Sat 7th: Perfect day, almost

[huw williams]

OK Wiggins didn't do it but given the weight of expectation on him and the awesome form of Cancellara and Kloden its no surprise.

The day started with a tight little club run - surprisingly few riders taking the line given rare (these days) sunny conditions.

George took a 21mph training group out including the likes of Hal and Paul H. "There's no way they're going to do 21" I said, and I was right.

Monty set up a 19mph group with me and Sylv at the front "There's no way we're going to do 19" I said and I was right again - 20.9 average at Charlwood after a severely wind affected ride down. Sylv and I on the front for most of it then Matt came through and picked it up towards the later stages.

The cafe stop was awesome, 8 of us in, no queues plenty of seats, just like it used to be in the old days before thousands of members signed up - then the other groups came in and it was business as usual

Nice steady ride back with no heroics and it was time to head north to watch the pro's doing it properly.

Wearing my CW London 2007 TDF shirt I was accosted by an American couple on East Croydon Station - "Tour DeFrance, doesn't that start in London today" said the guy "Yes it does" I answered, "Doesn't that take place in France?" said his missus. "Eventually they ride to France, yes" I replied. "I see" she said. clearly she didn't.

The train was packed with people with bikes on their t-shirts or carrying bags with well known cycle brands on them. In Victoria the roads approaching the course were all closed and you could walk/ride right down the middle of the main street in the middle of the road. Awesome.

I walked around the course for a bit watching the riders warming up - many of them in full leg and arm warmers despite the 20 degree heat - the thunder of the disc wheels even at warm up speeds was getting the atmosphere going in the crowd and there were thousands of people lining the barriers even 4 hours before the top riders were due to start.

I stood on a bend and was lucky to see Cancellara come past in full rig - white skinsuit, white aero helmet curved down his back - he looked like the 'Alien' in negative. Then he stopped, rode back and went through the bend a couple of times got off stood right in front of me visualising his line through the corner - Allowing me to appreciate the sheer size and power of the man. "There's your winner right there" I said to a group of fans next to the barriers, "Wiggins has got no chance against that" - and I was right for the third time that day.

Battled my way through the crowds and over the bridge at Parliament square, past the big screen and into RICS and a convivial atmosphere with lots of ACC and other clubs around. - The race just looked awesome on the screen. When the prologue visits other countries bordering France they usually take place in Belgian Dutch or German towns no-one has ever heard of - but this was a major World Capital with the riders tearing around landmarks viewers the world over would recognize instantly.

There were thousands of people lining the entire course and waves of applause were following every rider around the streets. There's never been anything like it - the organisers must have been rubbing their hands in delight and dissbelief at how well it all worked.

The times of the better riders who departed early on suggested that someone would have to go close to 9:10 to win until Klodden smashed the fastest time by over 12 seconds. When Wiggins went you could clearly see a bit of tension in some of the corners - he just wasn't 'flowing' like Klodden was and it was no surprise when he didn't better the German's time. But Cancellara was a different matter altogether - redifining the meaning of controlled agression. It was almost unthinkable that he could go much faster than Klodden but he smashed it. Amazing.

After that it was into Whitehall fr a few warm down beers outside the pub and plenty of large talk - the end of an almost perfect day

[img]http://i17.tinypic.com/6g32vxj.jpg[/img]

[Alan M]

Well my day was a little different - left home at 7 taking my usual route to London via Wandsworth and the North embankment I got to the cycle park next to the Palace of Westminster well before my meeting time to sign on as marshal. The organisation of this was OK and in the QE hall there was a system in place of being assigned to sections. I tried to be coy and get a good position but eventually landed up with Trafalgar square, where at least, or so I thought, I would see the screen.

The first hour was predictably boring and a group of us chatted and answered a few question. I got chatting to a tourist from Chile who told me he used to be a strong cyclist and we parted friends and he gave me a biblical diary so that I could improve my Spanish!

Eventually I was assigned with others to the corner of Whithall and Trafalgar square. This turned out to be a nightmare since we closed off the corner and people wanting to cross to Charing Cross needed to walk the entire length of Whithall, cross the footbridge and come back again. Understandably this led to many heated discussions and I spent the day explaining the options with limited success. Hence all I saw was glimpses of riders as they joined the start and the advertising parade and I came away frazzled and in need of counselling.

On returning to the bike park I had a puncture but 2 others from ACC waited for me and we had a good ride home and I burned off some stress.

Arrived home from a party at 3 am this morning so today's cycling experience is by way of ITV 4 with at the moment David Millar on his lone break .