Compiegne was quite well organized as you would expect and we had little trouble getting a reasonable spot about 300 metres from the finish. Randall, as usual, was putting the pressure on to get there early and so after checking out the finish line situation, we had plenty of time to wander up town and get ourselves lunch. We were expecting to see most tabacs and brasseries showing the day’s progress on TV. But no, it seems that it is still more important to focus on lunch or whatever. So “Non monsieur, on met en marche le TV ici a deux heures et demi, après le dejeuner”. So we walked back to the finish line after lunch, secured our spot, checked out progress via the big screen from time to time, got involved in the pre arrival caravan procession which finished about 1 hour before the peloton arrived. You hear a growing crescendo of noise as they arrive and then in about 30 seconds you are part of history. We see the maillot jaune go to the front about 350 metres out and then it is just the whirr of bikes and colour. There is much jostling for a position to see the podium presentations, hanging around to see the riders get themselves onto the team buses and then a walk to get the car and off home.
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