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Le Tour de York

The Tour de France in 2014 will start from North Yorkshire and the people of York are starting to get excited about this. When I first heard about it I was puzzled because I thought this famous French cycle race was always held in France. It is called the Tour de France after all. And if it starts in North Yorkshire, how will the cyclists get across the English Channel? It turns out that the Tour de France is mostly held in France but it does occasionally pass through other countries. The getting across the English Channel bit I’m still unsure about but presumably they’ll go by ferry, train or plane.

As part of the lead up to the Grand Départ 2014, York has been celebrating everything cycling. Yesterday, part of the central city was closed off to cars allowing cyclists a 5.6km car-free route around the city. There was entertainment at various places and the York Festival of Cycling in full swing at Rowntree Park. We, of course, joined in the fun and it was great fun. Cycling through the inner city was particularly magic especially cycling past the Minster in all its medieval glory and with its bells joyfully ringing.

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Some of the action at Rowntree Park

 

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The bakfiets

 

The bakfiets in motion. It even goes backwards.

 

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Rachel M

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7 responses to “Le Tour de York”

  1. xbox2121 Avatar
    xbox2121

    I used to watch the Tour de France every year and was a big Lance Armstrong fan. At the time He was unbeatable and always had good American teams around Him. Then He got busted for blood dopping. This method has been used by cyclist for years and continues today with many of the riders of all nations admitting to it unofficially of course. To this day I still read His website because it is filled with nutritional data and information I like. So after winning a record seven times in a row the over site comity, made up of all Europeans but one I think, knocked off the king and now the Europeans have their precious trophy back.

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      I’m fairly sympathetic of Lance Armstrong because it seems to me that you can’t make it in the sport unless you do take drugs. I have heard arguments to just remove the ban on doping and make the only requirement one that they can’t compromise their health. There’s an interesting take on the ethics of this here – http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/is-doping-wrong-

      Reply
      1. xbox2121 Avatar
        xbox2121

        That link was very interesting Rachel. I particularity liked His last two sentences:
        And no matter how blatant the drug use may be, we don’t stop watching the Tour de France. Maybe we should just turn off the television and get on our own bikes.

  2. Eve Spence Avatar
    Eve Spence

    I still love watching the race despite knowing they are all probably taking drugs. You can watch it for the scenery alone. Helicopters and motorbikes with cameras on all sides provide unique, breathtaking views of the French countryside. For more about it see, http://www.letour.fr. The riders are often flown between places overnight between stages. Otherwise, they couldn’t possibly cover the whole of France in three weeks taking in both the Alps and the Pyrennees. You could try doing the tour yourself one day, Rachel. Many keen bikers do it.

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      Maybe one day we’ll go and do some cycling in France. When I lived in Antibes I cycled all the way to Monaco and that was pretty amazing.

      Reply
      1. Eve Spence Avatar
        Eve Spence

        I know you did. That was amazing, Rachel. Even by car, it is a lo…ng way with many high traffic areas.

  3. Eve Spence Avatar
    Eve Spence

    Do a stage, that is, not the whole tour!

    Reply

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