2009 Tour de France

[skywalkerbeth]

Hi everyone

I am planning to be in France (Provence and Paris) next July, in part to see the Tour de France. I also want to photograph the lavender and sunflowers in Provence but that's not my question here!

If you've done this before, any advice? For instance, friends of mine who've watched it tell me "avoid the flat stages, head for the mountains". Is there anything I should avoid - I don't want to get stuck in the scrum behind 1000s of people - any strategies for getting better shots? Heck, if there is even a way to shmooze getting some kind of pass/access, that would be great, too.

I realize this question is WIDE open, but I've never done this before and figured I'd ask the pros about anything good to know ahead of time.

(Oh, and if I could get a twofer: bikers riding past sunflowers, well I'd just be in heaven.)

Many thanks!

[primoz]

Forget about accreditation.... we get only one (there are only 4 or 5 for whole Slovenia including radio and tv, and only our is photo), and we are doing this for a while. TdF has a bit different rules then most of things, so getting any kind, especially photo, accreditation for TdF is probably as hard (or as easy) as getting one for sideline access to Super Bowl or NBA finals. Anything else including all sorts of World Championships are easier to get in then TdF.

As far as what to avoid or not to avoid. In flat stages you have one single chance. They pass by in 20sec and everything is over. In mountain stages there's more chances, but on the other side, there's extreme crowd on top of climbs, and there you can pretty much forget about getting photo. You can actually be happy if you even see cyclists between that crowd. So if I would be you, I would try to plan so, that you would see TT stage. There's much more chances to get something cool looking. Access is easier since course is normally along the fields, and it takes few hours that everyone are done with it (starting every 2 or 3 minutes one by one).

[skywalkerbeth]

Thanks Primoz, that really helps!

What is the TT stage?

[primoz]

Sorry :) Time trial :)

[Nimitz87]

I would also say time trial...for the fact that they are staggered starts you have far more chances to photograph each cyclist...try to get onto part of the course where there is a turn for the time trial, focusing on the cyclists face will show much emotion and PAIN!

Chad

[skywalkerbeth]

Ah ok! Thanks. Sstupid question - can you just find the location in the daily paper when you get there?

I've bookmarked the "Tour" website and am going to start following it - I don't even know the riders yet. (sad but true).

I just started reading "We might as well win" written by Lance's coach Johan Bruyneel with Bob Strickland. EXCELLENT book - very engaging and well written. I'm only on chapter 3, but it seems he devotes each chapter to a little "life lesson" as learned through racing. For anyone reading this, I highly recommend it even if you aren't going to pay attention to the racing.

[skywalkerbeth]

Thanks Nimitz!

Has anyone done any practice runs on local races? For instance, now that I've been attuned to this I keep hearing about the Tour de Georgia. That might be cool to go see...

[Nimitz87]

Thanks Nimitz!

Has anyone done any practice runs on local races? For instance, now that I've been attuned to this I keep hearing about the Tour de Georgia. That might be cool to go see...

no problem Beth, I have yet to go but am a cyclist so I love the grand Tours.

I was going to suggest trying to find local "criterium" races these are timed events around a urban course ususally about a 1mile to 2 miles in length and VERY exciting and fast paced. you will get PLENTY of chances for shots as its a circuit course and over 40 mins ton of laps go by.

thing is the season is over and won't start back up till the spring. try and ask your local bike shop they'll know where they are at. this is the most popular races in America as well.

Chad

[Tandem]

Thanks Nimitz!

Has anyone done any practice runs on local races? For instance, now that I've been attuned to this I keep hearing about the Tour de Georgia. That might be cool to go see...
You will have to stick to the local races, the Tour de Georgia will be taking the next year off.

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/sports/stories/2008/11/14/tour_de_georgia_canceled.html

[Dan-o]

Yeah I heard about TOG being canceled :( . Not all the mountain stages are crowded. On the big alpine days there are usually 3 or 4 big climbs with most people crowding the last climb. The TTT makes for some pretty cool pictures.

thing is the season is over and won't start back up till the spring.

We start racing in Jan. in So. Cal.:p

[Nimitz87]

Yeah I heard about TOG being canceled :( . Not all the mountain stages are crowded. On the big alpine days there are usually 3 or 4 big climbs with most people crowding the last climb. The TTT makes for some pretty cool pictures.



We start racing in Jan. in So. Cal.:p

so do we in FL!:p

just the rest of the country doesn't usually start till much later poor souls.

