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WOW, what can I say other than WOW.
I'm not a cycling fan, far from it in fact. In the months leading up to the Grand Depart it has been treated with distain, cynicism and disinterest by all but those actually involved. Of course the cycling community have been wetting themselves at the prospect, they would though, wouldn't they.
However.
In Harrogate yesterday and today the atmosphere has been electric. I didn't manage to get near the course to see the finish yesterday, watched it on telly at home, (bit weird). But the pub before hand was excellent. Landlord had ordered some pies in from a local butcher, set up an outside bar and the place was rammed both inside and out. People of all European nationalities along with some Aussies, Septics, Eastern Europeans but everybody was united in the desire to have fun and enjoy themselves. Even the Gendarmerie joined in!! The Fan Zone in the centre of town was full to capacity and everybody made the most of the Sponsors freebies and the live music and bars with in. There were rumours of numbers between 150 & 200 thousand visitors in Harrogate yesterday. It was heaving.
Today however, the race passed the end of our street so we went for a gander. It was brilliant. The caravan passed through in stages, at not a slow speed to be fair. I'm glad Fruit Shoot, Vittel & Buxton Water were not throwing freebies out to the assembled masses. There would have been serious injury!
Once that had passed there was an hour and a half until the actual riders passed. The time flew by as everyone was in party mood. The local boozers and clubs were all open, bar b ques selling burgers & hot dogs, boozers doing a roaring trade, it was fantastic, everyone was in party mood.
Then the race arrived, the preamble of the motorcycle outriders, Gendarmerie & team cars, then woosh, 20 seconds and the riders were passed. Then all the support vehicles going by, you just do not realise how many people are involved in running this race.
If you have the chance, go see it on Stage 3, you wont regret it, it's amazing.
I'm proud of my home town of Harrogate and county of Yorkshire, they did the whole country proud. Well done to everyone that made this happen.
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I'm not a cycling fan, far from it in fact. In the months leading up to the Grand Depart it has been treated with distain, cynicism and disinterest by all but those actually involved. Of course the cycling community have been wetting themselves at the prospect, they would though, wouldn't they.
However.
In Harrogate yesterday and today the atmosphere has been electric. I didn't manage to get near the course to see the finish yesterday, watched it on telly at home, (bit weird). But the pub before hand was excellent. Landlord had ordered some pies in from a local butcher, set up an outside bar and the place was rammed both inside and out. People of all European nationalities along with some Aussies, Septics, Eastern Europeans but everybody was united in the desire to have fun and enjoy themselves. Even the Gendarmerie joined in!! The Fan Zone in the centre of town was full to capacity and everybody made the most of the Sponsors freebies and the live music and bars with in. There were rumours of numbers between 150 & 200 thousand visitors in Harrogate yesterday. It was heaving.
Today however, the race passed the end of our street so we went for a gander. It was brilliant. The caravan passed through in stages, at not a slow speed to be fair. I'm glad Fruit Shoot, Vittel & Buxton Water were not throwing freebies out to the assembled masses. There would have been serious injury!
Once that had passed there was an hour and a half until the actual riders passed. The time flew by as everyone was in party mood. The local boozers and clubs were all open, bar b ques selling burgers & hot dogs, boozers doing a roaring trade, it was fantastic, everyone was in party mood.
Then the race arrived, the preamble of the motorcycle outriders, Gendarmerie & team cars, then woosh, 20 seconds and the riders were passed. Then all the support vehicles going by, you just do not realise how many people are involved in running this race.
If you have the chance, go see it on Stage 3, you wont regret it, it's amazing.
I'm proud of my home town of Harrogate and county of Yorkshire, they did the whole country proud. Well done to everyone that made this happen.
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