FanPost

Why I Drove to Quebec!!! (a Long Photo Essay with LOTS of photos)

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

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P9102894 (via bought with blood)

And some team cars

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P9102904 (via bought with blood)

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P9102903 (via bought with blood)

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P9102902 (via bought with blood)

Along the Start/Finish Straight

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P9102906 (via bought with blood)

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P9102908 (via bought with blood)

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P9102996 (via bought with blood)

The Rabbos

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P9102995 (via bought with blood)

Including Sundays winner Robert Gesink

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P9102989 (via bought with blood)

Boss Hogg

The Leaky Boys

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P9102984 (via bought with blood)

 

Including Ivan Basso

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P9102983 (via bought with blood)


Team Jens

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P9102977 (via bought with blood)

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P9102974 (via bought with blood)

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P9102973 (via bought with blood)

Team the Shack (mostly)

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P9102971 (via bought with blood)

Including Levi Leiphemer

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P9102967 (via bought with blood)

Chris Horner was fashionably late to sign in.

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P9102979 (via bought with blood)

Bleeding Carrots

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P9102963 (via bought with blood)

With "Gold Helmet" Samu

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P9102964 (via bought with blood)

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P9102965 (via bought with blood)

Oh and I'll Throw in a couple more Carrots

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P9102962 (via bought with blood)

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P9102961 (via bought with blood)

Team Ryder

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P9102959 (via bought with blood)

I think he was feeling the Pressure

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P9102956 (via bought with blood)

Haitch T C

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P9102953 (via bought with blood)

FDJ

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P9102950 (via bought with blood)

Feeling no pressure

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P9102949 (via bought with blood)

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P9102948 (via bought with blood)

Team Hey at least we don't have to wear the Footon Kit!

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P9102945 (via bought with blood)

Big Cheers For Dom and Team Canada

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P9102942 (via bought with blood)

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P9102941 (via bought with blood)

Team No we didn't bring Alberto

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P9102936 (via bought with blood)

Moo!

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P9102934 (via bought with blood)

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P9102933 (via bought with blood)

OLO

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P9102929 (via bought with blood)

Lampre

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P9102926 (via bought with blood)

First time I saw Cunego My first thought was "Shit that guy is short, oh, it must be Cunego"

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P9102925 (via bought with blood)

The Ulgy Kit Boys (looked mostly disinterested and bored)

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P9102922 (via bought with blood)

BBox

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P9102918 (via bought with blood)

I'm off to win this race y'all!

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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.

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via i1194.photobucket.com

A Carrot in the peloton

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via i1194.photobucket.com

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.

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via i1194.photobucket.com

The Peloton in not so hot pursuit.

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via i1194.photobucket.com

My best shot.

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via i1194.photobucket.com

Me and my son cheering.

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via i1194.photobucket.com

The Wife cheering.

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via i1194.photobucket.com

Gesink Winning the Race. (or making his move anyway)

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via i1194.photobucket.com

 

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!!!!