Since being in France this summer, and all by chance, we’ve been lucky enough to attend some major sporting events. Having already watched the football world cup on a big screen in the valley, today the Tour de France passed through our neighbourhood and the finals of the climbing world cup took place nearby in Briancon. The day needed a little bit of planning, so we opted to get up early and drive to a nearby crag before the road was closed for the bikers.

The climbs were supposed to be in the shade, but they were getting toasted even at 9am! We fought our way up a couple of lines, then got changed and walked into the centre of Guillestere, where there was a real festival feel.

Luckily a slight over casting of clouds meant that temperatures were perfect to waving past ‘le caravan’ – a sort of carnival that passes through ahead of the bike riders. Free samples, hats, shirts, key rings, drinks and all sorts of merchandise were thrown into the arms of the crowds as they passed by woth music blaring! You couldn’t help getting caught up in ‘tour fever’!

It was a real spectacle and totally bonkers at the same time.

Then about an hour later a roar from the crowds further down the hill indicated the arrival of the peleton and seconds later a motorbike roared up the high street with hundreds of bikes in hot pursuit!

The riders virtually brushed past us as they powered up the hill at an astonishing speed. It was hard to take it all is as they rushed past. The crowds went wild as the passed us by – and two minutes later it was all over!

As the crowds started to disperse, we took a shady table in the local bar and had a cold drink while checking out our ‘swag’ that had been thrown at us by the sponsoring companies. The logistics and money involved in the tour are breath taking – Skoda have certainly spent a lot – and we’ve a lovely new hat and bag from them!

Next stop (predictably by now), was a dip at the lake to cool off!

Then later in the evening we travelled to Briancon where the final of a climbing competiton was being held. There was another huge crowd and we also got to meet up with John and Ange from back home in Wales, who had re-routed to here in their camper from Italy!

It was great to catch up on each other’s travels and adventures and also incredible to watch some of the strongest climbers in the world holding onto some impossible looking climbs as the sun set. The Japanese team who we’d seen the day before sitting next to us won Bronze, Silver and Gold!