 David Zabriskie is a fast man |
This is the time of year that not only the most hardened cycling fans will be looking forward to but people nationwide will undoubtedly be in the cycling spirit come this prestigious event in July. It's the televised cycling event that consistently makes it onto prime time and sees people motivated to dust of the bike and don some Lycra each year. The Tour de France is fast approaching and what's more, it's coming to the UK.
Who, what, where, when, how?
We haven't seen the Tour pass through Britain since the early nineties and the fact that it's returning has got us all a bit excited here in the SheCycles office. Having the largest and most eagerly anticipated cycling event pass by our doorsteps is pretty special and the capital will be booming with spectators come the London Grand Depart. So booming in fact that we thought we'd pass on a few tips to make sure you know the who, what, where, when and how of the 2007 Tour launch to make sure you get the most out of what will be a truly spectacular day.
The little girls room...
There will be portaloo's dotted around Hyde Park but with a bit of luck us ladies can expect better conditions that the men. There are public toilets which are kept quite sanitary in both St James' Park and Hyde Park which will be open as far as we know, so look out for them as an alternative. There's a great café in the centre of St James Park where you'll be able to do coffee and a loo stop and the food there is delicious too.
Where to eat, drink and be generally merry (no Christmas hasn't come early... but we're just as excited!)
This route really is in the hub of central London so the possibilities for food, drink and socialising really are endless. There are an array of popular areas within walking distance with all the best bars and restaurants. Soho, Knightsbridge, Oxford Street and Covent Garden are all within a stones throw and that's just to name a few. You'll be near the river Thames too so if you fancy venturing away from Trafalgar square, come the evening, the south bank has loads to offer. If you're not familiar with the city, pick up a pocket map from any tube station or invest in an A-Z and you'll find loads of great areas to explore while you're in the capital.
Who to watch - Top 3 cycling hotties!
So, to celebrate their podium success the riders of the pro peloton receive a kiss on each cheek from a rather perfect pair of glamorous females. Logically, you'd think that you'd end up with a peck on the cheek from a hunk of a fella when you win the Pro women's events but no, it's still a couple of devastatingly polished girls. So to even up the balance we thought, why can't we enjoy a bit of eye candy? Here's the SheCycles guide to 'who's hot' in this years TdF pro peloton.
NB: The first thing to note is that you've got to be a fan of men who could quite possibly be more groomed than you. We're talking silky smooth and moisturised legs - after all they do get massaged with all sorts of lotions and recovery potions on a daily basis! A lot of the men in this list will be slightly too busy gracing the podium to date us girls but there's no harm in window shopping we say. Here's our top 5 pin ups...
 Tom Boonen is one of the fastest riders in the peloton |
1. Damiano Cunego sprung into the public domain when he controversially took the Giro d'Italia win ahead of his team leader, at the time, Gilberto Simoni in 2004. Both immensely strong riders now ride for separate teams making for some interesting rivalry. Now at Lampre, Cunego is a bit of a wonder boy of the pro peloton and to boot he's not bad looking either. If your type is boyish charm and super smooth looks he's certainly a good pin up. We've just had it confirmed that Cunego will now take a break and will not ride the Tour. Sorry, we just couldn't resist keeping him on the list!
2. Now, Quickstep's Tom Boonen has had some time out suffering with a broken toe but anyone looking for a bit of eye candy, don't fear, he's looking on fine form to return to the peloton in time for the Tour. We hear that he actually struggles to leave his home as he is swarmed by the female Belgian fans. Poor Tom...
3. David Millar has made a strong return to the pro peloton and we'll certainly have our eyes on him not only for a top prologue performance but also as a bit of top totty!
4. CSC's David Zabriske will float a few boats. Nice leg's (haven't they all!?) and we've also heard the 28 year old has a bit of a wacky sense of humour too!
5. George Hincape - This tall, lean American has racked up the results for Team Discovery as a super-domestique. The 33 year olds performances are improving with age as we think is his hunk status!
If you don't agree with us, we want to hear from you - share your top totty opinions in the forum!
Where to watch
In summary the route will start at Whitehall then pass through the remaining landmarks in the following order; Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park Corner, Serpentine Road and finally the prologue will finish up at The Mall.
The obvious choice is the start and the finish which will be packed with spectators but there are loads of fantastic spots on the way.
Buckingham Palace will not only be a stunning place to take in the view of the grand landmark but you'll see the race pass here twice so you can set up camp here for the whole race. As with all the best spots, get here early to find a good viewpoint, the best being on top of the Victoria Memorial.
Hyde Park will be a great place to take the family or have a picnic and there are plenty of spots where the route will pass through. Here is where you'll find the peoples village. There will be loads going on here and you'll be able to get refreshments too. There'll be French delicacies on offer and huge plasma screens showing all the action. The riders will pass down Serpentine road which will make for a very fast part of the course. The pros will be looking to make up time here so we can expect some great riding at this point.
After traveling down Constitution Hill the riders will hammer back towards the Mall for the finish. Seeing the riders come in here will be superb and you have all the benefits of being next to St James' Park for public conveniences.
How to watch
We will probably favour, yes you've guessed it, travelling by bike! It allows you the freedom of scooting about to find the best spots. There are some negative points to this although only minor ones. You'll have the flexibility of riding around to find your viewing point but it's harder to manoeuvre yourself into small gaps in the crowd if you've got to squeeze a bike in too. You will get a lot of people turning up with bikes so you'll often find you can chain it up with a bunch of others, just keep a close eye on it though… You will have to ride to your destination in its entirety as you will not be allowed on tubes with a bike. Oh and if you're off for a beer afterwards, you will have to make sure you pick a pub where you can sit outside to keep an eye on your trusty steed.
We've heard from Transport for London (TFL) that there will not be any closures
of tube stations. This means you should be able to access pretty much anywhere
around the London route. However it may be best to avoid the very central stations
and maybe walk in from a bit further a field to avoid the masses. We have the
added advantage of being fit cyclists so we can dash around the route quicker
than the average to get to the best spots!
Now, we're all for equality but if all else fails use your female powers of persuasion to get that optimum spot in the crowd!
We're of course praying for glorious sunshine but remember, this is England. So, after years of turning up to events in shorts and getting soaked come the afternoon, or on the flip side having arrived practically dressed for monsoon season and getting roasted when the sun makes a late appearance, we've learnt some lessons. Some obvious pointers, but come prepared. Even if you're adamant that the forecast has determined we're destined to be doomed with rain take sun sunscreen and a hat to avoid any possibilities of ending up looking like a beetroot.
Now all we need to do is pray for glorious sunshine and either way, we're in for a fantastic day. See you there!
D Dancy
