One of the paradoxes of being so close to the Tour and following the peloton, say, in the convoy, is you don't see much of the actual racing, save for rare glances. It's all happening way up the road. You do see plenty of the riders before and after the stages, but little of them during. You're left to the screens in the car and the hopefully benevolent gods of connectivity.
Cruising in the convoy has its own rewards. You get to see the riders, many of whom are the best in the sport, dropping back to take care of any number of things, including refueling and getting their bikes fixed. It's a perspective you don't see the same way on TV. If there's a lull in the racing, the riders might hang at your window for a quick word or to crack a joke.
And then there is that rather thrilling moment when you do get up close to the bunch as it rolls along at 40 mph. And, if you're lucky, some of the riders will break away, or a crosswind will cause a split in the field. Then the heat is on, and you can watch it all unfold, even if you're straining a bit to see.
Above, the closest I got to seeing the Tour de France peloton from the team car.
Original author: Daniel McMahon
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