Saturday, June 29, 2013

Le Tour de France 100


100 Years
Le Tour


Le Tour de France begins today and looks back to the first Tour in 1903.  Three grueling weeks of mountains and time trials, 2,000 miles, 23 stages, all culminating with a finish on the Champs-Elysées.

The Tour de France has visited every region of Metropolitan France except Corsica, but the opening stages this year begin on Corsica as part of the celebrations for the 100th edition of the race.


If you have no interest in the sport, you would surely love the countryside, the little villages, the chateaus, the mountain ridges, the coastlines.  Take a look at the towns and villages of the 2013 Tour.  There is much to be seen... and, it lasts for three weeks!


Le Tour de France
2013, June 29 - July 21
Corsica and France

16 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Oh, how exciting!! I wish I could be there!! How fun! Hope you will get to attend and share the fun with us! Have a lovely weekend, Genie!
Hugs
Sylvia

Tamera said...

Wow, I didn't know that the Tour was 100 this year! I love your creative picture!

Randy said...

Marvelous shot! I had no idea it was 100 either.

Malyss said...

After Corsica, Nice...The city is already ready to welcome the tour, with lots of events during four days.MAybe you'll see us on TV! :o)

Rob Siemann said...

Watched them pass many times in front of our house, as a kid in the french Alps. It's a french thing!

biebkriebels said...

Yes, let it start. I always love to watch the images of the country from above, all the castles and the little villages.

Virginia said...

Got to find it on my TV so I can get my French fix!
V

Aimeecakes said...

What an adorable picture! I'm not so interested in sports but I love the sound of the countryside the tour de France passes through

Jeanie said...

I wait all year for the Tour. In fact, I'm not leaving for the lake till the first stage is over (I can pack to riders!). Meanwhile, Rick is doing his own, riding up to the lake today. We'll probably end up there the same time since I'm being pokey and he went half way yesterday. I told him he was having his Chris Froome or Tejay Day today!

Have a Happy Fourth, Genie -- and enjoy the tour --I sure will!

Alexa said...

Have always wanted to go to Corsica—I'll check out the start of the Tour for sure. Thanks, Genie!

TheChieftess said...

But no Lance Armstrong!!! He really screwed up...

Starman said...

I love La Tour and wish American TV would do it better. They squeeze an eight-hour race into a couple of hours a day. You're right about the views we can get here on rare occasions...the countryside, the little villages and the amazing Chateaux. Something for everyone! Of course, it's so much better in France!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Tamera, this is the 100th anniversary, but the race was discontinued during the two World Wars.

Malyss, I have already charted the course over the next three weeks and was counting on seeing you in Nice on the TV. Let me know what you are wearing and where you will be on the course.

Rob, what an incredible childhood memory. Your statement just stopped me in my tracks. I have thought for years about seeing the peleton zip by.

Jeanie, I will think of you as we both strain our eyes to see every detail of the villages and countryside. Yay for Rick!

Alexa, I think that many people identify destinations based on Le Tour. The photos of Corse have been amazing and there are still two more days of this French island/departement to go.

Starman, I do not think that I have seen the coverage in France but would imagine that it is much better than what we see. I have found that the official site has much information about the "places" of le Tour.

Bises,
Genie

Diane said...

What a mess up at the finish for the 100th tour. Very sad about the bus and the accident which was probably caused by everyone being told that the end would be 3 kms out and than changing it back again!!! Have a good day, Diane

Daryl said...

i was truly disgusted with Mr Armstrong's latest proclamation that there's no way one can win without doping...

JoeinVegas said...

We sat last night and watch the finals in Corsica - very pretty winding roads by the sea.