The Winter Garden

This is the Winter Garden of the beautiful Belle Epoque Hôtel Hermitage. Tomorrow, the cupola.

Driving Shoes?

About time we had a Monte Carlo lady so here are two for good measure. Two pretty ladies outside the Hôtel de Paris so naturally they get a doorman each.

I want to know how she drives in those high heels?

Tour de France update - yesterday saw Alberto Contador make his move and he looks unbeatable. Lance Armstrong is in second place, Bradley Wiggins is third. Today is a rest day - I need it!

Here is a fascinating article from the New York Times on what the riders eat on the Tour. Thanks so much for Kate from Visual St. Paul for sending it to me.

Modigliani?

Made of tiny mosaic tiles, is this a copy of a Modigliani or an original work, in his style? It decorates the terrace of a restaurant, Quai des Artistes, along one side of the port.

Tour de France update: The main positions haven't changed much. However yesterday Mark Cavendish was disqualified for apparently edging a competitor into the barriers at the end of the race. The commentators, looking at it from an aerial shot, said the road simply narrowed. Am sure there will be an appeal by the Columbia team.

And awful news - a woman spectator was killed and two others injured, by a police motorbike. The leading group of riders passed through her village and suddenly she ran across the road, before the pelaton had arrived, and the bike hit her. Too awful.

Lavinia's Shoe

I met Lavinia's shoe at a lunch party in Beaulieu. It's a very Monte Carlo shoe, don't you think?

We've left the Tour de France for the moment, although it continues of course. If anything happens that relates to any photos I have, of course I'll post them. Yesterday two riders got shot with pellets - not seriously hurt but not nice! Police are investigating.

Tour de France - 'E-Cycliste'

Another sculpture in the Artistes dans la Rue series commemorating the start of the Tour de France in Monaco. This time by Bruno Mendonça. We are in Square Gastaud, which is tucked away behind the port. It's a WiFi point so you see people sitting on the benches using their laptops. Not a bad place to read your emails.

Tour de France - the Cards

This pretty little art shop is to be found in a back street near to the port. I think these cards have been designed, specially for the Tour, by celebrities.

Tour de France - Wheels

No, not some awful accident on the Tour de France, but one of the 'Artistes dans la Rue' series celebrating the Tour starting in Monaco. (Don't know the name of this piece or the artist as the info wasn't displayed).

Tour de France - Heads Up!

One of the dummies used in the publicity caravan (click on link for example).

Tour de France - the Combativity Jersey

You're looking at the Liquigas Team, who have just been presented to the crowds in Monaco and are riding away from the podium, throwing toys at the audience. You can see one in Franco Pellizotti's hand in the small photo. Yesterday, this courageous man won the red 'combativity' jersey, which is awarded at each stage by a committee.

Yes I didn't know there was anything other than the Yellow Jersey but in fact there are other coloured jerseys too.

Personally I've never had any interest in the Tour de France before it came to Monaco. I'd read about doping, of course, I loved to see Lance Armstrong on the podium in Paris but that was about it. Now I'm a daily addict. First of all, whether you are interested in cycling or not, turn on the television - French or Eurosport - or whatever you get, because the feed is the same - if you want to see France in all its glory, you'll see it here. You get amazing helicopter shots of monasteries on the top of inaccessible mountains, you see rivers and villages as you've never seen them before - alongside a potted history. You get restaurant recommendations, what to do, where to go - but of course that's during the less exciting parts of the ride.

Yesterday's stage was 160 kilometres in the Pyrénées, with two high peaks to climb, one at over 2000 feet and a long and very dangerous fast descent to the Finish. After 12 ks four riders pushed ahead, but later, just two remained and one is the guy you see here. For much of the ride they were around 4.5 minutes ahead of the peloton, but a few kilometres before the finish line, the peloton started to catch up with the two leading riders until there was only 45 seconds in it but they kept going - goodness knows how? And then at the end, there was a final crazy lunge by the two of them. Pellizotto was 2nd and the winner was the other guy, Frenchman, Pierrick Féderigo, who won by about a wheel length. So it's no surprise to know that Pellizotto took the Combativity jersey. I was exhausted just watching...

