Well I've done my bit for another year. The weather driving from Dorchester to Tiverton was awful. It absolutely chucked it down. This stage of the race started at Chard, in Somerset and went on to Burnham on Sea in Devon. I was marshalling at Tiverton. I thought I was going to be late thanks to a diversion at Crewekerne, but I found my way and was actually the first volunteer to arrive at Tiverton. I pulled on all my waterproof togs and the rain stopped. As you can imagine I wasn't cold. Thankfully, the paid staff had erected the sprint signs and put up the barriers, so I didn't have too much to do, except sell programmes and chat with one or two spectators.
Despite the lousy weather, it stayed fine while we waited for the race to come through, and although it was later than expected, probably due to weather, the kids from Blundell's School amused themselves waving and cheering any passers-by. As the race neared, they cheered the motorcycle cops, who beeped their sirens. Britain now has a dedicated team of police for major bike races, something they learned from the Tour de France, last year.
I fired off a few photos, none very good, and I'm not even sure who crossed the line of talcum powder they used as the sprint line - tape wouldn't have stuck to the wet road.
I was delighted that so many people came to see the spectacle. Twelve riders broke away and came through first, then the rest of the peloton and team cars - the impedimenta. I was actually helping to take down the sprint when the stragglers came through. I suspect there may have been some technical problems or a crash earlier on.
It took us half an hour to take the sprint point down, clear the barriers and load the van, two of us volunteers helped the paid staff. I was told we were expecting fifteen volunteers, if half a dozen showed up, that was all and two of us did all the work.
All of this for a tee shirt, plus giving something back to the sport which gives me so much pleasure, and I hope raising its profile amongst the inhabitants of this land. Oh, and I purloined another road sign to match the one I got from the TdF.
All in all, a good day out if I don't count the flood water on the way back.
Angharad.
Comments
Tour
Sounds like a perfect day went perfectly for you. Bet you couldn't be happier at that point. Just think back to it next time people like me are aggravating you.
The Tour Of Britain
Sounds as if you had a very good day. I like the picture of the race. I can imagine Cathy or Drew there in the race.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
TOUR OF BRITAIN ( or how not to do it )
I'm glad that the day turned out so well for you, given the awful weather we've had this year.
Whenever I've seen cycle racing on TV, it's always been fascinating to watch. Much better than other types of vehicle racing because one can see the effort being made by the riders and empathise with their sweat and toil.
I'm sure that it must be very healthy as a participant, but sailing's my sport. At least it can be done sitting down with a drink to hand!
However, as I'm sure that followers of the Tour of Britain will recall, one stage finished in Taunton ( UK not US! )
Our wonderful local council decided to really push the boat out and decided to close the entire town centre for the day.
As a result the local economy lost hundreds of thousands of pounds in lost trade. Shoppers were unable to even get to the carparks so that they could walk to the shops; my own business ( taxis ) lost £ 600 because we couldn't take our customers where they wanted go, not even to doctors' surgeries for appointments.
To cap it, the council sold street trading licences for fast food and coffee stalls, arranging for one such stand to be placed right outside the local Starbucks. In addition, one of the local town centre pubs, which one might expect to benefit from the occasion, was refused a delivery at 7am ( seven hours before the event )even though it was located 50 yards inside the barriers which were still being erected. The truck would have been gone in half an hour........
Needless to say, the council had its ear well and truly bent by the local trade associations. As for me, I contacted the local TV station mid morning to see if they were interested in what was happening. They were and I ended up having my views broadcast across the entire south and West of the UK. At least I got some advertising for free!
So, this year, when the route was announced, the towns' traders breathed a great sigh of relief.
Before any one leaps in to say that I've got something against cycling, I haven't. I'm sure that all those who cycle are
warm, wonderful human beings who are incapable of upsetting people. It's just the reaction of the local politicians and council officers who really shouldn't be exposed to the real world without an escort or guide dog.
Well, that's my rant for the year!
Regards,
Andy
Taunton -- closed?
They do the same around us for the Iron Man held in Sherborne.
This Sunday, we were treated to the fact that every road in or out of the village where we live - incidentally, miles from Sherborne - was accessible only via a marshalling point.
Where these were is a mystery, but give the council its due, we were forewarned, so we made sure that we didn't have anywhere to go over the weekend.
Well done to Angharad for the hard work she put into the ToB. Will we one day see her riding in it?
Interesting thought huh?
May your bike forever gleam
I don't just look it, I really AM that bad...
While I'm not a fan
of anything for a pastime that looks like work I hope you enjoyed yourself.I don't know if you've heard but there is talk that Lance Armstrong is going to come out of retirement.Amy--"May your pen never run out of ink and your brain out of ideas"
I Am Not Sure, But I Read That
Lance Armstrong is coming out of retirement to ride again. I saw it on Yahoo!
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Sounds better than
The Tour of Misery, erm, Missouri... Who is this Cavendish fellow that won the first stage? http://www.tourofmissouri.com/
Blatant non-plug as I don't know, nor do I care, but I had to help troubleshoot communications for some of the staff promoting this thing, not to mention we are losing our parking lot Friday for the VIP's coming in (so now a 6 block walk instead of 2) :P
Really, though, as long as you had a good time and enjoyed yourself, that was the important part! /hugs
Diana
ps more pics please! :)
Cav—the new Wunderkind!
Mark Cavendish is the hottest thing in cycling for a while. Not only did he win 4 stages in this yaar's Tour de France, bur also the first 3 stages of last weeks Tour of Ireland.
He also won stage 2 of the Tour of Misouri yesterday.
Gabi
Gabi.
Lance
Yep, I heard the announcement this evening on the radio news that Lance was going to ride in the TDF and try to win #8.
Wednesday - Stage start at Worcester
Greetings
Well done to Angharad for the work done to help the event run. Indeed well done to every volunteer for the event.
The stage on Wednesday started in Worcester, less than a couple of miles from where I work, but that was as close as I got.
The weather was quite good, though the start locaation had to be moved a short distance, as the plannned point was flooded.
The local newspaper and BBC web pages had stories and pictures.
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/3661535.Cyclists_set_off...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/image_gall...
Brian