Le Tour Prologue 7/7/07

[scoop]

Just getting thourgh processing some shots from the Prologue fo the Tour De France. Tried very hard to secure photographer accreditation but couldn't quite manage it on the day........

Tricky to shoot, given the harsh sun, the crowds and the speed these guys were moving. Some that caught my eye on looking through the days work are below. Helpful C+C, as always, most welcome.

So, first off and starting to look a bit like the old guy, Stuart O'Grady

Next, Antonio Colom:

Former under-25 World Champion and possible replacement for Lance Armstrong as the captain of the Discovery Channel team, Yaroslav Popovych:

Former Giro D'Italia stage winner, who almost didn't make it back after a horrific crash in 2002, Christophe Le Mevel:

And the hugely consistent Spanish climber, Haimar Zubeldia:

 

[Russinating]

Very very nice . Well done. What kit did you use?

 

[scoop]

And two last ones.

The crowd went crazy as Millar went storming by, despite his slightly dubious past:

And finally, stage winner and current Mailliot Jaune holder, Fabian Cancellara, resplendent in his World Time Trial Champion jersey;

That's it for now, though I do have a few others, if anyone wants more.......

 

[scoop]

Very very nice . Well done. What kit did you use?

All these shot with a 30D and 70-300 IS USM (which still had a bit of trouble coping with the speed these guys were coming at me....)

 

[Droolinggimp]

Quality photos there mate. I agree with you regarding the speed of the guys.. Wow, they are very fast. Seen a bike race years ago through Derby. Some riders were clocked at 45mph on a flat road iirc. Now that is fast.

Cracking pics.

Thats the best imo... Loverly colours.

 

[pmbuzz]

Been waiting for someone to post some pics of this, thanks.
All great pics, did you get any of Stage 1 at all ?, if so i'd like to see those too.

PS
Glad to know there are others who follow the Tour too, i have done since my mid twenties (10-13yrs ago) when Eurosport started showing it, loved it ever since.

 

[scoop]

Been waiting for someone to post some pics of this, thanks.
All great pics, did you get any of Stage 1 at all ?, if so i'd like to see those too.

PS
Glad to know there are others who follow the Tour too, i have done since my mid twenties (10-13yrs ago) when Eurosport started showing it, loved it ever since.

Thanks to all for the kind input on my first attempts! Afraid I have nothing from Stage 1 as I had family commitments on the Sunday.

I've followed the Tour since the late Eighties, the epic battle between Lemond and Fignon in 1990, where Lemond won with a margin which equated to somthing like 80 yards and Stephen Roche's heroic battle against Delgado up to the finish at La Plagne stick in my mind as the most memorable bits.

Having seen the Milk Race, Kelloggs Tour, the Pru Tour and Le Tour itself back in 1994, all rushing by in a flash, I've been waiting for a chance to see the Prologue or a Time Trial on home soil to actually get a decent chance to see the whole field pushing themselves as hard as possible. Saturday certainly wasn't a disappointment and it was great to see so many supporting the event. Apparently, the race organiser Christian Prudhomme was quoted as saying the Tour in London "....was a colossal popular success, it is not possible for us not to return."

Looking forward to it already ......

 

[ScarySquirrel]

Really great shots, they put my Tour De France shots to shame

 

[scoop]

Seen a bike race years ago through Derby. Some riders were clocked at 45mph on a flat road iirc. Now that is fast.

Worked out that these guys were averaging around 35 mph, with no slipstreaming.......that's pretty fast for a fairly curvy course!