Watching the Tour de Romandie

My wife and I spent the day in Fribourg enjoying Stage four of the Tour de Romandie and its many festivities.

We had debated whether to watch atop the one climb, but given the cold and damp weather, we decided to visit the start/finish area. This was the perfect choice as it gave us plenty to do while the riders completed six circuits of the course.

Below: A giant screen and beer/snacks area:

We arrived just as the race started and saw the peloton pass before the “real” start. I don’t know if it was reported but Voeckler must have been late, as he was maybe a half kilometre behind everyone else and cursing loudly. As a Voeckler fan, I knew this was a good sign.

Next we visited the exhibition area. Free little gifts galore, mainly hats and bags, but also flags, snacks, and other trinkets. Cycling booths, tourist board booths, sponsors, etc. All day there was a friendly, family atmosphere here, with many little games and activities.

Clockwise from top right: Me winning a Gruyère hat for hitting the middle bell with a ball, a giant pig, a simon-sez touch-a-helmet game, bike tire ring-toss over saddles, a frame from 1903 Tour de France, and finally free Fondue!.

Next, we watched the Peloton finish lap one. My happy wife and some skinny bums:

Tommy Voeckler, and Michael Albasini (eventual stage winner)!

The Pig and the IAM lads:

We don’t know Fribourg. So after some lunch we did a two hour walk around the old town and walls. Nice place.

There was still plenty of time to watch the race. We headed back to the finish area to see the penultimate lap. Then I had a beer as we watched the final lap on a huge-screen TV (top photo).

I managed to take the worst photo of Albasini winning:

We stayed to watch all the Swiss guys on the podium. Note. the giant Gruyère cheese for Tschopp.

All in all my wife, Roger Federer, and I had a great day.

Note, the cow is not the only fool wearing a bell. Moo.