A Paris au revoir. Goodbyes at the team bus.

25. Jul, 2010 8 Comments

Hard to say goodbye to the Tour de France. For the riders the end doesn’t come soon enough but for me it hit suddenly and sadly.

As exhausting and frustrating as it’s been sometimes, there will be magic and inspiring moments that will remain with me forever. Including this overcast and beautiful day in the City of Lights as the riders all came home to friends, family and loved ones.

There’s so much to say but for right now I’ll let some pictures tell the story.

Chava and fan.

George and fans.

Dean, Farrar, Hunter and Dean's son, the next lead-out man.

Rogers makes a kid thrilled.

The sexy Italian girlfriend arrives.

Sanchez and mom and kid.

Millar happy to be done.

Matt White and his main man.

Back to child care.

Hunter, Farrar and Zabriskie.

Ryder triumphs.

Owen Wilson after hard ride from Hollywood.

Van man gets some love.

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Columbia, Garmin, Tour de France
  • Ron

    Matt, Great Job!!

  • Julian Sweet

    Inspired by you we made it to St Jean De Maurienne and Chambery before they headed south and we headed back to Morzine now back in Brussels.

    Great tour

    Cheers Julian

    • http://www.atwistedspoke.com walshworld

      Good job, man. Chambery was beautiful. Love that town. Look forward to those tours to come. A new addiction.

  • TR

    Just like this last post Matt you bring a certain view to this sport missed by others. Great reminder that at the end of the day the heros and workhorses of the peloton are just "regular folk" with family and kids and all that comes with normalicy (ok..Italian hottie is an exception). Great coverage, great stories. Know it's tough to see the final stage while also glad to be heading to your own normal life. Hope you do it again.

    • http://www.atwistedspoke.com walshworld

      TR, Thanks, the tour is so big and so rich in story it's hard to grasp it all. I generally I look for the funny stuff but it really stuck me to see all the girlfriends and wives and families meet at the bus. There was a realy joy that the event was over and accomplished and now it was time to re-connect. Matt

  • http://letourbabe.wordpress.com/ Le Tour Babe

    Chapeau, Matt!

    • http://www.atwistedspoke.com walshworld

      Le Tour Babe, I survived in one piece. Wow, what a crazy ride. I honestly don't know how the riders do it. I was driving a car all over France and It was exhausting. Riding a bike all over France and up and down the massive mountains is almost too much to comprehend. Amazing athletes. Time to go home and sleep and think about the next tour. I'll try to come back but maybe for a week, ten days. Matt

  • Machaca

    Have a safe flight, Big Mat. There's a beer (or 5) in our fridge with your name on 'em. Can't wait to hear a few of the unwritten stories!