Angouleme Stage Winner

Some two weeks later and after hearing much discussion on the TV coverage about how difficult it was for Christophe Moreau, the French champion, to carry the day and how courageous Vinikourov was to overcome a range of troubles to win 2 stages with panache, the race is a bit of a mess. Much wringing of hands, heaps of discussion and analysis, and we are left wondering what could happen next. Regardless of the troubles, there was still some magic left and so, as we were staying only a few kilometers from Angouleme and another stage finish, we spent another few hours one afternoon watching another finish. A four man breakway made it to the end, a French stage victory followed and the masses headed off happy. Yvonne is still wondering why we walked 7 kms in the sun (yes sun) to stand and watch the race for just a few minutes, but for me it is fascinating to see the race circus coming into town, the distribution of trinkets, the locals hanging out of the front doors and the caravans and bikes of the “camp followers” from all over the world. For a bike race!

As it happened, we rested out weary bones in the centre of Angouleme, in a bar just outside the hotel where Sandy Casar (stage winner) and his team were staying. So we had a great view when he turned up at the hotel after the usual winner drug testing. The team and suppoters clapped as he emerged from the car. He looked quite buggered as Yvonne, your loyal blog photographer, caught the moment. The centre of town was quite active, with team buses etc parked all over the place and patrons from the many restaurants spilling over into the small streets. Locals and visitors were all absorbing the atmosphere of a summer evening (at last).