Anyone shooting Le Tour de France?

[dave lackey]

This is the first year I haven't even looked at it. But, wondering if anyone is near the routes and actually shooting some of the scenes in and around the race?🙂

 

[tlitody]

No but I'd love to do it one year just for the experience. We've even got an English rider whose in with a chance of winning the green jersey.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I have not even seen a news wrap up this year......seems like all my favs are either gone or suspected of dopping..........

 

[blw]

It's been a pretty good race to follow this year. Today really shook out the chaff from the wheat with regard to the GC picture.

But no, I've never made it to that side of the English Channel.

 

[Peter S]

I once was a guest in a car following the peloton with a camera team for a Dutch tv show. 27-28 years ago or so, I was 14-15 years old. Man was that exciting. The problem nowadays is that it is all so crowded, very difficult to shoot nice pictures.

There are some very good professional photographers/cycling lovers. I just bought a picture from Timm Koelln: a portrait of Andy Schleck (www.timmkoelln.com/the_peloton/). Clearly a cycling lover. just look on his website at all the very nice cycling pictures. I love the Bahamontes series. Another nice photographer is Stephan van Fleteren who published a book about Flemish cycling, especially the classics (http://www.stephanvanfleteren.com/gallery_flandriens/index.html).

But yeah, I wish I could just follow the tour like I did when I was at university with all the time in the world and being able to watch the whole race coverage.

 

[hausen]

I would love to as well. Has been one of the more interesting years for awhile. 5 or 6 guys could have one before today but probably down to 3 now. Has had everything though, crazy crashes, successful break aways, the only 2 Norwegians in the race have one 2 stages each, and one The god of thunder won a mountain stage and he is a sprinter. Only thing hasn't had so far, touch wood is a drug cheat. Besides Contodor. 🙂 Would be great fun to shoot but everyone you see on road side either has p&s or some huge zoom on an slr, be nice to add a little rf class to the mix.

 

[tlitody]

I once was a guest in a car following the peloton with a camera team for a Dutch tv show. 27-28 years ago or so, I was 14-15 years old. Man was that exciting. The problem nowadays is that it is all so crowded, very difficult to shoot nice pictures.

There are some very good professional photographers/cycling lovers. I just bought a picture from Timm Koelln: a portrait of Andy Schleck (www.timmkoelln.com/the_peloton/). Clearly a cycling lover. just look on his website at all the very nice cycling pictures. I love the Bahamontes series. Another nice photographer is Stephan van Fleteren who published a book about Flemish cycling, especially the classics (http://www.stephanvanfleteren.com/gallery_flandriens/index.html).

But yeah, I wish I could just follow the tour like I did when I was at university with all the time in the world and being able to watch the whole race coverage.

That Timm Koelln site is awesome. Thanks for posting link.

 

[jamesj]

I always tell my wife that I just want to jump in line with my bike and say I rode in the tour.

 

[tlitody]

I always tell my wife that I just want to jump in line with my bike and say I rode in the tour.

I think every year they hold an amateurs event over the same route. Just book up and off you go.

Makes me laugh when football managers (that's soccer to some) say their players are tired after playing 3 or 4 1 1/2 hour matches in the space of a couple of weeks.

 

[tritiated]

Wish I was there, in that camper-van-caravan. Pretty much the most exciting tour I've watched for years! Shame Wiggo bust his collar bone..

 

[blw]

A shame indeed tritiated! He was a dark horse favorite for me, as well as Chris Horner who also left early.

Now, now hausen....I'm not a fan of his either, but Clenbutador hasn't been popped for anything in this tour thus far (knock wood). However, one guy did test positive with the A and B samples- Alexander Kolobnev. So far though, he's the only one.

I'm as cynical as they get about drugs and bike racing these days, but I have to say, the guys at the front seem almost human for a change this year. Today was an absolute cracker of a stage and tomorrow's shouldn't be much less than that.

