Living the Dream & Sitting Next to Greatness
It was a dream…one of those distant, far off dreams to see and do something that you think might not be possible. But we are optimists, so why not reach out for something more? Robert and I have always wanted to see the Tour de France, but not just from the tube, but up close and personal. Instead of sitting at home on the couch and getting our thrills from the TV, we wanted to be so close that we could reach out and grab the tight bodies of the racers – OK, at least this was a goal of mine…I mean who doesn’t dig a well tuned body??? Anyway, I digress!
When we lived in the States we thought we would “one day” (somewhere in the distant future) go to Europe to see at least one stage of the Tour. Life works in funny ways because it just so happened that we ended up living in Europe, but the first two years of residing in Switzerland, we just couldn’t and didn’t make it to the Tour. Finally our chance came. The Tour was holding a stage in a village very close to our home. In an hour by train we could be amidst the crowds; so close you could reach out and touch some of those fine oiled Cannondales! This year was different though, we had a baby and weren’t sure if it was the best place to bring our cherished little man.
Then our dream seemed to within reach, we thought, we have to at least give it a whirl, despite the poor weather. This is where our story picks up some serious momentum and helped us achieve that far off, distant dream.
I happen to know a great gal who’s husband works for none other than Cannondale. He is a great guy (as we discovered) and is a recruiter/liason/logistics guys for Cannondale, which also means he is completely engaged in the Tour. My friend sent an email a week or so before the Tour inviting us and some other friends to try and get a back stage look at the Tour (this is when my face lit up like a Griswald’s Christmas tree and I almost cried in total joy). While reading the email my mouth was watering like a dog ready to pounce on a bone and I just couldn’t contain myself. I immediately read the email to Robert and proclaimed with such insane enthusiasm, “we are going!” Despite the less than favorable forecast, I knew this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity – not only would we be able to see the Tour, but we might have access to some back stage insider Tour amazingness (I made up this word for the sake of this piece …I like to do that from time to time.)
So, with Grandma and baby in tow, we headed off. We were to meet a group of about 15 people at the train station and head off to France. The whole time we kept our expectations low, thinking that somehow and in someway, this whole thing may not materialize into the greatness we had anticipated. The first few hours were rather anticlimactic. The rain fell and the temperatures dropped. We stood under awnings for protection from the rain and waited for the riders to bring their wet bods into the town. We then met back up with the pack and were told we could watch the Tour from the Liquigas team bus. Yeah – right. So, off we went, dream in hand and a bit of doubt in the other. The group started to pile in the bus and I stood across the street waiting for them to enter one door and exit the other in about 2 minutes. Like a quick sneak peak and a brief tour that would soon end. When the group stayed inside the bus I quickly looked at our group and said, “lets go!” We all timidly entered the bus, I mean afterall, this is the place the riders of the toughest race on earth meet with their coach and shower off after a grueling day of hours on their seats.
Now we are inside and we are like kids in a candy shop. I quickly find my place while the coach in his best English (his mother tongue is Italian) asks us if he can get us something to drink? Um….my thoughts were more like, “dude, what can I get you? This is a totally incredible, holy shit type moment and you are asking me what I want to drink?” Can I pinch myself now or should my husband wipe the drool from my face? A few minutes roll by and I begin to wonder where my husband and child are? After a few more moments and the motherly instinct kicking in, I get out of my seat not knowing I will be walking into total bliss. There in the back of the bus sits my precious husband, with our totally amazing son next to the engineers who designed the Cannondale bikes that the riders are using for the tour. I know Robert is in total heaven. Picture this dreamy moment…Robert sitting there, with the Tour playing on the TVs in the bus, a cappuccino in hand while sitting on the Italian Team bus, Robert is experience complete happiness. I think the whole set up is totally cool too, but my gaze quickly turns to the left where I am introduced to none other than the frickin’ fastest lady in the world!!!! Ok, let me just say that again…the fastest lady alive is sitting on the bus smiling and chatting with us like it is a regular day. I immediately look at Robert and ask the group if I can start to take some pictures so that when this day is over I know that it was indeed for real and that I was not in some dream world. There she was, smiling with her rock hard body and as sweet as homemade pie. Humble like cherry pie, she smiled and was as kind as could be. That was all I needed, a smile from Chrissie and my husband, mom and baby all there among the greatness. I instantly wanted to ask her a thousand questions…1. What do you eat? 2. What is your blood type? 3. What is a regular training day like for you? 4. What motivates you? Instead, I just stood there, speechless and smiling as if I had just won the lottery. To find out how cool this gal really is, you have to google her and see her blog…check it out…Chrissie Wellington.
