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Tour de France: Mishaps, Friendships, and Twenty Years Behind the Lens
28 Jul
Summary
- Photographer shares personal anecdotes from twenty years covering the Tour de France.
- Key moments include capturing riders amidst Barcelona's Sagrada Família.
- The human connections and unexpected friendships are the race's true draw.
A seasoned photographer shares reflections after covering their twentieth Tour de France, noting the event's arrival and departure from Paris like a transient circus. Access for in-race photography has significantly reduced since the pandemic, with fewer accredited motos now operating.
The photographer recounts capturing riders with Barcelona's Sagrada Família as a backdrop, a challenging but rewarding experience. An encounter with an experienced Navy photographer and the kindness of Danish fans who provided water also stood out.
The Alpine stages presented different challenges, with narrow roads and close encounters with breakaway riders. A memorable instance involved a rider overtaking unexpectedly, leading to a precarious moment while trying to capture the shot.
Documenting Tadej Pogacar's record-breaking performance on Alpe d'Huez required strategic positioning at the finish line due to stricter media access rules. The final day on the Champs-Élysées highlighted increased security measures.
Despite a fall on the Champs-Élysées that damaged equipment, the photographer emphasizes that the Tour de France is ultimately defined by the people met, the mishaps overcome, and the friends who offer support during difficult moments, which is what motivates their continued participation.