 

[Peter S]

Yesterday's stage was fantastic and am looking forward to today's. It does look like the sport is becoming cleaner and cleaner. The only thing I do not really like is the calculated way they are riding, looking at their powermeters and staying out of the red. "No guts no glory" as young Schleck showed yesterday. I hope it motivated the others to try something similar today. The cyclotourist version of the Tour, or to be more specific one of the stages of the TdF is called l'Etape du Tour (www.letapedutour.com/). Would require very serious preparation and weight loss in my case 🙂

 

[Teashop]

Will be in Paris for the final day, but this year will be shooting with a DSLR and long zoom rather than the M6. Been a great race so far; hoping to see Cavendish and Renshaw strutting their stuff again on the final blast up the Champs Elysee then Cav in green on the podium.If you ever get the chance to follow the Tour in the high mountains, grab it with both hands. The opportunities with a Rangefinder are superb as you are right next to the riders and the atmosphere is electric. Have ridden a lot of the Alps and Pyrenean climbs in my younger days and am always in awe that these guys can race over them day after day. I was just struggling to keep pedalling fast enough to stay upright..!

 

[robbeiflex]

Go Andy!

As an avid biker and hobby photographer I would love to be there. As it was I spent my vacation riding in the alps nearby in Morzine-Avoriaz, so I'll be watching on television. Col d'Izoard is a favourite climb so I especially enjoyed yesterday's attack by Andy Schleck. I've ridden the Alpe d'Huez twice and can tell you that it is usually won and lost at the bottom where it is very steep. Franck Schleck won it in 2006 so Luxembourg is expecting a big day for the Leopard-Trek team.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[robklurfield]

I like Tommy Voekler's pluck for hanging on to the maillot jaune for just one more day on Thursday. I've recorded today's stage on Alp d'Huez so I have no idea yet which Schleck brother blew up the peloton today. I won't come back to this thread until after I've watched the stage. I told my wife last night that I wanna see this in person and she said let's do it next year. We'll see.

 

[bobkonos]

Followed the Tour in 1985, 1992, 1994. Followed the Giro in 1996 (Dolimites) and saw two stages of this year's edition in May in Orvieto. Followed the Belgian Classics (my favorite races) in 1993. And saw Cyclo-cross Worlds in Belgium in 2002. All terrific experiences, and all photographed with Leica M and Nikon FM2 cameras. I encourage all who follow this sport to get there one day-you must see these in person at least once. Meanwhile, I decorate the house with Tour memorabilia (I collect musettes) each July and we watch each stage closely.

While watching today's stage, my wife suggested we go back to the Alps in 2013 tro see the race and ride more passes. Well, alright then...

@Robbieflex: we are huge Schleck fans here in Sacramento. When I watched Andy yesterday, I saw in him Charly Gaul of 53 years ago. Brilliant. How is the Izoard-have yet to do it.

 

[bigeye]

Cadel gonna do it tomorrow?

.

 

[Schlapp]

No but I'd love to do it one year just for the experience. We've even got an English rider whose in with a chance of winning the green jersey.

There's several British riders doing well. Cavendish is Manx and should win green jersey. Geraint Thomas is fiercely Welsh and has done some brilliant rides this tour. Ben Swift is English and got 6th in one stage [I used to coach him actually] Dave Millar is Scot and is still there while Wiggins fell off and broke his collarbone.

I have taken loads of cycling pictures in the past -when I worked for British Cycling and some at the Tour. A fantastic event.

 

[Thardy]

I like Tommy Voekler's pluck for hanging on to the maillot jaune for just one more day on Thursday. I've recorded today's stage on Alp d'Huez so I have no idea yet which Schleck brother blew up the peloton today. I won't come back to this thread until after I've watched the stage. I told my wife last night that I wanna see this in person and she said let's do it next year. We'll see.

I admire Voeckler also.

 

[tlitody]

There's several British riders doing well. Cavendish is Manx and should win green jersey. Geraint Thomas is fiercely Welsh and has done some brilliant rides this tour. Ben Swift is English and got 6th in one stage [I used to coach him actually] Dave Millar is Scot and is still there while Wiggins fell off and broke his collarbone.

I have taken loads of cycling pictures in the past -when I worked for British Cycling and some at the Tour. A fantastic event.

Cycling coverage in the UK is so appalingly bad. The BBC just hasn't registered it until the track teams started winning a few medals. But I have to say Radio Five has been reporting the tour daily this year for the first time. Now if they would just employ Phil Liggett we might get some decent commentary.