Shouting from the Hop

We popped over to Charlton today to see the 2007 Tour de France cycle riders zoom past in about twenty seconds flat - all 197 of them! It was amazing how many entourage cars and bikes there are, and they drive past for about five minutes before you see any bikes, then for another five minutes after the last bike has gone.
The riders themselves flashed past, about a mile after the start in Greenwich, and I was surprised how fast they were actually going - well over 30mph. There wasn't really time to take many pictures. I kind of thought that they would have a slow-ish start and slowly build up to race speed, but no, they were really going for it along the Woolwich Road past The Antigallican pub.

Rachel was in London yesterday and went to see a bit of the prologue, but she said she couldn't get a decent view; cars and out-riders first, then the cyclist, then more cars and out-riders. Blink and you missed it, and as she wasn't at the barrier front, she couldn't see too well, so today was much better.

A friend who gave me a lift along to cricket yesterday said he was on the M20 on Friday, and he saw about 100 motorbikes coming toward him; About half were British policeman, all on shiny brand new BMW's, and they were joined by about 50 French police, who's bikes paled in comparison. No doubt they were going to be doing the race control. I guess our bobbies had to make an impression!

Labels: Tour de France