France 2005

Seen from the train on the way to Moutiers

And then there were these US goofballs here, too

I knew that the mountains was the way to see them, they are slower there and break up into many groups. Here the leaders

Lance's team Discovery leading the peleton

It was hot, and they were suffering

The guy in the polka dotted jersey is the King of the Hill, at least at this moment in time

One of the final riders. People would scramble to get the bottles

After the riders are gone, come the many team support vehicles

This US chick wanted this sign so badly, and being who I am, I climbed the walls and got it for her. Her TDF souvenir.

So, let me tell you what happened in Moutiers. There was this American family, the girl above was part of them. Mom sat in a lawn chair in front of me. I told her that I would be standing behind her, waiting to take pictures of the race leaders. She said, no porblem, not to worry, and said that she would stay seated anyway. Then Lance came up the hill, I put my camera to my eye and all I could see in the viewfinder was her hair. She had jumped up and completely obliterated any chance of my getting any pictures of the race leaders. They were gone in flash, while she had full view and took pictures. She apologized, of course, but that did not help to get back a once in a lifelime opportunity, for which I had traveled half around the world. There is no second chance once an action shot is missed.

The little Alpine town of Moutiers, one rushed through to catch the train back to Paris

And having done so, collapsed exhausted at the end of a long and eventful day