The Great Cycle Race
Yesterday evening my guest arrived having driven down from Paris. This is the third year he has stayed at this time of year. Unpacked and installed in the apartment he then assembles a very expensive black racing bike from the boot of his car. A test run up and down the street returning to attach his entry number 1040 to the front of his bike. This morning (30/06/2018) he departs at 07:00hrs, the weather is cool and dry but it will not take long for the sun to burn through the mists surrounding the mountain peaks. It promises to be a very hot day and a challenge for the some 5000 competitors in this great cycle race, L'Ariégeoise 2018. I rose and took a few photographs of the many individuals and teams passing my gate. Rooms are fully booked throughout the area and the 10 km or so ride to the start line at Tarascone is treated as a warm up. It is a colourful site as they pass by in team or individual colours. Of course the shirt underneath will match as, each year, the offi...