Tour of Spain

Twas a few years ago that we last visited the Tour of Spain to watch the racing and see some people we know. Now, having trolled through a bag-load of scratchy negs here at home I find another snap I like. Ooof, not another sky-rider.

The downside of all this is I'm feeling more and more ambidextrous about such events. They are, even discounting all the people who go to the event to watch a most un eco-friendly event. You'd have thought cycling was green - and I suppose it would be if the event was an unsupported event  Not unsupported by the public but by all the event 'caravan' and the like that goes with the big Tours - particularly the Tour de France, Spain and Italy.

Sit on the side of the road at one of these big races and first the publicity vehicles pass by, then there's maybe fifty police motorbikes and more marshals on motorbikes then the riders on pedal-bikes followed by judges cars, two team cars - each of the 22 teams [plus teams have rider-coaches- vans and lorries with their kitchens for their chefs], ambulances, Dr's car, and countless vehicles for the press. Then there's the TV motorbikes plus the accompanying helicopters and planes that follow the races around. And the broom wagon - rarely used for the purpose it was meant for these days but kept for historical purposes.

Then there's huge set-ups at the stage starts and finishes with the trucks that haul them around. And sometimes flights between different areas of France and other countries - for example like Israel, Denmark and Uk where the race have visited. As far i can see, none of these vehicles are electric or hydrogen powered and I do believe it must change soon.