Poitiers, Tour de France

Tour de France, Poitiers 9th September 2020, caravane

Poitiers, Tour de France

Today sees the end of the three-week cycling fest that is the Tour de France. Thanks to Covid-19, it is later than usual this year, but it’s been no less spectacular, in fact France has looked resplendent in her late summer colours and I think the only bad weather was in Nice, of all places, on the first day. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Paris this afternoon as I know how unpleasant watching the final in the rain can be. Falling in September rather than July, also meant that I got to watch it on my birthday for the first time, and that was a treat. 

 

My Tour de France mask from the caravane

From the start, restrictions have been in place to try and eliminate the risk of a Covid-19 cluster breaking out and there were no guarantees that it would make its full three weeks, with all the teams still present, but it did. While the riders have played by the rules, keeping in their safe bubbles and wearing masks for their interviews, sadly some of the roadside fans have let their excitement get the better of them. Their masks slipped, or forgotten, as they carried on as usual; too close to each other and too close to the riders as they shout, cheer and run alongside them. It sometimes made for uncomfortable viewing.

 

We took the opportunity to catch some live action as Le Tour arrived in Poitiers on 9^th September. Not wanting the hassle of finding somewhere to park or navigating the closed roads around Ed’s flat where the route was passing, we decided to arrive by bike. A logical idea for two cycling nutcases, except for the fact Poitiers is over eighty kilometres from home and the wind was cruelly blowing directly at us for most of those kilometres. 

 

A quiet and people-free spot to watch the Tour de France, Poitiers

Having cycled over four thousand kilometres this year and climbed numerous big mountains, many of them Tour de France favourites, recent bike rides have been nothing but a pleasure. The weather has been lovely, yoga has improved my core strength and cycling position, and my legs have powered the pedals with ease. I was looking forward to a day in the saddle, excited to experience the publicity caravane and cheer the pro-riders as they raced by, before catching up with Ed and Pearl for a family pizza night. It didn’t go as expected. Cycling into the wind took so much energy, every pedal stroke was an effort and soon things began to hurt that haven’t hurt for a long time. I was so disappointed with myself, but a restorative flan from a patisserie just outside Poitiers ensured we made it to Route de la Cassette, about twelve kilometres from the finish line, which we thought would make a good viewing point. 

 

Tour de France publicity caravane, Poitiers

We found ourselves a quiet stretch of road, with a bit of shade, and waited for the caravane to arrive. As is usual for us, we were mostly ignored by those throwing the exciting promo gifts like cycling tops, caps and goodie bags, but we did pick up a few key rings (and I do like a key ring), a packet of sweets and some broken biscuits. Whether the biscuits are already broken, or break on contact when thrown, will probably always remain a mystery. We then settled down for the long wait for the actual race to come through, our tired legs enjoying the break, our sore bottoms not so happy to be sitting on the pavement. 

 

The Tour de France, Route de la Cassette, Poitiers

It was a fast and flat race towards the finish line and all breakaway riders had been caught by the main bunch, which meant we’d cycled 86km into the wind, for no more than a forty-five second blur of coloured lycra zoom past. It was madness, but for the buzz and the atmosphere I would do it all again next year. When we watched the television coverage later that evening, we were so glad we hadn’t tried to watch it nearer to the finish, or on the bridge by Ed’s flat as in both locations the crowds were ridiculously packed together and we wouldn’t have been very comfortable with that. 

 

Well done to Le Tour and all involved for carrying on and coping with a new normal in this weird old year of 2020. It was an exciting race all the way up to the deciding final minutes of yesterday’s time trial, with a variety of teams and riders doing what they do best, pushing their bodies to the limit and proving they’ve got what it takes to win. 

The Tour de France, Route de la Cassette, Poitiers

Tour du Poitou Charentes #TPC2016

King of the Mountain in Boutiers-St-Trojan

Today was the first day of the 2016 Tour du Poitou-Charentes, a four-day, five stage professional cycling tour that just happens to be (almost) on our doorstep.

