July 24, 2005: Finish of le Tour de France
It was almost a year ago when I first met the
Freyssinet team as they
pulled the strands for the Ravenel Bridge cables. So it is only appropriate
to remember this episode by visiting Paris and trying to capture the
finish of the Tour de France.
Trevor and I spent the afternoon impatiently waiting. It was worth it.
We got a few photos - of Lance, what I thought was Vinokourov, Rasmusson
and the peloton.
It was raining a bit
From my photo spot - it was just about impossible to see anything. Here
is a view of the Arc de Triomphe - hidden by the crowd
Lance Armstrong in his yellow jersey and surrounded by the Discovery
Channel team. This was their first passage up the Champs Elysees
I thought this was Alexandre Vinokourov leading the 2nd loop, but
now I am not so sure. Most likely a rider for Gerolsteiner.
Its impossible to see the number.
Mickael Rasmussen in a pack of blurred Discovery Channel riders
Lance on the 2nd loop - maybe with Vinokourov? - No again - apparently
a rider for Liquigas.
The peloton
And of course, no weekend is complete without a bridge - here crossing
the Seine.
July 30, 2005: Training for the next Tour de France
And what a difference a week makes - a view of the Arc de Triomphe
from my photo spot - this time without a crowd
My photo spot from last week (July 24, 2005)
And looking down the Champs Elysees, suddenly appears
the next generation of Lance Armstrong - already
practicing flying up the Champs Elysees 49 weeks before the next Tour de France