Tour de France - Lance Armstrong

Seven times winner of the Tour de France, the Texan Lance Armstrong retired four years ago. Now he's back! At 37, people wonder if it's a mistake but he looked pretty fit to me. When he appeared on the podium, the crowd went wild.

Standing next to Lance in the smaller photograph is race favourite, Alberto Contador - both race with the Astana team.

A bonus for spectators was the enormous screen alongside the podium, so we could all properly see what was going on.

Today, the Tour de France starts with the first 'race against the clock' - Monaco to Monaco - it's 15 kilometres of hills and flat, taking in La Turbie, Cap d'Ail and Roquebrune. Watch it on Eurosport!

Tour de France - Monaco's Welcome

Yesterday evening, Monaco welcomed the Tour de France. Each team (there are 20) lined up on the podium in front of the port and each cyclist was individually introduced to the public. Then the leader in each team was interviewed - here you see the Cervélo team from Switzerland and the Spaniard, Carlos Sastre, who won the Tour de France in 2008.

Prince Albert of Monaco opened the proceedings - you see him in the smaller photograph - centre. On the left is Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France.

In the photo below: the crowds. We were apparently 9000 last night. When I got to this area of seating there was hardly a place to be had, so I walked down to the front, sat on the steps and there I stayed...it was all the best fun with a great atmosphere.

Over the next days, we'll meet the cyclists, we'll see how the engineers care for the bikes, we'll see the mad publicity caravan and we might even meet a devil!

Note: you can see last night's event on Eurosport television today.

Tour de France - Le Cycliste

Le Cycliste by Louis Dollé is part of the Artistes dans la Rue exhibition in Monaco to welcome the Tour de France.

Statistics of the 2009 Tour de France:

180 cyclists.
20 teams.
200,000 visitors expected in Monaco.
350 million television spectators world-wide.
4,500 organisers - media, etc including 650 journalists.
170 vehicles that make up the 'caravan' of the tour.

Some of the Grand Prix stands have not yet been dismantled so that visitors can more easily view the Tour - access free.

Theme Day: Empty

An 'empty' cycling jersey or maillot for today's 'Theme Day.'

The most famous cycle race in the world, the Tour de France, departs next Sunday from Monaco, with a Time Trial the day before. Whilst the Tour has passed through Monaco on occasion, it has never started here - a great honour for the Principality.

To honour the Tour, there are sculptures throughout Monte Carlo. Here we see the maillots by Héléna Krajewicz. These cycling shirts have been soaked in epoxy resine and are part of the current exhibition in Rue Princesse Caroline and Square Gastaud.

To see how other City Daily Photo bloggers from all over the world have interpreted today's Theme, please click here to view thumbnails.

Tour de France - Mont Ventoux

This sculpture , which is near to Monaco's market, represents one of the mountains the cyclists will have to conquer in this year's Tour de France. Mont Ventoux is a climb of over 1000 metres and a 167 kilometres run. The red and white stone at the base has N7 written on it, the number of the road. Afficionados of the Tour will remember when Richard Virenque reached the summit of Mont Ventoux in 2002 - one of the Tour's great moments.

The plaque showing the artist's name was missing but when I find out, I'll add the name.

The hill in the background is the rocher (the rock) where you find the palace, the cathedral and the Oceanographic museum. This is the oldest part of Monaco.

The back up teams arrive in Monaco today but for several days now, we've seen cyclists everywhere, even on the Route de Gorbio, the road that leads to my village. Of course, it's hard to know if they are the real thing as even amateur cyclists wear all the gear but they looked pretty fit to me!

It's getting exciting - the first time in history that the Tour de France will start in Monaco.

Tour de France - 'Super Eagles' - Lance Armstrong

One or two of the eagle sculptures featured in the gardens of Monaco relate to the Tour de France. This one is constructed using one of Lance Armstrong's bikes. The artist is Martin Caminiti. In the background, you see the doorman of the Metropole Hotel.

FREE OUR BLOGGER IN IRAN!

One of our fellow bloggers is Amir in Iran (Tehran Live). Following the recent elections and after the 17th June, his blog was blocked and recently he was picked up and is now in prison. Today, the City Daily Photo Community is coming together in solidarity for our courageous friend and for freedom and democracy for the people of Iran.

FREE OUR BLOGGER!

For Updates on Amir - click on this link.

These photographs show a caged eagle by the artist Silvie Brière - this is part of an exhibition of eagles in the Casino Gardens and throughout the Principality. We'll see more after the Tour de France.

To see how other CDP bloggers are supporting our friend and the people of Iran, please click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

AMIR IS RELEASED!
This great news came through the night of the 28th - and he is home with his family. Oh Happy Day!

Tour de France - 'Quantum Physics'

Another sculpture, in honour of the Tour de France which departs from Monaco this year.

Place: Square Gastaud. The work: 'Quantum Physics' The artist: Cruiz.

