posted Jul 8, 2007

I was just the other side of the course from where you were Paul, with Vassis Alexander from Five Live. you could probably see the outside broadcast trucks hidden the other side of the wall on the left of Canada Gate (those big gates).

A great view across the front of Buck House and of the riders as they came down Constitution Hill. That bit was easily three, if not five, deep against the barriers. The wave of noise as the Brits came through was awesome, I could almost feel it physically approaching.

The weirdest thing, as Vassos said on air, is that it really is like a little island of France. We were walking down the middle of the final 500 metres towards the Palace (the advantages of press passes) when we stopped to ask someone where we could get through the barriers. Vassos asked an English policeman in French for directions. That's how french it feels coming out of the press area around the finish line.

Highlights of my day: meeting Big Maggie Backstedt - big man, big handshake - and the absolutely lovely Victoria Pendleton. Hands up who found themselves climbing over the fences with a World Champion to try and get back quicker? Me. We ended up jogging through Green Park as well, where my male pride is shamed to report she dropped me despite the gentle pace.

Going to find her and bring her back for Vassos gave me a chance to wander up the course to Hyde Park and it was impressive to see so many people all the way round the course. My mate Jof spent the afternoon soaking up the atmosphere and experience by walking round the whole route - it took him about an hour and a half and he tells me the only place where it wasn't absolutely packed was around the Victoria Street/Buckngham Gate stretch. Apparently there were 20 minute queues to get over the bridges in a few places.

I did think about taking my pass and heading down to see the rider roll out today, but somehow two days of pretending to be Dot Davies (I am neither welsh nor female) might be pushing my luck a little. Also it's been a year since I last enjoyed the sounds of Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen calling a race, something that has been an annual event for me since they started.

Incidentally Simon Brotherton was telling us that there's a presentation made to commentators/journalists when they pass the landmark of having covered the tour for 20 years. Graham Jones has
a medal for having done so and I imagine that Phil and Paul do as well. Simon is on his fourteenth tour, so only six more to go.

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posted Jul 8, 2007

Wow, nice deal Alex. (well, I say that not knowing whether the van you were in was insufferably hot or not). I saw Victoria P at the World Cup in Manchester back in February, it was my first track meet and her and Hoy were both very impressive to watch. As was Bradley, especially considering he was riding with stitches in his head after that accident on the rollers.

Do you get to travel with the Five Live guys to France or are you confined to England? Is the real Dot Davies going to France?

Morgan - you should have been there for the mispronunciations and mix ups that the hosts made at the Teams Presentation . . .

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posted Jul 8, 2007

I am confined to England, much to my annoyance, although a week Monday I'll be living the dream and riding the Etape for the second time. This time I aim to finish.

I think it's just Phil, Simon B and Graham Jones who get to do the full grande boucle for us, and you of course.

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