I was up and out the door early today to head to the beach where Sky was hosting a group ride.
It was a mild mob scene! I stood back and didn't try to push my way through.
After photos, we hopped on our bikes and hit the road. But, Kathryn, you're thinking. Your bike is in New York. Where did you get a bike to ride with Sky? I am so glad you asked. My hostel has free bikes, as a lot of hostels do. Usually they're old road bikes but they do the trick, so I was a little surprised to find clunky, heavy cruiser bikes in the bike rack. Cruisers are great for, well, cruising, but not so great at keeping pace with professional cycling teams.
I may have been riding in a groupetto of one but at least my bike had a basket and a bell! I made good use of both.
I did a good solo ride, or an individual time trial as I prefer to think of it, and rode back to the park to read my book. After a few minutes Drapac, the continental Aussie team rode by. And a few minutes later, Cannondale rode by on a group ride. And then Tinkoff, Katusha, Belkin, OP-QS, Trek, and AG2R all rode by! I couldn't believe I saw nearly half the peloton while reading in the grass.
I rode back to town and went to the TDU village for the hundredth time. I like to wander around the sponsors' booths and people watch and, yes watch for riders. The team mechanics are all inside the village so all of the riders have to come here to drop off their bikes. Below: Belkin saunter off.
I was generally content just to watch riders go by but I almost never pass up a chance to say hi to Garmin so I jumped up when Caleb Fairly walked by. I've met a lot of these riders before and I even got an autograph from Caleb at the Vuelta last year but I bumped into his wife by chance at the Vuelta and when I mentioned this to him today, he got really excited, saying, “Wow, that was you? Small world!”
Garmin team leader Rohan Dennis.
The entire Trek team was signing autographs in a local bike shop so I brought my flag out for more autographs. The line snaked all around the store due to Jens' popularity!
Today's 7 autographs: 41 Fränk Schleck, 42 Jens Voigt, 43 Boy Van Poppel, 44 Fabio Felline, 45 Danny Van Poppel, 46 Laurent Didier, & 47 Calvin Watson.
Not bad for a rest day.