Thinking that the day could simply not get better…we decided to leave the comfy bus and watch the riders as they ended their long day ride. Robert thought standing outside the team buses would be a great way to see the riders put a close on the 13th stage of the Tour. He was right. We were able to witness the riders come “home” without all of the mind numbing crowds and Robert was even able to catch Lance as he made his way to his team bus. There you have it folks, a day and a dream becoming a reality. For two people who one day wanted to see the Tour up close and personal, we were able to be among the greatest, most motivated and humble athletes in the world. With one foot on the ground and the other way up in the sky, we couldn’t wipe the smiles from our faces for days!!! All I can say is dream big, you never know what will happen!!!!
A HUGE THANK YOU to Rory and Janelle for playing a pivotal part in making our dream become a reality. We are most grateful for your kindness and generosity! We wish team Liquigas all the best as the Tour comes to a close.
It was a dream…one of those distant, far off dreams to see and do something that you think might not be possible. But we are optimists, so why not reach out for something more? Robert and I have always wanted to see the Tour de France, but not just from the tube, but up close and personal. Instead of sitting at home on the couch and getting our thrills from the TV, we wanted to be so close that we could reach out and grab the tight bodies of the racers – OK, at least this was a goal of mine…I mean who doesn’t dig a well tuned body??? Anyway, I digress!
When we lived in the States we thought we would “one day” (somewhere in the distant future) go to Europe to see at least one stage of the Tour. Life works in funny ways because it just so happened that we ended up living in Europe, but the first two years of residing in Switzerland, we just couldn’t and didn’t make it to the Tour. Finally our chance came. The Tour was holding a stage in a village very close to our home. In an hour by train we could be amidst the crowds; so close you could reach out and touch some of those fine oiled Cannondales! This year was different though, we had a baby and weren’t sure if it was the best place to bring our cherished little man.
Then our dream seemed to within reach, we thought, we have to at least give it a whirl, despite the poor weather. This is where our story picks up some serious momentum and helped us achieve that far off, distant dream.
I happen to know a great gal who’s husband works for none other than Cannondale. He is a great guy (as we discovered) and is a recruiter/liason/logistics guys for Cannondale, which also means he is completely engaged in the Tour. My friend sent an email a week or so before the Tour inviting us and some other friends to try and get a back stage look at the Tour (this is when my face lit up like a Griswald’s Christmas tree and I almost cried in total joy). While reading the email my mouth was watering like a dog ready to pounce on a bone and I just couldn’t contain myself. I immediately read the email to Robert and proclaimed with such insane enthusiasm, “we are going!” Despite the less than favorable forecast, I knew this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity – not only would we be able to see the Tour, but we might have access to some back stage insider Tour amazingness (I made up this word for the sake of this piece …I like to do that from time to time.)
So, with Grandma and baby in tow, we headed off. We were to meet a group of about 15 people at the train station and head off to France. The whole time we kept our expectations low, thinking that somehow and in someway, this whole thing may not materialize into the greatness we had anticipated. The first few hours were rather anticlimactic. The rain fell and the temperatures dropped. We stood under awnings for protection from the rain and waited for the riders to bring their wet bods into the town. We then met back up with the pack and were told we could watch the Tour from the Liquigas team bus. Yeah – right. So, off we went, dream in hand and a bit of doubt in the other. The group started to pile in the bus and I stood across the street waiting for them to enter one door and exit the other in about 2 minutes. Like a quick sneak peak and a brief tour that would soon end. When the group stayed inside the bus I quickly looked at our group and said, “lets go!” We all timidly entered the bus, I mean afterall, this is the place the riders of the toughest race on earth meet with their coach and shower off after a grueling day of hours on their seats.
Now we are inside and we are like kids in a candy shop. I quickly find my place while the coach in his best English (his mother tongue is Italian) asks us if he can get us something to drink? Um….my thoughts were more like, “dude, what can I get you? This is a totally incredible, holy shit type moment and you are asking me what I want to drink?” Can I pinch myself now or should my husband wipe the drool from my face? A few minutes roll by and I begin to wonder where my husband and child are? After a few more moments and the motherly instinct kicking in, I get out of my seat not knowing I will be walking into total bliss. There in the back of the bus sits my precious husband, with our totally amazing son next to the engineers who designed the Cannondale bikes that the riders are using for the tour. I know Robert is in total heaven. Picture this dreamy moment…Robert sitting there, with the Tour playing on the TVs in the bus, a cappuccino in hand while sitting on the Italian Team bus, Robert is experience complete happiness. I think the whole set up is totally cool too, but my gaze quickly turns to the left where I am introduced to none other than the frickin’ fastest lady in the world!!!! Ok, let me just say that again…the fastest lady alive is sitting on the bus smiling and chatting with us like it is a regular day. I immediately look at Robert and ask the group if I can start to take some pictures so that when this day is over I know that it was indeed for real and that I was not in some dream world. There she was, smiling with her rock hard body and as sweet as homemade pie. Humble like cherry pie, she smiled and was as kind as could be. That was all I needed, a smile from Chrissie and my husband, mom and baby all there among the greatness. I instantly wanted to ask her a thousand questions…1. What do you eat? 2. What is your blood type? 3. What is a regular training day like for you? 4. What motivates you? Instead, I just stood there, speechless and smiling as if I had just won the lottery. To find out how cool this gal really is, you have to google her and see her blog…check it out…Chrissie Wellington.
