Sunday, June 27, 2021

Tour de France 2021 in Saint-Aignan

The 2021 Tour de France bicycle race got under way yesterday in Brittany. This year the tour's route takes it through our own back yard, almost literally. On Thursday (July 1), the sixth stage will start in the city of Tours and follow the Loire River up to Amboise, turn south to the Cher Valley and follow the river up to Saint-Aignan. The riders will turn south again to cross the bridge, ride through Saint-Aignan, past the zoo, and then continue south to Châteauroux.

A map of the Stage 6 route. Saint-Aignan is in the middle, marked by the red "4" marking the "Saint-Aignan Incline" (which is not much of an incline). Click on the map to make it a little bigger. Image from lequipe.fr.

The Tour has come through our region once before since we've lived here, but nowhere near this close to our house. We won't head into town to see it, but we will be watching it on television. If the weather is good, then we should see some great aerial views of our area, including some of the famous châteaux around us.

11 comments:

  1. Around 15:40 your time I shall be looking out for you on the Route! Please be there waving

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  2. To be honest, the aerial views of France are the best part of the Tour de France for me. ;) (Sorry!) :)

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    1. elgee, even though I never look at the tour de France, I agree with you the best part of it is the aerial views of the French countryside and monuments historiques!

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  3. Very cool. I was looking forward to you up close and personal photos, but I don’t blame you for staying home. You’ll see more of it that way.

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  4. Someday, I want to watch them thunder by

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  5. Thanks for the heads up. I’ve watched it, on tv, several times and it’s always very exciting, especially seeing the beautiful countryside and chateaux.

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  6. How exciting for it to be so nearby! I would love to view it in person while staying out of the way of the cyclists!!

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  7. WHAT????? You aren't even going to go when it is that close? I'm sitting here with an old tv and no way can I tape it - but surely you, two, have the capability to tape it so you won't miss any of the fabulous drone shots? I, too, was hoping to see you guys on the sidelines - but NOT holding up a sign that could cause a HUGE WRECK like yesterday.
    Where is your curiosity and excitement to see it up close and personal?

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  8. I never stopped to think where IS the Tour, and I supposed it was always the same route.
    I've learned something now.

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  9. Friends who have seen it come through their villages say it's all over in about ten seconds. Unless, of course, you are an attention-seeker with a sign in Brittany.
    The NY Marathon is sort of that way, the leaders whiz past, all the excitement is over, and then it's hours of stragglers. Maybe you can get some screen shots of the scenery and post those?

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  10. Oh go! It is so amazing to watch these human machines go by in the blink of an eye! Go early and bring a lunch.... You can watch the overall when you get home. Just don't step in front of the pack!!!!

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