I cycled out to Clay or the Cote D’Clay as it was called with my father today to watch the Tour De France, We were not far from the summit where the cyclist could gain additional points for the King of the Mountains competition. I have previously seen Mountain stages in the Pyrenees and French Alps the atmosphere was Better today in Yorkshire and I’m not just saying that I was there for 3 hours and Enjoyed every minute!
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As we arrived at the foot of the Cote D’Cray large amounts of fans were already gathering and enthusiastically cheering every cyclist up the accent. In my mind the cheering fans led me to believe I was in fact Marco Pantani setting the record for the fastest accent of Alpe d’Huez!
Once we had taken our spot we watched and cheered as other cyclist ascended the route, as a general rule the crowd would not let anyone get off their bikes and run behind and push them up to the summit. I was great seeing the different people climb the route.
Then as the Caravan came!
After the promotional vehicles had passed there was a lull in activity and some people took the opportunity to cycle to the summit, the crowd whipped up by the caravan got into it even more cheering them on and running along side it was great to watch.
Then another Lull and the crowd started doing Mexican waves there really was an air of euphoria in the crowd at this point people knew it wasn’t too long now until the cyclist would be passing.
Then the Helicopters started passing over head.
After the Helicopters had passed the Tension built and built until people knew they where minutes away I love these shots;
Then Suddenly and almost with the same speed and vigor of my accent the cyclists emerged.
Time for a quick toilet stop before trying to get back down.
Getting of Cote d’Cray was no easy task all the cyclists myself included in one go trying to get off caused total grid lock, once at the bottom of the hill though the traffic was free moving and the next 15 miles was one of the best rides I’ve ever been part off!
Photography Blog - Christopher Lawson 