We went to the start of stage 16 of the Tour de France in Martigny, Switzerland.
We got there about 90 minutes before the stage started, just as the pre-race caravan was going by.
We then walked around and saw the team cars & buses.
The press were interviewing various people, including this guy, Bob Stapleton, the owner/manager of the Columbia/HTC cycling team.
We saw various riders going back and forth to the check-in area. Here's Thor Hushovd, the green-jersey winner.
The riders' bikes were all set up outside the buses. This was at the back of the Astana team bus -- the bikes of Yaroslav Popovych (#27) and Lance Armstrong (#22).
Before the race, all of the riders go up to the stage to sign in. Above is Andy Schleck, who ended up 2nd in this year's tour.
Lance Armstrong signing in.
And Alberto Contador, who won the Tour.
Because this stage started in Switzerland, they made a big deal out of the Swiss riders, including Fabian Cancellara, who is the national champion of Switzerland.
This is about 100 meters after the start of the race in downtown Martigny, Switzerland.
We then started our drive to Chamonix, France and decided to take the Mont Blanc tunnel into Italy to see the race as it headed up the mountain pass Petit Saint Bernard, the road back over the mountain into France. We parked the car near Pre Saint Didier, where there was an intermediate sprint.
We were right on a hair-pin turn. Here is the first group of riders we saw.
And then the entourage of all of the team cars, police - both Italian and French, motorcyles with camermen, officials' cars, etc.
As we were driving into France earlier in the day, Nigel and I were practicing our French. Nigel had said "Je me pel Kenny" -- one of the French phrases he had learned from watching David Letterman. On the way walking back to the car, someone had written the name Kenny on the road, in support of the Lanterne Rouge at the time, Kenny Van Hummel.
We had a long way to walk back to the car. Little did I know how much walking I'd be doing the next day...
And here is the next group, with all of the GC favorites.
And then the entourage of all of the team cars, police - both Italian and French, motorcyles with camermen, officials' cars, etc.
As we were driving into France earlier in the day, Nigel and I were practicing our French. Nigel had said "Je me pel Kenny" -- one of the French phrases he had learned from watching David Letterman. On the way walking back to the car, someone had written the name Kenny on the road, in support of the Lanterne Rouge at the time, Kenny Van Hummel.
We had a long way to walk back to the car. Little did I know how much walking I'd be doing the next day... 