Stage 10 of the Tour de France right on our doorstep. We just had to go and see it.
Yep, étape 10 – Limoges to Issoudun 194.5 km. We studied the stage map on letour.fr and decided that the 4th category climb at St Laurent les Eglise would be a good place to go. We weren’t wrong. We arrived some three hours before the race was due, and the town was already packed. We had to park up and walk the last couple of kilometers. Parking in the town was reserved for VIPs and handicapped.

The whole of the climb was lined with people, just like on the tele! Our friends from the ROCC (Rochechouart Cycling Club) were there so we joined them. It wasn’t long before the publicity caravan arrived. Vehicle after vehicle after vehicle of sponsors handing out freebies. Music, dancing, enthusiasm, smiles…..three weeks strapped to the back of a multi-coloured whatever with music blaring while you hand out stuff…takes some doing.

Caravan passed, we waited for the riders to arrive. We picnic’d with the ROCC, naturally they’d bought some wine along. Chilled rosé, lovely.

Team cars started to come by, press cars, police motorcycles. A press van with loudspeakers told us that a group of four riders had gone clear with a gap of three minutes. We could see the Television helicopters, 5 of them! Next we heard the cheers from further down the hill. The four riders came into sight, gliding effortlessly up the hill. They looked fanatastic.

Two or three minutes passed before the peleton arrived. The noise, the colours, the supporters, the atmosphere, just awesome. As the peleton passed, each rider looking pristine on their perfect machine I marveled at how incredibly fit and professional they look, and then they were gone.

We made our way home and watched the end of the stage on France 2. The escape didn’t work. The four got caught within the last two kilometres, though one of the riders Thierry Hupond (SKIL-SHIMANO) got the award for the most ‘Combatif’ rider. The bunch sprint finish was incredible, those guys have nerves of steel. Mark Cavendish aka ‘Cav’ took the win! His third this tour. Allez Cav!!!