La Premiere Etape. Sunday, 8th July 2007What a wonderful morning. The weather harked back to those halcyon days of tea on a camomile lawn, the crack of leather upon willow and Spitfire trails drifting languidly overhead.
After an unnecessary five hours sleep - one simply had to watch the Prologue highlights - a now financially challenged 'Team Paul Smith 531 with Rapha rendeviewed at Snaresbrook station armed only with croissants, nutella and a rather cheeky Chardonnay. Bravely ignoring several cafes we made a reckless dash for Tower Bridge in the hope of securing a great spot. We made it with hours to spare which just goes to show how fast we are, even on no wheels! The caraven approached our station on the bend leading onto Tower Bridge and then, contrary to entente cordial, a lot of rather lovely French ladies started throwing what appeared bingo prizes at us.
I was hit on at least five occasions but resolutely remained at my post.
Our position became undefendable when a lunatic from the Loir drenched us with a spray hose.
Discretion prevailed and we retreated to our Tower Bridge base camp.
Having regrouped, gathered our freebies and recovered, with the help of a coupe of splendid cafe lattes, Peter, David and I steeled ourselves, dug in and awaited the arrival of le peleton. Not long later a fine fellow from T-Mobile presented us, and everyone else on the bridge, with a pink cap, T-shirt, banner and giant inflaitable 'T'. I'm not sure how the other cyclists felt when they arrived at this wall of pink but I'm sure it perked up Mark Cavendish a wee bit!Hawkins le rouleur ...
Green-eyed monster time. I was sooooo jealous!
Mr. Sam Hawkins, drama teacher extraordinairre and participant in 'Le Grand Depart'.
Can one assume you had a simply wonderful morning, Sam? However you don't have a giant pink inflatable T-mobile finger. So there. I'll swap you for the shirt if it all gets too much!
The view did improve a little after seeing Sam in ancient, religion revealing, lycra ...
I'm talking about the bikes!!! People your minds... I mean really ... you should be ashamed of yourselves.
Avante mon petite domestiques ...
Now it really got exciting.
The Disco' team car. Johann at the wheel (I think), he didn't stop with contracts for David and I. probably waiting next years team sponsor?
A multi-burst of the peleton on Tower Bridge. A warning to all - always learn how to use your camera BEFORE you need to use it.
Come to think of it Johann's probably in this support car. Still no contract though!
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