Today is a rest day when the riders are flown to their next starting point.

Tour de France - Alberto Contador

A pensive Alberto Contador at the welcome evening in Monaco. Considered by many to be the favourite for this year's Tour de France. In the overall classification, after yesterday's Stage 8 (the second in the Pyrénées) Nocentini is in first place, Contador second and 6 seconds behind. Armstrong is 3rd and 8 seconds behind. Nothing in it. Today another hard day's climb.

Tour de France - the Mechanic

Utter concentration to get it right. This guy works for the Astana team. You see one of Lance Armstrong's bikes behind him - advertising his Livestrong Foundation. Lance rides of course in the Astana colours although it's in his contract to wear a helmet advertising his cancer foundation.

Go to Rob's Barcelona blog to see the peloton in the rain.

Tour de France - the Fastest Rider

This is Mark Cavendish who rides for the Columbia team. He's already won two of the 'stages' so far in the Tour de France and being a sprinter, he's known as the faster rider in the world.

These photos were taken at dusk when each team was presented to the public the night before the race began. In the smaller photo, you see some of Monaco's yachts in the background.

Mark also comes from the Isle of Man, as does Babooshka.

Yesterday, the Tour finished in Barcelona with many accidents due to the rain. Take a look at Daily Photo Barcelona to see just how fast these guys go. It was a surprise win by the Norwegian rider Thor Hushovd, his first Yellow Jersey ever. Good for him!

Today the going gets even tougher as the riders make for the mountains. Go Lance!

Tour de France - the Red Devil

You don't really expect to bump into the devil at the Tour de France, do you? It seems this particular devil is there every year and he had quite a following. In fact in the lower photograph he's been interviewed for a newspaper.

His name is Didi Senft from Germany and he's to be seen at every Tour de France with his oversized bicycle. I didn't see the bike else I'd have photographed it. It seems he makes these oversized bikes and normally haul his around the complete tour on a truck.

He calls himself The Red Devil because the final kilometre of each stage of the Tour is called The Red Devil's Lap.

Tour de France - the Television Crews

The television crews in Monaco and now out on the road as the Tour crosses France towards Perpignan.

You can see how difficiult it is - look at the guy in the main photo - on a motorbike and he's got to get it right.

Very exciting race so far. Two stages won by the brilliant Mark Cavendish from the Columbia team (a nod to Babooshka as he comes from the Isle of Man) and the two Time Trials won by Cancellara of Saxobank. In the overall placings, Cancellara is winning by less than one second - and who is in second place? Yes, it's Lance Armstrong who missed out on the Yellow Jersey yesterday by that split second. Not bad for an ol' guy and the talk of the Tour.

Apologies for lack of comments lately. I've got a lousy flu bug that I can't shift and have been feeling rotten, so just posting is as much as I can do. Hopefully will be back on track soon. Meanwhile, thanks so much for your much appreciated comments.

Tour de France - the Publicity Caravan

The Publicity Caravan travels with the tour. The sponsor of each team, throws cheap goodies to the crowd.

Yesterday, in Marseille, a child got hit in the eye by a sweet (candy) and ended up in hospital.

Monaco expected between 100,000 and 200,000 visitors for the Grand Depart of the Tour. The number was apparently 80,000 and some think less.

With the exception of hotels, which were nearly full, other businesses did badly - restaurants, stalls, sandwich bars etc. Stalls selling Tour t-shirts did badly but then these are given out free by the Publicity caravan.

You'll find another photo of this Caravan as it passed through Nice on Nice Daily Photo (July 6)

Tour de France - the Tyre Man

Today we're at the Astana bus, where a mechanic is fixing a tyre on a wheel. And concentrating mightily. Astana is Armstrong and Contador's team.

Tour de France - Measuring Up

Each bike is made to fit each member of the team. Here you see one of the mechanics at the Rabobank team measuring up.

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.