18. 07. 08. Friday. Today was the day that the Tour came to Clermont. The town was quite animated this morning as there was also a flea market which started around 8 – I looked at some stalls en route to buying my Midi-Libre but managed to easily resist buying anything. I had an early lunch and walked over to the route at around 1. The caravane came by between about 1. 15 and 2 with all the usual hooplah of the circus. Hats, sweets, coffee, cheese and various other products being flung at the eager crowd. The leaders flashed by just after 3 and then the peloton flashed by 6 minutes later. That was it! As a guy next to me said “le seul problème est qu’on attends deux heures pour un minute!” But it was worth it, there was a great festive atmosphere with people from all over chatting to each other. A surprising number of Australian flags in evidence too.
