I was coming to Paris on the 22nd of July before flying to Chicago and catching the final day of the Tour de France on the 23d would be perfect, and so it did turn out. I had only seen the mythic Paris stage on tv but like every stage I have seen nothing compares to seeing the race live.
In the morning I wondered over in the direction of the race and although it wouldn’t actually be reaching Paris until late afternoon there was already a stream of people headed in that direction.
There couldn’t possibly be a more dramatic circuit in Paris- 8 times around the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Champs Elysee, L’Arc de Triomphe. I stopped to at least temporarily station myself under the arcade on Rue de Rivoli, across from the Tuileries Garden. It was raining and quite cool and this offered protection.
There was an hours long wait at this point and I started up conversations with the British lass on one side of me a young American guy- a coincidence we were all English speakers. The time passed thus with one difficult search for a toilet.
I was glad for the excellent position we had when closer to the time of the riders getting near the crowd was huge and packed.
The publicity caravan comes first and it is always kitsch and fun. Unfortunately in Paris they weren’t allowed to throw out the masses of freebies that always causes mad fun. Then the gendarme motorcycles, team cars, and tv camera motorcycles, and in a flash the peloton swishes past at a phenomenal speed. Good thing there are 7 more times. We unfortunately miscounted and thus missed the photo opportunity of the winning Jumbo-Visma team riders lined up all together for their finish up the road. I also loved Julian Allaphillipe riding alone spreading his love like only he can. Many shouts in the crowd “Thibaut, Thibaut” for Thibaut Pinaut was was riding his last Tour de France.
It was a great day out. I hope you like the video I made.
Took a short video of an after-party of Education First, one of the teams on the Tour.
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When walking home I happened upon this tango party, unconnected with the Tour. In fact seemed like probably an every Sunday event. Very cool.
