tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23066384322249823742009-10-13T22:32:19.316+02:00Follow the 2008 Tour de France from Scott Christopher's view as a passionate Tour fan and cycle tour leader.suenshastahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531439169019746258noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306638432224982374.post-24290729652617268072008-07-18T15:38:00.003+02:002008-07-18T15:46:29.184+02:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Q2qo07KpKvQ/SICePnXkNHI/AAAAAAAAAAs/XHHIzqT_6Bo/s1600-h/Cadel"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Q2qo07KpKvQ/SICePnXkNHI/AAAAAAAAAAs/XHHIzqT_6Bo/s320/Cadel" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224349558852826226" border="0" /></a> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Photo for Aussie fans, 2007 Albi time trial – in the rain. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Welcome to <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Arrived in <st1:city><st1:place>Paris</st1:place></st1:city> to find it cool and overcast – much better than hot or rainy.<span style=""> </span>The Ritchey Break-Away bicycle is assembled and on the road, pedaling yesterday through the suburbs between Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport and <st1:city><st1:place>Paris</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>Great to turn the cranks after a long day of traveling.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, the Tour de France.<span style=""> </span>What an amazing year with only one second separating the top two riders and the Colorado-based Garmin-Chipotle (Slipstream Sports) and former Denver resident, Christian Vande Velde, performing beyond anyone’s expectations including his own I think, with a third place standing.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cadel Evans, in the yellow jersey, is overwhelmed by all the media attention.<span style=""> </span>We had easy access to him for photos and a brief hello in past years.<span style=""> </span>This year he has hired the Belgian bodyguard, Serge, who first went to work for Lance Armstrong in 2001.<span style=""> </span>We next saw Serge last year working for the now disgraced doper, Alexander Vinokourov, of Kahsakstan.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Q2qo07KpKvQ/SICdNhCsR0I/AAAAAAAAAAc/7Pi63_WFjsg/s1600-h/Serge"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Q2qo07KpKvQ/SICdNhCsR0I/AAAAAAAAAAc/7Pi63_WFjsg/s320/Serge" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224348423283296066" border="0" /></a>Serge with an unhappy Vino<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Q2qo07KpKvQ/SICdNmS2sJI/AAAAAAAAAAk/Y0ducAYEi-8/s1600-h/Serge2001"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Q2qo07KpKvQ/SICdNmS2sJI/AAAAAAAAAAk/Y0ducAYEi-8/s320/Serge2001" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224348424693264530" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:12;" >Serge is to Armstrong’s left – trust me!<br /></span> <p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal">So the next days will have no impact on the overall competition for the yellow jersey as the stages are transitional between the <st1:place>Pyrenees</st1:place> and the Alpes.<span style=""> </span>The fireworks will be flying this year in the Alpes and we’ll be there for all the action.<span style=""> </span>With such a close competition we expect the fans to be out in full force in all the key areas of the stages.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2306638432224982374-2429072965261726807?l=experiencethetour2008.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>suenshastahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531439169019746258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306638432224982374.post-46042555295173142482008-07-17T22:54:00.000+02:002008-07-17T22:56:34.320+02:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Q2qo07KpKvQ/SH-x8p1iasI/AAAAAAAAAAM/urPrwWH4uAc/s1600-h/P1190147_edited.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Q2qo07KpKvQ/SH-x8p1iasI/AAAAAAAAAAM/urPrwWH4uAc/s320/P1190147_edited.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224089748353739458" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2306638432224982374-4604255529517314248?l=experiencethetour2008.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>suenshastahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531439169019746258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306638432224982374.post-4617848610470533492008-07-17T22:51:00.001+02:002008-07-17T22:52:52.708+02:00<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Welcome to the 2008 edition of Experience the Tour's travel blog!</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2306638432224982374-461784861047053349?l=experiencethetour2008.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>suenshastahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531439169019746258noreply@blogger.com0