Saturday 17th September 2011 - Tour of Britain Cycle Race, start of stage 7 (Bury St Edmunds), and the hill climb (Christchurch Park, Ipswich)
Mark Cavendish with his new team mates?
Sport spectating for free! An early start this morning to get to Bury St Edmunds to witness the start of Stage 7 of the Tour of Britain then a quick dash back to Ipswich to watch the hill climb in Christchurch Park.
As a longtime fan of the Tour De France and cycling in general, it is great that the surge in the sports priority has enabled us to witness the unique spectacle of road racing. I am sure there are similarities with Grand Prix and GP Motor Cycling, all the tour buses, bikes set up, mechanics but unlike Grand Prix - all free.
Angel Hill was covered in the tour buses, the cars with the bikes on their roofs and the cyclists themselves. The lack of security of formality, the ability to touch the bikes, talk to some of the riders. That may be getting harder as Mark Cavendish - 'the Manx missile' was mobbed between tour bus and the start.
It also gave me the opportunity to witness the Team Sky team close up, the flash Jaguar cars, the bus (hotel on wheels, the clothing.bikes, mechanics. I was even able to stand right next to the Team Sky Sports Director, Sean Yates as he was interviewed by ITV.
A great experience, but being at the start you do not witness the pelaton in full flow, but a quick dash to Ipswich and I was able to witness Cavendish, Thomas and others fly up the hill in Christchurch Park.
Now to get that bike out of the garage.
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