Chad

[Dan-o]

Ahh yeah I guess I should have looked at your location. :)

[primoz]

Ah ok! Thanks. Sstupid question - can you just find the location in the daily paper when you get there?
In local newspapers you will have problems finding anything else then TdF a month before the race and month after the race :) TdF is pretty much biggest event in France every year, so yes, you won't have any problems finding info about TdF in local newspapers.
But when it comes to dates and route of TdF, it should be out in next month or so, if it isn't already. So all stages with proper dates, even time tables, maps etc. will be (or already are) on TdF web, so you can already do some planning :)

[skywalkerbeth]

Thanks Primoz - I should have said "can you find the TT locations in the paper" (see, I am already up with the lingo!)

So I guess you are saying that the TDF info will not be in a tiny box on page 10-c, right? LOL :)

[joayne]

The route is ready and published HERE (http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html), it is a down loadable pdf file. The stages are mapped.

[jamesb84]

The pass part of the question is an easy one (but I'll try not to be too discouraging)...

Each country gets a selection of passes, UK gets say 20-30, France gets probably 50-75, USA gets an amount etc etc.

With Lance Armstrong back this year/next year the demand will be HUGE, small agencies like the one I work for will not get passes, it will be Getty/AI/AP/AFP/SI etc.

Plus, those guys get huge support staff with them including motorbike riders so that photographers can follow the action within the peloton itself, plus there'll be others at key points (top of climbs, TT and sprint points, and then at least 3 for the finish).

Remember...this is the BIGGEST event on the cycling calender, and there are guys who work for years to get the opportunity...people I know who have followed le tour say it ranks alongside the Olympics and the Football World Cup for the most stressful 2 weeks of a photographers life.

I would advise if you have never done top level sport then just pick a few stages, stake out a good spot and wait for the peloton and enjoy the atmosphere!

Just my advice, enjoy one of the top sporting spectacles in the world.

James.

[Nimitz87]

also there are plenty of other things to photograph in the area besides the peleton and the Tour itself...all the old castles, the scenery and landscapes...it'll be hard to take a bad picture out there!

Chad

[skywalkerbeth]

The route is ready and published HERE (http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html), it is a down loadable pdf file. The stages are mapped.


Thank you!

[skywalkerbeth]

The pass part of the question is an easy one (but I'll try not to be too discouraging)...

Each country gets a selection of passes, UK gets say 20-30, France gets probably 50-75, USA gets an amount etc etc.

With Lance Armstrong back this year/next year the demand will be HUGE, small agencies like the one I work for will not get passes, it will be Getty/AI/AP/AFP/SI etc.

Plus, those guys get huge support staff with them including motorbike riders so that photographers can follow the action within the peloton itself, plus there'll be others at key points (top of climbs, TT and sprint points, and then at least 3 for the finish).

Remember...this is the BIGGEST event on the cycling calender, and there are guys who work for years to get the opportunity...people I know who have followed le tour say it ranks alongside the Olympics and the Football World Cup for the most stressful 2 weeks of a photographers life.

I would advise if you have never done top level sport then just pick a few stages, stake out a good spot and wait for the peloton and enjoy the atmosphere!

Just my advice, enjoy one of the top sporting spectacles in the world.

James.

Thanks James, I guess that was a really naive question. I'm sure we will enjoy it all, no matter where we see it!

I'm currently thinking we will either see July 23 (Thursday) or Sunday July 26 - the end. Any advice on those specific locations (Annecy and on, and then Paris...)

[skywalkerbeth]

also there are plenty of other things to photograph in the area besides the peleton and the Tour itself...all the old castles, the scenery and landscapes...it'll be hard to take a bad picture out there!

Chad


Oh yeah, I cannot wait!! :)

[skywalkerbeth]

Hey, if I could ask another indulgent question - I've seen several photos taken from fields of sunflowers or lavender, bikers passing by, and for some reason I don't see hordes of fans - just the bikers.

How the heck do they manage that? I thought the fans lined every inch of this race. These photos lead you to believe it's practically deserted but for the bikers. How do they stake out the spot (including permission to get into that field), and since the roads are closed - how do they GET there? Camp overnight?

[Nimitz87]

Hey, if I could ask another indulgent question - I've seen several photos taken from fields of sunflowers or lavender, bikers passing by, and for some reason I don't see hordes of fans - just the bikers.

