Le Tour de France 2016 in historic Normandy
This year we are lucky enough to catch the Le Tour de France 2016 in historic Normandy ! We have watched le tour de France before in finchingfield Essex when it started in the uk in 2014. Before that the only time it has left the uk was in 2007 so when we realised it was making its way across our holiday homes pretty little town of Percy we had to take advantage.
The tour started in 1903 and has since then only not gone ahead during the two world wars, so it a historic event in itself .
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The grand tour departs it’s 103rd year from the beautiful le mont st-Michael, before making its way up to Utah beach . So we went to catch it on Stage 1 along the coast of Granville.
Its been lovely to see the hype surrounding le tour de France in the pretty villages, the bicycles tied up with flags and the paintings in the shop windows. Granville is the start town for day 3 so it was really geared up and ready , flags, large live screen and plenty of locals ready to go, We even found a chocolate bike!
The caravans come though first consisting of many advertising vehicles who throw out free stuff , we got sprayed with water from Vittel , got thrown sweets from haribo and then lots of hats and other paraphernalia. Harry thought it was great and stood back to catch them.
We kept up to date with le tour de france and where the peloton was with the official Tour app so we could track exactly what time they came through and be ready , the action is pretty much over in a few minutes but it’s great to watch , the first Tete de la course came through followed 4 minutes later by the main group ( peloton ) . There were many escort cars and cars carrying spare bikes along the route, The atmosphere was buzzing and i got some great Photos and Harry exclaimed after that it was so worth the wait!
So will Chris Froome make it a hat trick we will have to wait and see! if he does he will be the 8th person to achieve this to date.
Todays stage finished with Mark Cavendish being the first win this le tour de France so I look forward to spotting him tomorrow in his yellow jersey in Percy in stage 2.
