image: Priya Q
Our travel around mostly the southern France during Tour de France entailed lots of walking around the city. We walked many cobbled streets lined with roadside cafes, we saw many a nice manicured and flowery medians, weekly markets selling fruits, vegetables, flowers and more. Btw, I feel that, the best way to learn and get a feel of the place you visit is not by only visiting the touristy places but to walk around the city checking what the locals do, where the locals go. Read more...
This blog is dedicated to my soccer crazy friends Anil, Dhaval, J, Naveen, Raman, Saju, Sharath and others in the Vattan’s club….hey guys hope you like it!
Soccer is considered to be the second most popular game after cricket in India. We were in Monaco, the starting point of the much-celebrated Tour de France and walking around the streets buzzing with the tour related activities that we came across an interesting stretch overlooking the vast Mediterranean Sea. The Champions Promenade at the Grimaldi Forum is surely a place of interest for those who follow soccer.
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This is a guest post by Mr.Q, a professional quizmaster and an ardent Tour de France fan…
Cavendish rules Champ-Elysees, Contador bags 2nd TdF !!
Mark Cavendish Champ on Champs Elysees
As the riders left Montereau-Fault-Yonne for this the last stage of the 96th edition of the Tour de France, for most, it is the fulfillment of their desire to finish once on the Champs-Elysees in front of the world media & over 500,000 cheering fans.
Armstrong on Champs-elysees
Cavendish racing away from Hurshod
This is a guest post by Mr.Q, a professional quizmaster and an ardent Tour de France follower…
The Killer peak tamed !!
The 20th & penultimate stage of the tour started from Montelimar and ended at Mont Ventoux, a distance of 167 kms. With one Cat – 4 climb & three Cat – 3 climbs today’s stage also had a mountain top finish with the Hors Category Mont Ventoux in the end. Read more...
This is a guest post by Mr.Q, a professional quizmaster and an ardent Tour de France follower…
The biggest challenge is yet to come !!
Contador in yellow jersey smiles for us
With the announcement of his signing up with the Radio Shack team by Lance Armstrong, the battle lines are going to drawn very clearly now. Reports of displeasure within the Astana team on Contador’s move in Stage 16 is now in the open. Read more...
This is a guest post by Mr.Q, a professional quizmaster and an ardent Tour de France follower
Anncey – the lake town !!
In the Alps, we have seen some of the best scenic routes & towns as we pass by with the Tour de France. The natural beauty of the place with lots of greenery is refreshing to the eyes. Add to that the friendly nature of the people we meet along the route, all makes for a very good combination of fun & festivity something which the Tour de France organisers want to showcase for the fans.
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This is a guest post by Mr.Q, a professional quizmaster and an ardent Tour de France follower
The Lance influence !!
As the tour starts of on the third of the Alpine stages, the race for the top contender is now becoming a show of team strength. With several teams totally out of contention, its Astana & Garmin Slipstream teams which are putting the riders right up front and keeping the rhythm & the speed going. To see the Astana team minus Leipheimer chugging away right in the front reminds one of the Discovery team & US Postal team days, when Armstrong, in order to make sure that he doesn’t get caught in any untoward incidents used to ensure that his team rode right at the front, even if they had to lead the peleton.
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This is a guest post by Mr.Q, a professional quizmaster and an ardent Tour de France follower
Mont Blanc – what a sight!!
The sight of this majestic mountain top covered in snow is an unforgettable one. With this being summer here, the majority of the mountain tops at this Ski resort is just plain rock or with some greenery around it. And with Mont Blanc in the background the whole scenery looks all the more appealing. Read more...
This is a guest post by Mr.Q, a professional quizmaster and an ardent Tour de France follower
The air pistol salute seen once again!!
With the race set to move into the Alps, the frenzy of the tour moves from France to Switzerland. The fans traveling across to the high mountains in campers is a sight to thrill any sport lover. The energy of the mass gathered on the sides of the road waiting for over 5-6 hours just to cheer on their favourite riders shows the popularity of this sport. Read more...
This is a guest post by Mr.Q, a professional quizmaster and an ardent Tour de France follower
Cold & rainy – the tour moves on!!
Today, we were certified “crazy & mad” by our friends in Colmar, for we braved a consistent drizzle for over 2 hours on the streets leading to Sundhoffen – a small village on the route to Besancon, to catch the publicity caravan & the riders as we have been doing for the last 13 days. For us it was more of a thrill to see Contador, Nocentini, Armstrong, Cavendish & the other riders, who have become a part of our life – cycling by. But for majority of the crowd at this town it was the publicity caravan that was the focus, as getting gifts being thrown from the branded vans & participating in contests is equally thrilling!! Read more...