The #TPC2016 cow car

We had planned a morning drive to Angouleme, the town hosting the depart, and were looking forward to a coffee before watching the action; the team coaches arriving, the crowds gathering, the cyclists alighting, chatting and signing autographs before cycling off to the team presentations. We have done it before and it is great fun. However, while Angouleme is lovely, the ‘Grand Depart’ was being held out of town, tucked away by a lycée, a college and a supermarket and nowhere near the Angouleme we know and love. Parking looked to be impossible, coffee probably non-existent and stress levels were rising.

Over a coffee at home we decided our best bet would be to catch some action along the route towards La Rochelle, as the race passed through the Cognac vineyards, somewhere we love cycling in summer. We picked the top of the second hill climb of the stage, by the church in Boutiers-St-Trojan. A half-hour drive from home, followed by an 18km cycle ride and we were in place at the top of the ‘mountain’. To make it more authentic we had cycled up too and although it is quite short it’s certainly sharp (300m at 8%) and in 38 degrees it took some effort. Thankfully we had time to refuel on a spicy vegetable and chickpea pasta salad before cheering on the riders.

The breakaway at the top of the hill climb

The great thing about catching them climbing is that they are slightly slower (although no one looked as red in the face as I was) so it’s easier to spot team colours and even individual riders. It was worth the effort and even in the heat our little 38km tour of the vineyards was a lovely ride.

Team Sky and the peloton

If you are in the area and want to see some live cycling this week you can find out more at the Tour duPoitou-Charentes website. Tomorrow they will leave from La Rochelle at about midday and make their way inland, through the lovely Marais Poitevin, to finish in Niort around about 16h30.

Cognac vineyards in summer

When the Tour du Poitou-Charentes came to our village

My official pass

Today was a very exciting day. Today the Tour du Poitou-Charentes came to our little village. It took control of our roads and blasted through in a horn honking, blur of noise and colour and it was great fun to be a small part of it as a marshal.

We had a brief meeting in the morning to collect our passes, decide our positions and as a bonus collect a picnic lunch provided by the mairie. We had to be in position at 12.30pm, about an hour and half before the cyclists were due to arrive to ensure the roads were clear for the publicity caravanne that passes an hour beforehand. I picked quite a busy junction on the way out of the village and by the time we had to shut it completely I had a small traffic jam behind me and was feeling quite important. 

However when the official marshals sped into the village, jumped off their motorbikes, unrolled their yellow flags and got out their whistles, they slightly took the edge off my role. It was amazing how tiring it was to spend two hours trying to be responsible and communicate with French drivers who were being delayed, but I still managed to take a few pictures.

A real marshal with a flag

This is the Poitou-Charentes cow who always heads the convoy before the cyclists. When you see him arriving you know the action is not far behind.

The lead car

It is common to have a breakaway group of cyclists who form a small bunch ahead of the main peloton quite early on in the race. We were an hour into the race and this group were just over five minutes in front of the main group.

The breakaway

I didn’t manage to take any photos of the main peloton, however my friend Karine, who was also a marshal on the run into the village managed these two fantastic pictures, merci ma belle.

The peloton approaches our village

The team car convoy

This great shot of the peloton whizzing throught the middle of the village was taken by Ed who was helping Ade at his marshal point at the end of our road.

The peloton in the village

It was great fun to be involved and to see the village in a different light and I even managed to pick a few freebies, including a AG2R Mondiale multi-coloured pen. Lucky me!

My freebies

A clash of passions

The Tour du Poitou-Charentes leaving Rochefort

This week is not just the last week of the holidays it is also the busiest and potentially the most exciting week of our summer.

Alex Dowsett signing my programme

Today was the first day of the four-day, five-stage Tour du Poitou-Charentes cycle race, an event we have been following for about four years now. It may be a little brother to the Tour de France, but it is still an important race in the cycling calendar that attracts the big names from the big teams. This morning we were stood by the Team Sky and Movistar team buses, (almost) rubbing shoulders with Alex Dowsett (that’s another autographed programme to add to my collection), Ben Swift and Luke Rowe. I was close enough to the open door of the Movistar coach to watch their final preparations. Bananas and muesli bars were eaten, water was drunk, shoes were ratcheted up, tops were pulled over brief glimpses of bare chests, helmets and sunglasses were positioned and finally the riders emerged to sign autographs before checking their bikes and cycling off to sign in. An experience that was very much worth the hour and a bit drive to Rochefort in the Charente Maritime.

