Panach four-pack. For me, this was the funniest car that we saw.

Tour de France - Gendarmerie

The first of the Gendarerie Nationale cars

Tour de France - Cochounou Caravane

A 2CV from Cochounou. Sausage, anyone?

Tour de France - Cochounou Caravane

Fact – cute girls sell sausages.

Tour de France - Cochounou Caravane

More sausage-waving

Tour de France - Police Nationale

The Police Nationale out in their new Range Rovers

Tour de France - Caisse Epargne Caravane

The Caisse Epargne truck, complete with cycling giraffe. Of course.

Tour de France - Sapeurs Pompiers

The Sapeurs Pompiers

Neil with camera

Neil gets a good angle

Anne Laure

Anne Laure seems to be enjoying herself

Aude

Another happy fan

Tour de France - Peloton

The moment we were all waiting for — the peloton passing at Pont Neuf