A huge day for Big Unit tours! We rocked up in Martingy, completely ignored all instructions we were given and plonked the van up on a kerb that did not look like a parking area. Nevermind.
We went straight into the main drag and saw the procession that is the "caravan" roll out on schedule - an hour before the men in lycra. The caravan is so popular in fact that they publicise estimated times that it will pass each stage as well as a second time for the race. Go the caravan - there needs to be a few Jayco's and Viscounts in there though.
Once that part of the circus was gone the team buses and cars started rolling in. The Big Unit suggested we go to a cafe and then it was time to inflate the roos. I went off with Doc and Julz as there protege tour rider stalker, roo in hand with a flag tied around its back.
Doc was waiting at the Saxo Bank bus for Stuey O'Grady, and I was behind him with my roo having a bit of fun. The roo seemed to have a mind of his own and started to hump Doc from behind while he spoke with Bjarne Riis. The roo was also a hit with the kids, especially when it started boxing on with a few of them. Funny stuff.
Matt White (Whitey), who is a director sportif (coach) of Team Garmin came out of the bus and was happy to have a chat (he is in my club). A bit of a classic really, posing for a photo with Joey and talking crap with him and Doc for a few minutes while the reporters mill around building up the courage to ask for an interview.
I took Joey up with me to the Columbia HTC bus thinking with Rogers and Renshaw I was a good chance of a photo. Sure enough Renshaw came out and was happy to pose with the roo (and me). Some seppo was taking the photo and unfortunately I happened to run out of battery at that point. "What an inopportune time for that to happen" or something along those lines said the seppo. Without photo taking ability on my own, I went back and found Doc and, in turn the others, not realising what a stroke of good luck having no battery would prove to be.
MJ was on the inside of the barrier taking photos, then all of a sudden the Big Unit was over the fence taking photos of the pros like a pro like he was supposed to be there. Then we were all on the inside of the barrier, perhaps not crossing the line, however certainly dancing on it! If this is the taste of things to come with Mt Ventoux, then I can not wait, as we were getting well and truly loose in the politest possible manner. Even Cadel (cardigan wearer) stopped for a snapshot and although he was whinging about not knowing what time it was (time for a glass of harden the f&^% up I reckon) he was happy to pose for a moment.
A funny thing happened then, which started with the Big Unit taking photos of the cardigan wearer with the roos, MJ and me, and finished with about a dozen photographers all snapping away. Unfortunately they did not take me seriously when I informed them that they would each need to pay 10 euros for their respective photos, however it was fun nonetheless.
The icing on the cake was when Whitey drove past in the Garmin car and stopped briefly to say G'day again. Photos with Joey turned into a snapshot of the odometer and then a request for some more provocative shots. I guess you had to be there, however it was an absolute ball tearer.
Afterwards MJ and I walked up the barriers towards the start thinking we would get kicked out, however a smile, a bonjour, etc can get you a long way in this country.
Doc has been at the Giro (Tour of Italy) a number of times, which is renowned for being the riders race, where you can get up close and personal with the riders and they are very accessible to spectators. Anyway, Martingy is a small town and apparently this was Giro-esque in terms of how close we were. How loose we were? Well that is another great chapter in what is a growing legend that is Big Unit tours.
Heading south tomorrow to tackle the 21 switchbacks and 14km that is Alpe d'Huez. If I make it back alive, then there will be a more subdued update then.
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