View from the Back
Ramblings of a retiree in France
Tag: Thomas Voeckler
Reflections on the Tour de France 2017
There’s always a sense of loss the week after the Tour finishes. You have months of anticipation and speculation, three weeks of enthralling racing – yes, even the snooze fests – and then it finishes in a blaze of glory on the Champs Elysees.… Continue Reading “Reflections on the Tour de France 2017”
L’Equipe poll
At the beginning of each year, L’Equipe journalists pose ten key questions about the forthcoming cycling season and ask their readership to vote “Yes” or “No” to each question. Here’s the questions and the all-important results:- 1. Are the Olympic Games going to be… Continue Reading “L’Equipe poll”
Review of 2011 season
Spending more time than I might wish on my home trainer the past week has given me ample opportunity to reflect on the 2011 road racing season. As you know, I often find it difficult to restrict myself to just one favourite moment, rider, team, race… Continue Reading “Review of 2011 season”
No surprises
The “Velo d’Or“, awarded annually by an international jury of 19 journalists to the best performer, was created in 1992 and is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual award in cycling. Lance holds the record with five wins and, until 2006, the winner of the Tour… Continue Reading “No surprises”
Sheree’s sporting snippets
Here’s a few things, in no particular order, that have caught my eye in recent days:- Martial Arts Aged 98, Keiko Fukuda is the first Japanese woman to receive a coveted red belt in Judo. The other seven holders of said belt are male. You wouldn’t… Continue Reading “Sheree’s sporting snippets”
Reflections on the Tour
I’m still wallowing in post-Tour euphoria; and you thought it only applied to the riders. I’ll come crashing back to earth later this week when I start to miss my daily fix. Fortunately, help is at hand, as I’m heading to the Basque country this… Continue Reading “Reflections on the Tour”
Postcards from the Alps IV, V and VI
According to L’Equipe, spectators wait an average of six hours to watch the peloton pass. At one end of the spectrum are those who watch it at home on television nipping out just before the riders zoom past their front garden. At the other… Continue Reading “Postcards from the Alps IV, V and VI”
Postcards from the Alps III
I derive an enormous amount of pleasure from riding part of a Tour stage ahead of the peloton. Today dawned bright with that omnipresent bitingly cold wind. As we rode into Briançon you could see the fresh snow on the surrounding mountains. With a fair tailwind, it… Continue Reading “Postcards from the Alps III”
Well worth the wait
Mindful of the importance of today’s stage, I was up and out at the crack of dawn. It was lovely and quiet, still a little fresh, with only the road cleaners and the odd car heading for the nearest bakery for me to worry about. I… Continue Reading “Well worth the wait”
