Euro Newbies: Tour de Normandie

Finish Line at the Tour de Normandie

Every March the fourth oldest staged bicycle race is held in Normandie France, and the coolest part is that the finish line for the 5th stage of the race is one block away from our house! Too cool. On Saturday the cyclist started their race from Gouville sur Mer (near Saint Malo) and four hours later they entered Bagnoles, circled the center and then sprinted to the finish line just beyond the Chateau Bagnoles and across from the church in the square.

Painting the finish line.

We started our day by walking into town for lunch. We watched them making all the last minute preparations, putting up barricades, painting the finish line, and erecting the stands. They had been working all morning to get ready. The racers would be rolling into town around 4:00 p.m. After lunch we found a good spot to view the race and take pictures. Then we sat back and watched the people begin to line the streets. The vehicles carrying the race officials arrived. Then the support crew arrived. After a long wait, the police motorcycle escort came into view with lights flashing and sirens going. The crowds cheered as hundreds of cyclists came round the corner below us and raced up the hill.

Coming up the hill to the last straight.

Passing in front of the Chateau.

Crossing the Finish.

After 183 km (114 miles) and 4 hours 2 minutes, the German, Erick Zabel crossed the finish line to win the 5th stage of the Tour de Normandie. Tony Hurel the French cyclist came in second. While the cyclists took a couple of laps around the square, we walked around the corner to where the support vehicles were parked and watched the racers cool down after the race.

The race winner complaining of his right knee.

A hard race.

Cooling down.

Cycling is a hard sport, lots of skinned knees and chins.

Awards time.

The Tour de Normandie race was started in 1939 as a race for amateurs, but in 1996 the race was opened to professionals. The race takes place in 6 stages and is seen as an important preparation for the Tour de France. The last stage will leave Bagnoles at noon tomorrow and end in Caen.

The Raleigh Team with Alexandre Blain on the far left who would finish in 2nd place.

On Sunday morning we went down to watch the start of the last stage of the race. While we were having our cappuccino in the Hotel Gayot, the Raleigh team from Britain came in and sat next to us. Alice got her picture taken with the team and we wished them luck. Alexandre Blain was the only team member that was fluent in French, and only because he grew up in France! It was great to speak English and fun to see their excitement. Alexandre Blain would fight it out with the Swiss rider the rest of the day and come in second in the overall race.