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Pigale, the Galibier should have been climbed on the way to Alpe d'Huez but landslides have made it unsafe, so we are going over the Col de la Croix-de-Fer instead. Exchanging one brute for another!
Yes, a proper stage tomorrow!
One for the hard men of Le Tour!

Sorry, sent first part by mistake, so,

La Caravane du Tour is 20kms long, consisting of 180 decorated and animated vehicles (loudspeakers etc) ,
hosting the 600 people involved in the caravan. It takes about 45 minutes for the Caravan to pass by while distributing/throwing 15 millions presents/gadgets .

As far as security is concerned it means an average of

14 000 gendarmes along the edge of the road or on the
roads (to deal with security)

9 000 police people (to deal with offences)

Gendarme and Police change daily , they do not 'follow' the Tour but come from the various areas crossed by the route du Tour.

Now, to host the tour overnight, the town and its surroundings must have a fairly big accommodation potential, between the caravane, the riders and the teams managers, coach, physical trainers etc...

Added to that are all the journalists, cameramen, reporters etc...

Amazing no ?

Just for you, Pigale!

A French hero attacks.
Step forward, Thomas Voeckler!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuHExdx5ol8
I am not convinced this shall work.

Yes, the organisation is very well done indeed, Pigale.
It has to be, for the honour of France!
Oh yes, there will be incidents along the route but nothing can affect Le Tour. It rolls on (except for a wee while today!) The Gendarmerie do an excellent job.
So do the motor bikes, helicopters etc bringing us pictures.
I am very biased, but I think it is a great occasion.
And compare it with other great sporting events, like Olympics, World Cup, The Open, Wimbledon etc.
For the spectators, all FREE!

Just heard Fabian is out of the Tour.
He has two broken vertebrae.
Yesterday was his 29th yellow jersey.
Well, that has certainly spoilt my evening!

http://www1.skysports.com/cycling/news/21683/9905373/tour-de-france-fabian-cancellara-out-of-race-with-broken-back

Thank you Rusty, it worked just fine.

What a performance, a great champion !

I still maintains he can easily put a clowny look on his face - he has got the right features for it, particularly the mouth.

I have not heard his name mentioned at all today, not even at the time of the big crash, so perhaps he was luciky and did not get involved in it and neither did Quintana as far as I know.

If he was caught inside this big peloton, it would have been nigh on impossible to make a break, especially on narrow roads.

Hello, Pigale,
Yes it was a nice clip.
Pity there were no close-ups of his face!
Thomas will wait for the mountains I think, then go on one of his mad, epic breaks!
Same for Quintana, he is just hoping to survive the first week. And then the mountains. He will be dreading the cobbles tomorrow.
Great shame for Cancellara.

Oh dear Rusty ! How sad !

No wonder the poor man looked in much pain ! It must have been agony for him to finish the stage; and to think this is the second back injury in a short space of time - he must have remained a little fragile there and a fall like today did not give his back a single chance to escape damage.

I wonder if anyone else if going to miss tomorrow's departure? you never know, after a night rest, some injuries become more apparent than it first seemed .

Chapeau to Cancellara for finishing the stage!

I just watched the highlights - what a crash.