For the 92nd time, the Tour de France has started. This three week cycling race is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and undoubtedly the toughest on the individual participants. No professional cyclist wants to finish his career without having "made it to the Champs Elysées". And every single one of them has had dreams of winning the Tour. Very few will. In the current edition of La Grande Boucle two participants have tasted victory before and hope to do so again. Favorite, and record holding six times champion Lance Armstrong from Austin, Texas will be facing Germany's Jan Ullrich and 187 other riders from 28 different countries. On July 24 the winner of the Yellow Jersey will be known. When asked who would win Ullrich answered: "The Best".
The Tour de France wouldn't be as big as it is without it's millions of fans around the world. Most watch the Tour on TV and of course one can see all the spectators by the side of the road cheering on their favorites, especially in the climbing stages, where one wonders why not many more accidents happen. Fans crowding the road, not wanting to miss any of the riders and often not stepping back until the very last moment have on some occasions influenced the outcome of a stage.
Not seen on television are the thousands of active cycling enthousiasts who follow in de Tour's wake. From all over the world people come to France and on their bicycle they ride the same stages the professionals have traversed only days, sometimes hours before. Some of them come back every year. The entire year they spend training, not unlike the professionals, in order to ride the more than 2200 miles of the Tour. And for them there are no flowers or Yellow Jersey in the end, but there is the recognition of their peers and their sense of accomplishment. And of course they have gotten to enjoy the gorgeous scenery, the terrific French cuisine and wines and an active vacation. A side note for newbies, the small Inn's and restaurants in out of the way places often give the best bang for the buck.
Most of the active Tour followers don't have the time or desire to cycle around France for three weeks. They select certain parts of the race to hook up with it, depending on their interest in surroundings or strengths in what terrain suits them best. Not everyone can ride uphill and still enjoy him- or herself. The rest of their holiday is spent finding their own routes, camping out, enjoying lots of what France and the rest of Europe have to offer to biking lovers.
One of the main reasons Lance Armstrong has won six times is the almost obsessive perfection in his preparation. Armstrong said in his press conference on Thursday prior to the Tour de France 2005: "For me ít's not a promenade around France". If you take a cycling holiday, be it in France or anywhere else in Europe or the world, and to you it is a promenade, a little but serious and well-informed preparation goes a long way.
Rob Bout is a long time Tour de France and cycling enthousiast. For more information on cycling vacations and the Tour de France visit http://biketravelinfo.com/
Have you ever thought you might like to try a... Read More
Knowing a few edible wild plants can make your next... Read More
Ask me which Pacific island has the most to offer... Read More
I've had backpacking trips that included rain, snow, lightning, rockslides,... Read More
The quaint little balcony was large enough to accommodate two... Read More
Western Australia Driving Adventure Great Australian Road Trip Large... Read More
A rigid inflatable boat is defined as a hard-hulled boat... Read More
The last thing you want on an African safari is... Read More
Do you like to take one day hiking trips? Do... Read More
Most people, who go on a family beach vacation, take... Read More
It was the end of my first year as a... Read More
Mount Sunflower, Kansas. Ebright Azimuth, Delaware. Hawkeye Point, Iowa. Hoosier... Read More
If you are on a tight budget and can't afford... Read More
A Hawaii volcano tour can be a most memorable experience,... Read More
1st day : Airport / Amman, O/N Our representative will... Read More
If you're looking to spot a whale, the first few... Read More
No one can truly say... Read More
I stood at the observation point on the balcony at... Read More
Having traveled from state to state and every city in... Read More
Holidays in India, awesome in her size and diversity. This... Read More
New experiences make me nervous, and I assume that holds... Read More
There are many manufacturers of inflatable boats on the market... Read More
Live your golfing dreams on an Ireland golf vacation.The K... Read More
Camping is an excellent way to explore and experience the... Read More
Rafting through the Grand Canyon is the experience of a... Read More
Bird Watching is a great way to escape the rat... Read More
Important information about camping stoves...What type of camping, hiking, or... Read More
A rigid inflatable boat is defined as a hard-hulled boat... Read More
Do you think the only thing to do in Las... Read More
The Cairns Fishing Adventure A Great Australia Road TripYou love... Read More
Don't all of us love to have the money to... Read More
I stood at the observation point on the balcony at... Read More
Prevention is your best protection against lightning. Be sure to... Read More
There is something about a town tucked between the mountains... Read More
Why should you use hiking poles is perhaps the first... Read More
Contrary to what many think, ultralight backpacking is not just... Read More
The most famous Egyptian pyramids to be built are the... Read More
If you've been dreaming of traveling the highways in your... Read More
As any keen mountain biker will know, there are some... Read More
Before you take off on that great outdoor adventure, be... Read More
Thousands of golfers flock to the Carolinas each spring and... Read More
One morning in mid summer, I headed out for some... Read More
Romancing History ? A Holiday in RajasthanRajasthan, the name evokes... Read More
Perhaps you have wondered about taking an RV vacation. It... Read More
Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest and one of the deepest... Read More
A river cruise in Bangkok gives an insight to the... Read More
1. Take the early morning drives on safari even though... Read More
Eulogised as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, Cochin, Kerala's... Read More
Zambia is Africa's best kept secret as far as safaris... Read More
Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II ship are major attractions... Read More
|