FLCC> Paris-Tours Pictures

[Andrew Greene]

Hello!

Some of you might know me from Cornell (graduated 05) or New Jersey racing,
but I wanted to send you all a few pictures that I have taken recently in
France. I'm living here for the next year, so I am going to as many Pro-Tour
races as possible. I went to Paris-Tours last weekend, and here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55547390@N00/ are the pictures. Read below for
the whole story.

Last weekend I rode from St-Germain-en-Laye to St-Arnoult-en-Yvelines for
the start of Paris-Tours. My round-trip ride was about 140km and it did a
quarter circle around Paris from the west to the south. The pros did about
250km from Arnoult to Tours. When I got back home I watched the sprint into
Tours. Frederic Guesdon (FdJ) beat Kurt-Asle Arvensen (CSC) even though
Guesdon led it out.

In Arnout, I got to mingle with the racers a bit. The Aussies were very
friendly and funny. In fact, they all went to the start line together even
though none ride for the same team (O'Grady, Evans, McGee, Cooke). The
Unibet guys had a few sets of Lightweights. The Phonak guys looked very sad.
Victor Hugo Pena was talking with a Davitamon guy. Maybe he will be riding
there next year? Some of the Davitamon guys are ENORMOUS. They must ride at
least 63cm frames. Pure roleurs. The Discovery guys weren't totally in favor
with the French fans, but the Slovenian young guy (Janez Brajkovic) who did
really well in the Vuelta was friendly and super tiny.  No doubt he will
become a great climber. The Japanese champion on Discovery was popular with
what must have been a Japanese TV crew. The CSC riders were all great. In
fact, I regret not going up to Kurt-Asle Arvensen, because he was all by
himself at the start of the race. It would have been nice to get a photo
with him. Tommy Boonen and the QS guys didn't stop to meet with any of the
fans. But as you can see, I sort of got a picture with him.  The Italians on
Liquigas and Lampre were all friendly. Their teams really seemed to have a
family atmosphere. I didn't get to see much of Rabobank or T-Mobile.  The
Astana kits really are that loud. It almost hurts the eyes. They have a
sweet team bus though. I wish I got to meet Iban Mayo and Tyler Farrar, but
I didn't know either was there at the time. Farrar probably would have
appreciated to speak with an American. The Euskatel guys were very friendly,
but they didn't really have many fans. Lots of cool bikes there of course. A
French System Six owner shook my hand and said that I had made a good
choice. He was all smiles and very glad to see another Cannondale rider.

Perhaps the most surprising thing I learned was how quick the racers,
spectators, and race-crew leave the start town. As soon as the race started,
the organizers were taking down the signs, banners, and stage. Since Sunday
is a precious day for French families (everyone spends it together - almost
no stores are open) it was also interesting to see how locals of this small
town (St-Arnoult-en-Yvelines is less than 20,000 people -
http://www.villedesaintarnoultenyvelines.fr/tindex.php for more info) walk
to the start of the race around 11:30am then walk to their big family meal.

I guess that's all for now. If you have any questions or comments, just
reply. In the Spring, I am going to watch Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix,
Flanders (with an ex-Navigator who lives on the course so I will have "good
seats"), the Dauphine, and of course, Le Tour de France.

À bientôt,

Andrew
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