Today is the last day of the Tour de France, finishing in traditional style in Paris. Last year they couldn’t do so because of the Olympics in that city. This year they’ve added an extra bit to this final stage: a sort of sprint up the cobbled streets that lead up to Montmartre. So, not quite a traditional final stage.
It seems that the decision to include Montmartre is because it featured in the cycling road race in the 2024 Olympics and was very popular.
But cyclists have been accepting the challenge of the cobbled streets for years. During the Covid lockdown restrictions Paris residents were limited to within 1 kilometre of their homes, and apparently a group of amateur cyclists regularly gathered at the foot of the Sacré Cœur Basilica, riding up and down the hill repeatedly. Presumably they rode a regulation distance apart.
Some cyclists have expressed doubts about the advisability of the 150 or so riders of the peloton jostling their way up the narrow, cobbled streets. And today there are doubts about whether it will happen at all as rain is forecast and cobbles are dangerous when wet - well, in my opinion dangerous when dry as well but there it is. A decision will be taken before the stage sets off.
Incidentally, the basilica of the Sacré Coeur was one of the things that made my 17 year old self fall in love with Paris on my very first trip out of the UK.
In yesterday’s highlights of the day’s racing broadcast on ITV4 they did a feature on Didi the Devil, German cycling fan Dieter Senft who has been making an appearance at possible all the stages of Tour and of the Giro d’Italia since 1993. Growing up in East Germany he would secretly watch the Tour on forbidden West German TV and heard a broadcaster refer to the red triangular flag that marks the last kilometer as "the devil's red flag”. That’s where he found the inspiration dress up as a devil! Amazing!
And then the excitement is over for another year. I suppose I could begin following the Tour de France Femmes. It would be a feminist things to do but I’ve never really got into it. We shall see.
Rain is forecast in Paris. We have the promise of “light rain and a gentle breeze”. In Greece they are fighting wildfires. They’ve had temperatures above 40°! I think Turkey is also having problems with fires. Fires have probably broken out in such places for centuries but it seems that nowadays we are seeing more of them.
In the meantime my daughter and I are planning a mini-break with Granddaughters Numbers One, Two and Four and Grandson Number Two in the Lake District, part of the ongoing celebrations for Granddaughter Number Two’s successful graduation. We’ll probably get rained on but, you never know, maybe he sun will shine on us.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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