What are your plans for Le Tour?

[Elle]

Think that was Grinton. County widened road past cattle grid (and closed cattle grid) - but it was no wider than grid, not sure why they didn't just cover grid with grippy boards.

Jim - JB is currently on a ferry to France to continue following the TdF such is his enthusiasm - I'm sure I saw him looking at bikes in the new cycle shop in Thirsk

Oops! the cattle grid comment was at Grinton

JB on a ferry to France? Some folk have far too much time and money -jealous? YES!

 

[James Bryan]

Proper stalled!

I thought the crowds at Buttertubs were a bit OTT - but the camera view may give the wrong perspective. The narration seemed to blame the narrowing of the road at the cattle grid that caused the riders to stop.

Elle, the main Peleton not only came to a full on, proper, stop at Buttertubs, (not at the top but three quarters of the way up), but they actually had to get off their bikes and walk part of the way through the melee!

And Fritz, you are right, the man is a hero - don't know how he does it, (& I do not mean JB, being a banker precludes him from hero status!).

All the best, Jim.

 

[Davey B]

Jim. I believe that a big part of the problem is that mountains don't normally come until day 6 or 7 onwards by which point the main peloton has become more fragmented so far fewer bunched up riders. 30-40 instead of 180! No ones fault really, sheer numbers of spectators and way too much hassle to barrier the miles of hills. Due to the summit heights, many in the peloton will not have viewed the stages in Yorkshire as "mountains", by tea time on Sunday, they'll have been bollox end and will now know how hard cycling in Gods own county is.

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

I thought the same, let them through what are you thinking, then after the event at interview , no mention and riders saying they were overwhelmed by the support from folk. If riders ok then cest la vie.

 

[Tinytim]

Great pics Elle.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Jens got through fine which is all that matters - that man is a hero

I was a good boy, and stood on a bank.

Infact there were lots of good boys and girls around that were prepared to queue to get over a style

Queue the length of a field

 

[Smug]

Got up bright and early Monday morning for the 40 mile cycle over to Finchingfield. Beautiful weather and a nice ride over via Buntingford and Thaxted.
The last last part was on the Tour route on closed roads and there were people sitting out there already, clapping us on our way and shouting Allez-Allez.

This is how busy it was when we got there and it was only 9.45am.



We found a good position not far from the course and close to the giant screen. Sonya wasted no time in sporting her Tour de France top. Little tip, don't wear yellow clothing on a bright sunny day in Finchingfield because before to long word gets round and you are covered in tiny flies.



The crowds starting to build up.



The Thaxted Morris dancers. You didn't get a show like this when we saw the TDF in the Pyrenees.



In front of the Tour comes the "caravan"



Throwing goodies out to the spectators.



And then comes the peleton.



Very fast!



And then they are gone!

An excellent day out. One I won't forget.

 

[fritz]

Elle, the main Peleton not only came to a full on, proper, stop at Buttertubs, (not at the top but three quarters of the way up), but they actually had to get off their bikes and walk part of the way through the melee!

And Fritz, you are right, the man is a hero - don't know how he does it, (& I do not mean JB, being a banker precludes him from hero status!).

All the best, Jim.

Jim I think we have an answer on your Buttertubs “conundrum” - thanks to Coopermans excellent images.

Made me very proud to see that fine British queue stretching across the field awaiting the stile.

I suspect a large number of the crowd at Buttertubs saw johnny foreigner - the majority of the peleton in effect - pushing and shoving their way in on the climb and thought "steady on old boy...there's a queue you know" and forced them to dismount and get all organised doncha know.

Sensible really when you think about it

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

Made me very proud to see that fine British queue stretching across the field awaiting the stile.

I bet they didn't know what the queue was for, they probably just saw the queue and joined it in the hope there was something interesting on the other side of the wall.

 

[James Bryan]

I suspect a large number of the crowd at Buttertubs saw johnny foreigner - the majority of the peleton in effect - pushing and shoving their way in on the climb and thought "steady on old boy...there's a queue you know" and forced them to dismount and get all organised doncha know.

You're on to something there Fritz - how about a, "Tour de Queue" -- we could win that, and we'd not need the road closures to boot!

All the best, Jim.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

You're on to something there Fritz - how about a, "Tour de Queue" -- we could win that

Some decided not to queue and climbed over Yorkshire's finest stone walls

They were roundly booed by the queue and a head mistress 'look a like' went over and gave them a real bollocking

I felt ashamed but on reflection I realise they were probably Johnny Foreigner types

 

[Elle]

Some decided not to queue and climbed over Yorkshire's finest stone walls
They were roundly booed by the queue and a head mistress 'look a like' went over and gave them a real bollocking

Hilarious!!! I'm not sure I would have queued either....