Tour de France - the Poster

Everywhere you look you see this poster. Not long now and the madness will begin.

Tour de France - The Angel

The greatest cycling race in the world, the Tour de France, starts in Monaco on the 4th July. It has passed through Monaco before but never started here. A great honour for the Principality.

In Rue Princesse Caroline, the pedestrian street, 20 artists have created works to mark the event.

Look up, and you see this creation by Véronique Champollion.

The Monte Carlo Dog

Meet Nina, a Monte Carlo dog in the arms of a Monte Carlo lady - owner of the G.A.M Galerie d'Art in Monaco.

Nina is half Chihuahua and half Papillon and nearly one year old - still only a puppy.

I was walking through the Gallery of the Winter Sporting in Casino Square and noticed a vernissage taking place in this beautiful art gallery. One of the owner's assistants kindly invited me in and put a glass of vin rosé in my hand. The vernissage was for two talented artists, one a sculptor and the other a photographer - yes, I know I should have taken note of names but put a glass of wine in my hand and give me a dog to photograph and that's it!

You can see another photograph of Nina and a little more of the gallery on Riviera Dogs today - second photo.

Dior and Denim

The Avenue des Beaux Arts is known as the most expensive shopping street in Monaco. It runs from the Place du Casino to Avenue Princesse Alice and the Hôtel Hermitage. This is the street to walk, if you want to spend serious money on designer clothes and jewels in Monte Carlo.

The Monumental Heads

Two more monumental heads by the Spanish artist, Manolo Valdés, currently on display in the Casino Gardens. Well, actually three: the sculpture in the large photo is called Ivy. Tucked behind you see Ada.

And in the smaller photograph - where the person in red gives you an idea of the great size of these works, the sculpture is called Dama 1.

Monte Carlo Lady - Pink and Blue

Pink and blue - mauve too. One shoulder bare. Silver shoes, white hat. She walks past the Hôtel de Paris on Casino Square.

Jacaranda

The Casino Garden boasts many spectacular and rare trees but at the moment, none create shade and catch the eye quite like the beautiful jacarandas.

The Lady and the Queen

An attractive lady photographs Regina - a 2005 sculpture by the Spanish artist, Manolo Valdés - part of an exhibition of his monumental heads in the Casino Gardens. The blue tree is a Jacaranda.

There is an absolutely beautiful sculpture of Queen Mariana, by Manolo Valdés, below the Opera House. Click on the link.

The Tiger

'Tiger' guards the Monte Carlo Bay Resort & Hotel.

Created by the Croatian-born sculptor, Mornar, you can read more about the artist by clicking on the link.

Dames/Femmes

This is the Ladies/Women's loo at the Monte Carlo Bay Resort Hotel.

In the smaller photograph someone has crossed out Femmes and written Dames. A dame being a lady, and a femme being a woman. What is even more surprising is that no one in the hotel has cleaned it up.

So which should it be?

Larvotto Beach - the Jazz Lounge at La Note Bleue

La Note Bleue is not only a beach restaurant but also a Jazz Lounge at night - you see a small part of it here. The ambiance is superb. And always beautiful fresh flowers.

The friendly servers we saw a couple of days ago work here.

Larvotto Beach - the Furniture Painter

You don't expect to see furniture for sale on the beach, do you?

If you get bored with bronzing yourself, you can find all sorts of interesting things to buy for your house or apartment. And you can even watch the furniture being painted. You'll find these delights near to La Spiaggia, which is the end of the beach nearest to the Monte Carlo Bay Resort Hotel.

A couple of days ago, Diederick from Arona Every Day visited Monaco and I had the great pleasure of meeting him and his son and daughter-in-law. Do click on the link to take a look.

Larvotto Beach - La Note Bleue

Meet David and Sandra, two of the friendly servers at La Note Bleue, the beach restaurant and Jazz Lounge on Larvotto Beach.

Larvotto Beach - the Parasols

We're back at Larvotto Beach. A cruise ship is out at sea. Tables are being prepared for lunch at the Miami Plage restaurant.

Toys for Boys

If you own a mega yacht, it seems you own a Ferrari. This one was parked alongside one of the big yachts. The tyre looks brand new, doesn't it?

Men at Work

Crew members move cushions from one end of this boat to the other.

No Day Work

If you walk alongside the yachts in port, you'll see notices on most of the entry-phones: Fully Crewed. No Day Work.

Click to see more of the Lady Lola.

Grand Prix - Truth

The Grand Prix wouldn't be the Grand Prix without a plethora of pretty girls.

Here's one who was working on one of the many stalls selling Grand Prix memorabilia. She was friendly and smiling yet in this photograph she looks pensive, with a quiet dignity. Photographs are so much of the moment - the instant we press that button, aren't they? Do they tell the truth or not?

Grand Prix - Turquoise on the Red Carpet

One of the many stands in the pedestrian street where the vendor is getting ready for Practice Day.