On Thursday Last week my two oldest kids ( 31/2 and 2) were packed of to Grandmas early and The Wife and I along with our new little Bundle of Joy Drove 1000km to Quebec City. The Wife loves Quebec City and she loves me (apparently) so taking the excuse of a couple of bike races (you might have heard of them) we headed off for a trek to La Belle Provence.
Entering Quebec once again made me feel an inferior human, since I learned French in school and grew up in a supposedly Bilingual country you would expect I could at least order a pizza in french. Alas, the answer is no. My French is so substandard that any attempt I make to speak french to a francophone quickly results in English being spoken to me.
Ah well, inferior it is. So on to the races Piccies on the Flip.
Friday started with a trip to the Start Finish area to view the rider sign on.
We passed The Chateau Frontenac
P9102894 (via bought with blood)
And some team cars
P9102904 (via bought with blood)
P9102903 (via bought with blood)
P9102902 (via bought with blood)
Along the Start/Finish Straight
P9102906 (via bought with blood)
P9102908 (via bought with blood)
P9102996 (via bought with blood)
The Rabbos
P9102995 (via bought with blood)
Including Sundays winner Robert Gesink
P9102989 (via bought with blood)
Boss Hogg
The Leaky Boys
P9102984 (via bought with blood)
Including Ivan Basso
P9102983 (via bought with blood)
Team Jens
P9102977 (via bought with blood)
P9102974 (via bought with blood)
P9102973 (via bought with blood)
Team the Shack (mostly)
P9102971 (via bought with blood)
Including Levi Leiphemer
P9102967 (via bought with blood)
Chris Horner was fashionably late to sign in.
P9102979 (via bought with blood)
Bleeding Carrots
P9102963 (via bought with blood)
With "Gold Helmet" Samu
P9102964 (via bought with blood)
P9102965 (via bought with blood)
Oh and I'll Throw in a couple more Carrots
P9102962 (via bought with blood)
P9102961 (via bought with blood)
Team Ryder
P9102959 (via bought with blood)
I think he was feeling the Pressure
P9102956 (via bought with blood)
Haitch T C
P9102953 (via bought with blood)
FDJ
P9102950 (via bought with blood)
Feeling no pressure
P9102949 (via bought with blood)
P9102948 (via bought with blood)
Team Hey at least we don't have to wear the Footon Kit!
P9102945 (via bought with blood)
Big Cheers For Dom and Team Canada
P9102942 (via bought with blood)
P9102941 (via bought with blood)
Team No we didn't bring Alberto
P9102936 (via bought with blood)
Moo!
P9102934 (via bought with blood)
P9102933 (via bought with blood)
OLO
P9102929 (via bought with blood)
Lampre
P9102926 (via bought with blood)
First time I saw Cunego My first thought was "Shit that guy is short, oh, it must be Cunego"
P9102925 (via bought with blood)
The Ulgy Kit Boys (looked mostly disinterested and bored)
P9102922 (via bought with blood)
BBox
P9102918 (via bought with blood)
I'm off to win this race y'all!
P9102920 (via bought with blood)
On to the race. The day started dark but warmed up nice during the middle of the race. However the light failed halfway through the race, and I could not get good shots toward the end.
Gesink had to get paced back on during the early stages due to a mechanical.
A Carrot in the peloton
So after a long and exciting day, which had been preceded by a long and tiring day. We tucked our boy in at 7:30 and ourselves in by 9:00, oh the excitement. A short hop down the road (300 kms) to Montreal and we ate in tucked our boy in watched a few episodes from a "Glades" marathon, and off to bed. No cycling around Mont Royal chatting with Pro Cyclists for this Tired Dad.
On Sunday my biggest job was convincing The Wife to climb up Mont Royal to watch the race. We pushed our stroller and all the sundry crap needed to keep Mom, Dad, and Baby happy up to the top of the Camilien-Houde.
A nice day that promised dodgy weather and delivered a great day of bike racing.
The breakaway forms.
The Peloton in not so hot pursuit.
My best shot.
Me and my son cheering.
The Wife cheering.
Gesink Winning the Race. (or making his move anyway)
As soon as the race was over we bundled up our son and drove 600 Kms home. Monday back to work and life. My first cycling vacation was a success. Met a couple of fellow PdC'ers, and a lot of great Francophones, and had a total blast.
Is it labour day 2011 yet!!!!