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.

We were in Haworth on the main cobbled street yesterday - Amazing. We nearly didn't bother going, but so glad we made the effort. The kids had a fantastic time cheering and waving at all of the support vehicles, then the caravan of advertisers throwing out bits of stuff, then eventually the cyclists.

Spotting themselves on TV when we got home was the icing on the cake and something we'll never forget.

The fans in Haworth were amazing - none strayed onto the cobbles ( after a severe telling off from some of the marshalls early in the day) and the cyclists all passed through without issue. we got some great photo's and even better memories.

Vive le Tour

Why did I check this thread before watching?

I've got today recorded. Not allowed to watch until DP gets home. Our routine every July since we met is to watch each stage we have recorded after work, so I've had to resist temptation all day today as I'm on mat leave and have been working full time every other year!

I won't tell him what I've just read on here though, I'm not that mean

Back from the roadside scored some swag too! The speed was amazing and by the time I had got back home literally no more than 5 minutes walk it was all over. Lucky I have it all recorded. I am now the proud owner of a skoda hat, spotted cap, a Festina bag, a frisbee thing and an inflatable pillow. Result

From Saturday - Stage 1 at Buttertubs pass

edandmadsmum - we were on the cobbles in Haworth too! Where were you? We were right near the start of the cobbles, with a great view of the cyclists as they came up the chicane and onto the cobbles. Great atmosphere. We'd got there really early and while dh and ds were able to mark "our" spot by the barriers, my friend and I were able to walk up cobbles amongst all the friendly crowds and the cyclists of all ages and sizes. When we got back down, dh and ds were able to do the sae.

Dh and ds had cycled that part of the route (from Wilsden through Haworth and then up to the reservoir) early on Saturday morning. We really should've brought ds' bike back over on the car (my friend doesn't cycle) and ds could have been cheered at.

I think this is probably unfair but made me giggle anyway.

www.buzzfeed.com/catesevilla/cambridge-vs-yorkshire?bffbuk

There looked to be loads and loads of people when I watched it earlier!

A couple of pics from near Skipton on Day 1 and one showing the great atmosphere in the park in Haworth where there was a big screen. (That's now my allocation of 6 photos for the day - more tomorrow )

In case anyone from the "complaining" thread is reading this: that was why there is so much hype - it is lovely to have a good reason to have a carnival atmosphere and just to celebrate life and achievement.

Good freebie scoring, ariadne. We totalled a P&O keyring (qu: if they are sponsored by P&O, why were they talking about the impact of tunnel delays this evening ?), an inflatable pillow, a cow keyring and some haribo. The man in front of us was delighted to catch a box of Yorkshire tea, but there was no one throwing stoves (and a distinct lack of coffee vendors on buttertubs pass )

I was hoping for some wine from the wine cars, but they sadly weren't hurling out any bottles. Didn't get any tea either.

We got a Skoda hat, a KotM cap, a BIC keyring, cow keyring, some poppy seeds from Arras, a Fruit shoot frisbee, some McCain herb seeds (not chips, sadly), a pink wristband and a packet of Haribo. That was over two days though.

All we got from two days (and one prime position right beside the barriers but everything got thrown over us if at all ) was one Yorkshire TV wrist band. He soooo wanted a KOTM hat - but the two guys standing right beside us got them

I did feel the souvenir kiosk vans should have been selling baguettes.

The Haribo float had all but run out by the time it got to us so today I bought some Haribo from the Post Office and threw it at my kids.

I'm not sure what it says about Hotels Ibis that they give out inflatable pillows - 'you'll need this, our pillows are shite'?

The souvenir selling lot got a distinctly frosty welcome where we were

Collected ds2 and dd from school. We managed to get to Tower Hill at 4pm waited a while then saw them zoom pass as a pack. It was absolutely thrilling

Stealth, those Buttertubs photos, seriously?
I'd heard it was single file but that looks like the cyclists are having to push their way through the crowds.

The Cambridge/Yorkshire comparison is obviously unfair but I think Yorkshire did get into the spirit more. There was more general dyeing of sheep and translating of pub signs into French.

Stealth, anyone who has read up about Yorkshire culture is going to realise £20 t-shirts aren't going to go down well

I felt a bit sorry for the pub where we were because they'd laid on music and put up a beer tent (so there would be beer buying opportunities on both sides of the road) but most people brought their own. But DH pointed out the real benefit will come in the future, from being a lovely pub to stop at as people cycle the tour route.

Tunip - I know. It was unreal. Because we had multiple small children with us we were a few metres back from the road with a huge tent roof to stake out our space None of the riders had to stop that we saw - people did get out of the way, but only just far enough and only just in time.

One spectator brought the house down by responding to the t shirt rip off merchant seller's pitch with a perfectly timed "on yer bike"

Arf

Well, the Grendel hoards were at the neutralised zone near the start today.

Cambridge was better decorated than came across on telly, I think - it was all very arty, lots of themed shop window displays, specially commissioned art works and so on.

My favourite for sheer randomness was some life-sized model sheep in the front garden of an office block. Plus we had a community choir singing specially composed music, which was pretty good.

Arty window displays and specially composed music all sounds very Cambridge

I'm looking forward to hearing just how many people they reckon were out there watching it.

BBC conveniently ignoring the north again here:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28203046

Kittel's "first victory" according to this. Huh?

video. :o

Tunip My plastic Ibis pillow has a hole in it so I won't be booking with them. Stood near some Italians on the Embankment who seemed practised at catching/getting the freebies so I didn't do well (though DH only managed a fridge magnet!

The cycle show starts again next week :)