How the heck do they manage that? I thought the fans lined every inch of this race. These photos lead you to believe it's practically deserted but for the bikers. How do they stake out the spot (including permission to get into that field), and since the roads are closed - how do they GET there? Camp overnight?

there is plenty of area on the flat stages (where your talking about) that the fans aren't there...one reason is they just move to fast...sitting there for hours to have the peleton blow by in 20 seconds.

most camp over night...or live nearby. many ride their bikes to the area too. btw...they are cyclists not bikers:p remeber a flat stage averages around 100+ miles....

Chad

[skywalkerbeth]

there is plenty of area on the flat stages (where your talking about) that the fans aren't there...one reason is they just move to fast...sitting there for hours to have the peleton blow by in 20 seconds.

most camp over night...or live nearby. many ride their bikes to the area too. btw...they are cyclists not bikers:p remeber a flat stage averages around 100+ miles....

Chad

Oh boy. So it sounds like all that work, stake out, and zoom zoom they are gone. However, I guess they ALL have to go by so it could take a while to see them all - even the laggers.

[Dan-o]

I guess they ALL have to go by so it could take a while

Ahh if you consider 30 seconds a while.

[Nimitz87]

Ahh if you consider 30 seconds a while.

yeah...what he said.

the flat stages there really are no "laggers" only time you would get separate groups would be in a break away scenario (quite popular) basically its an attempt for a small group to break away from the main pack (peleton) as they don't have a GC (general contender) chance to win the overall tour, they might however have a chance at sprint points, etc. or just want the publicity of winning a tour stage for their sponsors, or country.

reason its a bold move is you have 5-6 guys sharing the work...well in the peleton you have 150+ sharing the work...you can see who would normally win.:cool:

Chad

[primoz]

How do they stake out the spot (including permission to get into that field), and since the roads are closed - how do they GET there?
I take it you are from USA :) Here on this side of ocean, laws are different, and you don't need to be worried someone will shoot you for trespassing. So for taking photo or two from middle of field, noone is asking anyone. You stop, get of the motorbike, walk to middle of field, take photos, and you walk back to road. In worse case, you say hello and spend minute or two chatting with farmer if he would be around, but that's it. No permission are asked, especially not in advance. I know it might not be nice, but that's how it works over here. Only time we "bug" with permissions is when you find really some nice spot to shoot from above, so you ring doorbell and ask if you could shoot from their bedroom window in second floor :) And until now, noone ever told me no :)
How to find that spot and how to get there? Most of photos like this are from photographers covering race. Sometimes you have chance to drive the route before the race, sometimes route goes same way as previous year, sometimes you are just lucky. If you are working for big agency, there's normally one shooter on motorbike with peloton, and another few cruising in car(s) before the race, while at least one is waiting in finish. When you see nice spot, you stop there, wait for peloton, do your job and normally try to catch finish.
For normal spectators there's only one chance... be there 6 or 7 hours before riders come. After that, roads are normally closed. TdF is quite big, and there's stuff happening on roads way before riders come. That's why so long closing times. TdF is about 3000km long, so there's no spectators every meter of the route. There are lots of them on big climbs, but on flat stages, which are 200+ km long, you see kilometers of road without single spectator. It's actually quite normal... peloton passes by in 10 seconds, and that's all what you would see there from whole race.

[skywalkerbeth]

Thanks everyone, I am learning a lot today.

Primoz, for the most part in the US, no one is going to care if you are just stepping into their field to take photos and then leave - but to hang out there for a long time, I would feel uncomfortable. In the US, I would definitely not ring someone's bell to go to their house to take photos from a window! oh my.

OK, so the peloton is one moving wall of riders. I guess I thought it would be all strung out. Maybe we will have time to stake out a spot beforehand, on the plain.

[primoz]

Primoz, for the most part in the US, no one is going to care if you are just stepping into their field to take photos and then leave
Don't take it bad way. I just wanted to say, people consider some things different on this side of ocean, as they do on other. And it's nothing bad with this. We are different and that's cool thing.
As far as peloton riding around is concerned... on flat stages, especially transitional stages, there's normally one smaller group in escape (up to 30mins infront of main pack), and then there's main pack behind. So you have 2 chances to get photos... On mountain stages, and even this only on last climb or two, group gets scattered. Everything else in cycling is pretty much compact group of 100+ riders, so it's pain in the a** to stand roadside trying to find right person in group and get good shoot of him, while they pass by with speed between 40 and 70km/h.

[skywalkerbeth]

No, I didn't take it wrong - I understand, having been to Europe several times! I also know in the US there are always NO TRESSPASSING signs all over.