A wave from the Tour

Take hours of map reading and meticulous attention to detail to ensure the success of the Tour de France, and this is just the spectators. I had prepared and planned a route that I went down near the end of the 11th stage of the Tour, a journey of 164 km from Saint Flour for cyclists Figeac.But thousands of people had the same idea so it was a crawl slowly through the streets of Figeac in the Lot, before I was about 7 km outside the village of Saint Jean race.The Mirabel had come into force with messages of good luck and banners created by the road, and a giant poster suspended tractors.Then three came as the leader, with helicopters buzzing in the air, applause by the audience began to appear grow.A bit, bent over his motorcycle suddenly came into view down the street, dwarfed by the motorcycles police, the cameras and the official machine of the next him.And before my camera could focus total concentration slipped in a bubble, his car in silence through the crowd wind.Then court captured the breath, preparing for the arrival of the package is peloton.But or before their arrival there was a battle for second and third act, when the two men shot past a blur of orange, blue and minutes later the peloton appeared white.Five the road with sirens and police helicopters hovering near another sky.This clear, blue, business was very noisy with the fans in a frenzy for their favorites and air transport as a truck passing by, full of gear changes Sound and rubber road.If cyclists leaders are like small fish dart away through the rocks, the peloton is all-consuming wave collapses falter.And leaders like a wave that is not always clear down to pay more than 100 cyclists on the road should be kept away from the shore, as some are shorter astray.But package heads in the street, the crowd below are affected by the wave of applause and horns distance.Then resonate as the last round of cyclists for a few, continues to work hard to stay in the race, the Tour ends, but what at first? The accumulation in the passage of the tour starts early in the day and takes place on the grass and docks lining the route.Villages preparing feasts, recreational cyclists and walk down the street to see what the pros face and children Ready caravane.An hours before the race actually comes last car ride units of the sponsors with their crazy disco music, coffee and see freebies.Here, ducks and even a parade of giant inflatable furry lion spent throwing candy magazines and toys to the children's feet standing next to the road along the fans screaming and shouting, hoping to collect some things, such as diving ducks and how parents of lost packets of coffee, over their heads.Since The tour began in 1903 has become one of the biggest sporting events in the world and can boast of possessing the largest number of fans both spectators.And to make the trip as a show as spanning more than 3,500 kilometers of asphalt, screaming and shouting encouragement as the 'wave passes today by.But fish ride the wave and escape from a local pilot, David Moncoutié proved strong enough to give France its first victory ever.