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Guest Blogger: My Ride in the Tour de France Publicity Caravan

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By Mike McQuaide

Bellingham’s Mike McQuaide is an avid cyclist and the author of 75 Classic Rides: Washington. This past February, Mike and his family moved to Luxembourg in Northern Europe. To follow Mike’s various and sundry adventures check out Mike’s Facebook page: An American in Luxembourg.

About five months ago, your intrepid guest writer (moi) and his family moved from Bellingham to the tiny Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, smack in the heart of Northern Europe. A man who has his priorities straight, I made sure to bring my road and mountain bikes and thus far, have pedaled a few thousand miles on both road and trail, up and down the hilly Ardennes, across and through deep dark woods and foraying into France, Belgium and Germany when the mood strikes.

I’ve made a slew of great riding buddies here and have managed to share my love, passion and lust for all things cycling with the Luxembourg Ministry of Tourisme office. And thus, last Sunday, I found myself a guest in one of Luxembourg’s five vehicles in the Tour de France pre-race Caravane Publicitaire, which followed the day’s parcours from Versailles to the Champs Elysees. It was soooooo much fun that my facility for words, such as it is, cannot conceivably capture it. I’ll try, but to cover my butt, as it were, here’s a photo essay that’s much more photo than essay. Enjoy!

During every day of the Tour de France, Carolyn spends many hours smiling and waving, chatting up the crowd (“Bonjour! Ca va! Come to Luxembourg!”) and throwing out free stuff, not to mention helping out with the driving to the next day’s stage. It’s great fun, she says, but sometimes gets to be a bit much. “My roommate told me that one night I was smiling and waving in my sleep!”
Before the race, a preoccupied seeming Mark Cavendish takes a moment to pose for photos. Behind him, World Time Trial Champion Tony Martin searches for a way through the barriers to go get something to eat. …
The excellent and enthusiastic Caroline, a volunteer with the Luxembourg Tourist Office tosses out inflatable beach balls, keychains and bike maps. People abolutely go nuts for free stuff.
Once in Paris, the caravan can no longer toss free booty to the fans. So for the most part, they’re not super enthusiastic about the caravan. Except for the folks at Norwegian Corner; they know how to have a good time.
Fans were about six or eight deep along the Champs Elysees. I managed to make my way into the second row.

There’s one in every crowd. (Actually, there were many, many Americans. Though I saw only one wearing a sort-of neon onesie. Up in a tree. Waving a flag.)
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Gimme free stuff!
On the first time through, the peloton is a blur on the Champs Elysees. (See Chris Froome in yellow?)

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