Tour de Yorkshire, Cambridge...and oh yes France as well!!

[Panwearsjaune]

T minus 35 days and counting, to the Grand Depart from Leeds 5th July, with two stages in the White County, and then a third from Cambridge to the Mall in London. It's just soo exciting! It's the biggest biking event in the world, with approx 190 professional riders in about 20 teams racing across tarmac and cobbles, up mountains and down Dales and ending on 27th July on the Champs Elysee, Paris in the now traditional sprint finish there. So here's the thread to share in it all, swop info about accommodation for Tour watchers, road closures, the parcours (courses), peloton gossip, potential meet ups, tv coverage, who's got the nicest legs etc.. and everything to do with the thrills and occasional spills with the event that is a game of poker played out every day on 380 wheels. OF course if you are a newbie to all of this and are curious about the whys and hows of racing then ask and someone will pop up to answer questions. Hopefully.

So I'll depart here next with the routes of the UK 3 stages being taken so no-one gets lost and ends up in the dreaded broom wagon.

Panwears Whereabouts were you? We were near the turnoff for Dunford Bridge.

We were just before you, at the turn off Holme Moss. There was a tv break and next thing they were off a couple of kms down the road. Missed Woodhead but kept calling it Ladybower which sort of pissed me off a bit.

ah I see you were missed out on the coverage as well Bunbaker. I was a bit pissed of for dd as she has noo interest in biking but wanted to see our Longdendale Valley and reservoirs on on international tv audience. And it didn't happen.
The break away rider was still out front by about 30 secs and then the rest followed. I eye-balled from about 10 feet:
Geraint - looking v cool at the front.
JENSIE! - looking like he was insisting 'shut up legs' - he was suffering big time.
Greipel - grimmacing.

Saw the broom wagon! Gendamerie with "Fin de Course" on it (Lost take note ). Lamprie rider was just in front of it - we'd all set off home and were then ushered off the course to allow him through, albeit to big cheers. He looked miserable.

Caravan was rubbish. Weather was as ordered. Company was fantastic. Met a matey who I haven't seen for years and we re-exchanged details. Some photos but none of the riders I don't think as the experience was better. la de la.

So sorry to crash the thread but is anyone going to watch in London tomorrow and if so where from?

Here are some pics - very odd to be standing on the A59, it's usually chocka with lorries.

Third pic above there is for Lost.

And three more, the second one is for Pan, car with bikes. Also got the broom wagon, we missed it yesterday as were too distracted by trying to find out what happened at the end of the race.

Beyond - it isn't crashing at all!
I'd check out the tdf web site and put in 'viewing'. The site's been pretty good re linking to local authorities advice about vantage points.

Thank you! I've seen a few routes but none of them very precise, I'm keen to avoid the really busy spots

It will be tough to do that, esp after this weekend. Your LA website will have a link. Other than that it's a bit of local nouse and good luck! Best wishes!

Will set out as soon as I can in the morning. Thank you!

Burma have fun! Not sure you'll avoid a busy spot, we thought we'd done that today but that was not the case!
Look at the timings, the caravan is worth watching and on Saturday we got to our spot about an hour before it was due.

Some pictures from York

And a few more

Miranda the Minster looked spectacular. Did they go round twice?

Loved watching today's stage on TV. Wonderful racing amongst the GC contenders for such an early stage of the TdeF. Great crowds, lovely scenery & good racing - what more could we possibly want? Loved it, every minute of it.

Thanks for all the photos & reports guys, great to read first hand what it was like to be there.

Only the once but it was great being there :)

Have been inspired to follow the tour more closely after this weekend :)

On a dry stone wall en arrive..(mind your fingers there..)

The turn at Woodhead, with matey holding bike whilst I took photo. The turn that ITV failed to show..

and the obligatory Fruit shoot shot.

I must say that I object to all the adbreaks... THey were always in the wrong place.

And most of all at the bottom of Holme Moss where we were! (have I already mentioned that?)

But it's been a stunning two days, hasn't it? Yorkshire has been fantastic, and the racing brilliant.

Over to you Cambridgeshire!

We were near the summit of Holmes Moss, was a fantabulous day! Completely knackered as we got to our spot about 7.30, but still watching the full coverage now.

I managed to grab some Yorkshire teabags, Haribo and a Bic keyring from the caravan - mucho excitement! Two lads nearly ended up rolling down the embankment as they tried to catch the KotM caps thrown out!

If the UCI agrees, there will be a three day Tour of Yorkshire in May next year. Christian Prudhomme and the ASO want it and it will be a proper World Tour event, so should attract the top teams and riders.

letour.yorkshire.com/news/2015-yorkshire-race-official-launch

This weekend has been so brilliant. The weather was kind and my home county looked utterly gorgeous. It has been amazing to see the Tour on roads I know and drive on every week. I've been watching cycling for many years (not just the Tour) and have seen nothing like the welcome in Yorkshire.

And to top it all, Nibali won today!

I don't think Contador has got the legs. I think Froome tested him on Jenkins Hill and saw he couldn't snap and respond. Nibili showed more heart. It will be v interesting! Lots of younger riders coming into their own too.

The riders are complaining a bit about the spectators - I wish people would step back and not feel a selfie is the only way to enjoy a experience!

Tour of Yorkshire will be great, especially if it's at half term!

Some photos of cote du Bradfield climb.

No photos of the riders as I videoed them coming through.

There is actually a van called "Voiture de balai" (literally "broom car") it was about the third last vehicle. The one after it was was "Fin de course" and the one after that was a low-loader.

I'll download my photos and put up a selection this morning.