Following The Tour De Suisse This Week

by jered on Jun 15, 2009 3:52 AM EDT

Hi --

I know this might be a somewhat random post, but I was wondering if anyone might have any suggestions/requests for me when I follow some of the Tour de Suisse stages starting on Wednesday. Wednesday's queen stage finishes about 100k to the west of me here in Innsbruck, so that one was always a no brainer.

As a writer/editor for PEZ I've been inundated with the whole PEZ roadside thing. I am feeling like it is getting a bit played out though, and would love to figure out a way to do something a little different. I should probably at least somewhat follow the race, but I still want to do something pretty neat.

I have been leaning toward riding certain sections of the race, and then shooting the race as it comes through. It can be more of a bike travel thing with the race as the impetus to be in this place. I am always very bike riding/exploring oriented though.

So my question to you: what would you like to see? Start area material? Finish area? Big climb? A ride incorporating the route and the race? Interviews?

Also, if anyone has any suggestions about Switzerland, please let me know! I would appreciate it greatly.

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Oh yeah

Just noticed, Stage 8’s mountaintop finish on Crans-Montana on Saturday is smack dab in the middle of the Tour de France’s Stages 15 and 16. I smell some preview rides.

by jered on Jun 15, 2009 6:12 AM EDT reply actions

Some ideas:

1. Visit/Explore the UCI headquarters / Velodrome in Aigle as the route passes. Explain its role ;)

2. Disguise yourself as a rider, and join Grupetto during a climb

3. If Preview TdF route. Cycle the route above Verbier to Croix de Couer and mock the TdF for being soft and excluding it.

4. Do extensive wine tastings through Valais as you ride a stage

5. Give your readers Romansch lessons

6. At the finish of a stage, sneak into a VIP area and tell readers what the beautiful people are doing

sometimes life is a false flat

by Willj on Jun 15, 2009 7:24 AM EDT reply actions

I especially like No.2

by rbjhan on Jun 15, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Could one actually get away with that?

I think they might notice that I’m a girl….

Adrenalina Italiana!

by Albertina on Jun 15, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Paul Fournel did it once – he talks about it in Need for the bike – it was the Tour de l’Avenir I think, he cycled part way up a mountain, watched the peloton go by, then saw some Russian dude way off the back, really struggling. So he decided to join him – I guess he was wearing a blue jersey that looked very much like the Italian team jerseys. Rode with him a ways, gave him some water, practiced his Russian…’til a race official came up and asked where his number was. Nice.

by plinytheelder on Jun 16, 2009 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions

an interview with Rui Costa (CGE)

he is doing his first stage race of Pro Tour and currently is in 10th of GC!! :P

by semprenaroda on Jun 15, 2009 7:25 AM EDT reply actions

I'd enjoy a write-up of the final TT

by pigilito on Jun 15, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions

Just lock onto WillJ's wheel

and it will all take care of itself. Hell, you could even take a few pulls.

Abruzziamo!

by Chris Fontecchio on Jun 15, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

your "Top Rides: The Sella Ring" on PEZ was an all-time great

in my opinion,
and I really think your writing and pics are awesome, so keep it going !
You are definitely NOT getting played out in my opinion, more is what we need, anything in your style is welcome, and I mean it, I am not just saying this cause I want to see more pics of Ashley :) – (joke)

All of what you suggest is good, a variety at different times of: riding sections of the race, shooting the race as it comes through, bike travel thing with race as impetus, bike riding/exploring, Start area material, Finish area, Big climb, A ride incorporating the route and the race, Interviews, etc etc etc.

by peterfish on Jun 16, 2009 8:03 PM EDT reply actions