Tomorrow afternoon I almost get to invite my favourite cyclists over for tea and cakes as stage two of the race will pass through our village – can you see my happy dance? In order to ensure the safe passage of the race, the publicity caravan that passes an hour earlier and all the support vehicles the commune was ‘told’ to provide a team of marshals. As a Maire in France is someone in a position of authority being ‘told’ rather than asked nicely, didn’t go down too well at first. However, the levels of excitement displayed by me seem to have rubbed off and now it is something most of the village are talking about. Ade and I are looking forward to being involved as marshals tomorrow, doing our bit for the village and feeling like we are part of the race organisation too.

Charroux Literary Festival 2015

James Vance

As if this wasn’t enough for one week in rural France where quiet and calm normally rule, on Thursday and Friday I will be attending the Charroux Literary Festival. Oh yes, a real literary fest event with real authors almost on my doorstep. I can’t wait to attend the sessions run by Kate Mosse, Jacqui Lofthouse and Diana Morgan-Hill among others. In order to really feel the pulse of excitement I’ve volunteered to introduce local author James Vance for his session on The Basics of Plot Structure in Fiction. Am I nervous? Yes. Excited? You bet!

The only pin that could burst my happy bubble at attending my first lit fest is that I will be missing the final two days of the Tour du Poitou-Charentes. If books and cycling are top of my list, cycling and Status Quo are top of Ade’s list and just to round off the fun this week, the mighty Quo are playing in the Loire on Saturday evening and Ade and Ed can’t wait. A two-hour drive is worth it for a free Quo gig. I’ve still to decide whether Saturday is a lit fest day or a Quo day for me, but I’m pretty sure Sunday will need to be a lazy day. You’ll probably find me in a darkened room re-energising on patisseries.

Charroux Literary Festival 2015

Tour du Poitou-Charentes

We have lived in this area for nine years and yet there are many places we have yet to visit and Saint Maixent L'Ecole was one of these places, until this week. However, our relatively new found passion for cycling has had the added bonus of widening our Poitou-Charentes horizons as we have spent the summer out and about with our bikes. Tuesday saw the start of the Tour du Poitou-Charentes, our local professional cycling tour, in the lovely (and fairly local) military town of St Maixent L'Ecole. Not only did we spend some time soaking up the pre-race atmosphere, we also took our bikes and spent the afternoon exploring the town and the local undulating countryside.

The Abbey Saint Maixent L'Ecole

The old town St Maixent L'Ecole

St Maixent L'Ecole

Narrow streets St Maixent L'Ecole

Very patriotic

This was a very unexpected find in a small French town, but perfect for a photo opportunity combined with my patriotic choice of T-Shirt. I am not normally to be found wandering around in France wearing British clothing, in fact I had to borrow this shirt from Ed, but as there is one lone British entrant in the Tour du Poitou-Charentes (Alex Dowsett, team Movistar) I felt the need to show my support.

Alex Dowsett before the race

We hung around the Movistar team bus like groupies waiting for the lycra-clad cyclists to make an appearance and were not disappointed. Aside from their toned, tanned legs which can have a funny effect on me, they were very friendly, polite and relaxed. I got my programme signed by Alex Dowsett and he thanked us for our good luck wishes, before heading off to sign in on the podium.

Team Movistar bikes

While the legs do it for me, it is the bikes that Ade likes to ogle at and there were some mighty fine examples on show.

The peleton

Awaiting the arrival of the peleton (main group of cyclists) can be a long wait for a brief glimpse of lycra, but the power and excitement as they rush past is worth the wait.

An unfortunate incident

Road cycling can have it's risks, even for the spectators and we were unfortunately witness to a nasty accident while waiting for the cyclists. One of the Gendarme security motorcyclists, who ride the route ahead of the peleton, lost control as he came around a roundabout and his bike skidded over a curb and into the crowd. Thankfully there were no serious injuries, but a young lady was taken to hospital with a possible broken leg. It was a real shock to watch and seemed to happen in slow motion. If you are at an event like this, please stay safe and don't sit on the curbs, at least if you are standing you have a chance of running! It hasn't put us off and we are hoping to catch some more of the action this week. More information on the Tour can be found on their website here.