Thinking that the day could simply not get better…we decided to leave the comfy bus and watch the riders as they ended their long day ride. Robert thought standing outside the team buses would be a great way to see the riders put a close on the 13th stage of the Tour. He was right. We were able to witness the riders come “home” without all of the mind numbing crowds and Robert was even able to catch Lance as he made his way to his team bus. There you have it folks, a day and a dream becoming a reality. For two people who one day wanted to see the Tour up close and personal, we were able to be among the greatest, most motivated and humble athletes in the world. With one foot on the ground and the other way up in the sky, we couldn’t wipe the smiles from our faces for days!!! All I can say is dream big, you never know what will happen!!!!
A HUGE THANK YOU to Rory and Janelle for playing a pivotal part in making our dream become a reality. We are most grateful for your kindness and generosity! We wish team Liquigas all the best as the Tour comes to a close.
Our Arival in Colmar, France (4 hours before the finish)
350 Meters from the finish, right out of the Train Station!
Already the streets were too crowded for us with Noah... and the rain!
We only got 150 Meters from the finish, things were not looking so good...
Noah didn't seem to mind, he wasn't getting lost...
We hung out near the Liquigas Mechanics' Team truck...
Then we made our way around the finish... we managed to get onto the Liquigas Team Bus!!!
(Notice the cappuccino in hand...) 
Melinda spotted her idol, Chrissie Welington, the fastest woman alive...
Melinda spotted her idol, Chrissie Welington, the fastest woman alive...
(World Record Holder for the Woman's Triathlon)
Noah was also popular with everyone!
Damn, that was AWESOME!
Looking down the street, you could see Milram and the Astana Team Buses...
The stage finishes... Placing 4th - Sylvain Chavanel
Placing 16th - Grischa Niermann
Placing 20th (and the eventual 2009 TDF Winner) - Alberto Contador
Finishing 48th and 54th, Respectivly (from left to right)
Noah was also popular with everyone!
Damn, that was AWESOME!
Looking down the street, you could see Milram and the Astana Team Buses...
The stage finishes... Placing 4th - Sylvain Chavanel
Placing 16th - Grischa Niermann
Placing 20th (and the eventual 2009 TDF Winner) - Alberto Contador
Finishing 48th and 54th, Respectivly (from left to right)
Luis-Leon Sanchez and Gorka Verdugo
Finishing 62nd - David Millar
In 56th place - Haimar Zubeldia
And the stage winner - Heinrich Haussler
And a serious offical...
The TV Crew looking for action...
TV Guy, "so... Cervelo Team Mechanic, what tire pressure is best for a rainy day like today?"
Finishing 62nd - David Millar
In 56th place - Haimar Zubeldia
And the stage winner - Heinrich Haussler
And a serious offical...
The TV Crew looking for action...
TV Guy, "so... Cervelo Team Mechanic, what tire pressure is best for a rainy day like today?"
Cervelo Team Mechanic, "ha, ha, that's easy, about 6200 torr..."
Oh yeah, and we saw Lance Armstrong, he only finished 27th, but took 3rd overall.
This was the action around Lance's team bus...
Some of the fastest bikes on earth... (but we really like the Cannondales, shhhh...)
I liked the textures in this picture...
This one is only $8,500...
Oh yeah, and we saw Lance Armstrong, he only finished 27th, but took 3rd overall.
This was the action around Lance's team bus...
Some of the fastest bikes on earth... (but we really like the Cannondales, shhhh...)
I liked the textures in this picture...
This one is only $8,500...
(This guy made this kids life!)
2 comments:
There are no words except AWESOME!!!!!! When I was racing it was a dream of mine to see the Tour too. Thanks for sharing your story, I feel that much closer myself! I am sure you are still pinching yourselves! (Melinda - Back in my day it was Connie Carpenter.)
THAT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME!! Having watched the Tour only on TV, seeing it in action must have been righteous!!
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