Grand Depart Lille

[Cathryn]

So I just googlemapped what appears to be the start line for the Grand Depart and it's about a grand as a Tesco carpark. Wide, bland suburban boulevard. I was expecting a bit more oomph! Are they really going to kick off from a random road junction?

The map on cycle stage was wrong! The actual start seems to be in Lille centre rather than an anonymous suburb!! I’m so glad I realised now and not on Saturday morning!

 

[Spartak]

... on our way 🚢🇨🇵👍

 

[T4tomo]

The map on cycle stage was wrong! The actual start seems to be in Lille centre rather than an anonymous suburb!! I’m so glad I realised now and not on Saturday morning!

https://www.letour.fr/en/stage-1

Maybe difference between ceremonial stage and KM zero (which is out in the sticks a bit). ceremonial rollout is from the near the Citadel, with a procession through the city centre

finish is near the ceremonial start, on Blvrd Vauban

enjoy

 

[king of the mole hills]

View attachment 778837

... on our way 🚢🇨🇵👍

Your to late i already got all the free tee shirts and a few bags of tat today

 

[Cathryn]

https://www.letour.fr/en/stage-1

Maybe difference between ceremonial stage and KM zero (which is out in the sticks a bit). ceremonial rollout is from the near the Citadel, with a procession through the city centre

finish is near the ceremonial start, on Blvrd Vauban

enjoy

Yes that’s what it was!!

 

[Cathryn]

On our way too! In the car, hurtling from school to Dover. I am very excited!

 

[Spartak]

Great day ... Dropped bags at hotel and headed out exploring Lille, visiting the fan park, getting a free Skoda beanie hat, did a lap of the Roubaix Velodrome and had a beer across the border in Wallonia 🇧🇪 🍺 👍.

 

[Cathryn]

What a day!! The crowds were huge! Got a good spot for the start! The fan park was hideous, could barely move! And then we got a great spot at the end opposite the stage…but I’m at least a foot too short for the view we ended up with! Nevertheless an excellent day out!

My photos are: Pog’s bottom, WVA and my view of the finish line! 😕

 

[Shadow]

but I’m at least a foot too short for the view we ended up with

Hubby had good view then?!!

 

[Cathryn]

Hubby had good view then?!!

He saw the whole thing! I think today was the first day I wished I wasn’t 5’1!

 

[TakeTheHighRoad]

What a day!! The crowds were huge! Got a good spot for the start! The fan park was hideous, could barely move! And then we got a great spot at the end opposite the stage…but I’m at least a foot too short for the view we ended up with! Nevertheless an excellent day out!

My photos are: Pog’s bottom, WVA and my view of the finish line! 😕

The fan park was atrociously busy.

I've had an amazing day and a half in Lens, Vimy, Notre Dame de Lorette and then in Lille.

Heading to Bergues tomorrow on the way home. I'll be so sad to leave but so grateful for the memories I've made and rekindled

 

[Cathryn]

The fan park was atrociously busy.

I've had an amazing day and a half in Lens, Vimy, Notre Dame de Lorette and then in Lille.

Heading to Bergues tomorrow on the way home. I'll be so sad to leave but so grateful for the memories I've made and rekindled

We’re staying in Bergues! It’s absolutely lovely!

 

[Cathryn]

The fan park was atrociously busy.

I've had an amazing day and a half in Lens, Vimy, Notre Dame de Lorette and then in Lille.

Heading to Bergues tomorrow on the way home. I'll be so sad to leave but so grateful for the memories I've made and rekindled

In retrospect I wish we’d watched the start and then gone to see it en route!

 

[T4tomo]

In retrospect I wish we’d watched the start and then gone to see it en route!

When I watched at a finish town, we sacrificed being on / near the line, which would have needed a early stake your spot in 35° heat, for a shady vantage point a bit before the flamme Rouge.

 

[TakeTheHighRoad]

We’re staying in Bergues! It’s absolutely lovely!

We stopped for lunch but it was a) absolutely lashing it down and b) Sunday morning in Northern France so it wasn't so busy.

I think they were planning on having a giant's parade later that day as well