Whilst I was positioned next to Blackwall Station, one of the regular contributors to the blog, L. Katiyo joined the main crowds on Aspen Way.
If you have watched the Tour de France on television, not surprisingly you only see the cyclists racing but watching it live you realise what a massive undertaking the whole event is.
One of the strangest aspects is the promotional caravan which usually arrives a couple of hours before the race.
It can spread over 15–20 miles and often takes 40 minutes to pass a particular point. It is all highly coordinated by the caravan director plus an assistant, three motorcyclists, two radio technicians and a breakdown and medical crew. Six motorcyclists from the Garde Républicaine, the élite of the gendarmerie, ride with them.
The caravan can contain up to 200 vehicles and if you add to that numerous team coaches, team cars and race vehicles it is quite a sight.
When the race arrived , the cyclists were moving so quickly that photo opportunities are limited.
And then more vehicles with spare bikes and the race has gone. It certainly is a unique sporting event and bought a lot of attention to the usually neglected Aspen Way.
Isle of Dogs Life 