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Eyeball to eyeball Millions line Tour route for glimpse of cycling heroesPosted: Friday July 19, 2002 12:14 PMPLATEAU DE BIELLE, France (Reuters) -- An estimated one million people pack the roadside each day to watch the colourful parade that is the Tour de France. The climb to the finish of Friday's 199.5 kilometers 12th stage at Plateau de Bielle in the Pyrenees was packed with thousands of cycling fans who had driven, ridden and walked up to see the riders in action. The mountains become roadside stadiums lined for miles with fans from all over the world, with the riders forced to race through a narrow tunnel of cheering spectators towards the finish. From the roadside, you can look into Lance Armstrong's eyes as he attacks and see the suffering of those who follow. It is breathtaking stuff -- like watching a soccer final from the dug-out or acting as a ball boy at a Wimbledon final. Three times champion Armstrong's success in the Tour has attracted more American fans and the stars and stripes flag is now a common sight along the roadside. Shouts of "Go Lance" and "U.S.A" are heard amongst the French cheers of "Allez Virenque" for the popular climber Richard Virenque. "This is the second year we've combined our holidays in France to see the Tour de France in the mountains," said Armstrong fan Bobby Owens from Tucson in Arizona, attending with his wife. Close up "It's great to watch the Tour in the mountains. It's a show which lasts all day and you get to see the riders from just inches away. "It's too bad we don't have anything like this in the United States." Waving an American flag, the pair were sure Armstrong would win the Tour for a fourth time this year. "We're big Lance fans. He looked pretty good yesterday when he took the stage and the yellow jersey," said Owens. The Pyrenees always attracts thousands of Basque Country fans from over the border. They wear the orange of the Basque Euskaltel team and wave the red, green and white Basque flag. Last year they celebrated all night at the Luz Ardiden ski resort when Roberto Laiseka won the first ever Tour stage for the Basque team. There are rarely spats between the different fans, everybody cheering each rider no matter which country they come from or team they ride for. The only problem after a day at the roadside watching the Tour is getting down the mountain after the stage ends. The roads are often blocked for hours -- but the day's exciting memories can help pass the time.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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