Tuesday 8 July 2014

Zoom in on Pearl Izumi

I've just returned home after joining the millions of people who came out to watch the Tour de France  in England and had a marvellous time.  I haven't downloaded any of my pictures yet but I'm sure one or two will make it into the next round of ABC Wednesday. Are you ready for the next round (15) of ABC Wednesday?

For the last letter of Round 14 I am still in cycling mode and my photos are all from the Pearl Izumi Tour Series which brings together nine squads to race over five weeks in town and city centres, battling it out in 12 events and 10 venues for the title of best team in Britain.  For the first time it visited my little town on the coast of Cumbria for Round 2 in May.
They zipped around the town centre which turned out to be a technical, but fast circuit with an average speed of 43 kph. I even managed by chance to get a perfectly placed letter Z in this photo as two riders pass the safety barrier at the Town Hall.
The event drew an enthusiastic crowd of about 10,000 and of course some were taking photographs
like this girl standing on a piece of street furniture with her zoom lens. This photo shows in the lead Graham Briggs (the winner on the night) riding for the Rapha Condor JLT team who would collect the overall best team prize after the last race took place on the island of Jersey in June.  Following him is Tom Scully who came second (his team Madison Genesis were team winners on the night). 

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet, this week reaching the last letter Z here 
      

8 comments:

Susan Moore said...

How exciting to be up close while the racers zoom past! You really captured the action with your photos - fabulous!

K V V S MURTHY said...

What an action capturing...wonderful!

AmitAag said...

Wonderful captures!
http://amitaag.blogspot.in/2014/07/zen.html

Roger Owen Green said...

BlaZing fast!

ROG, ABCW

Reader Wil said...

Very fast! I use to cycle with a group , but prefer to cycle with a few now, for fear to slip and fall.
Have a great week.
Wil, ABCW Team.

photowannabe said...

I am always amazed at the speed and closeness of the riders.
That must have been so exciting to see in person.

Leslie: said...

We had the Tour de Delta here last weekend with riders from around the world. But it's not as well known as Tour de France! Great shots, Joy.

Leslie
abcw team

Trubes said...

Quite a dangerous sport, can't understand why they do it, but would go get a glimpse if they were passing the end of my road. I suppose it's a good way to keep fit and take in fresh air, There are just too many cars on the road for cyclists to be safe,
On a holiday in France we were driving at sensible speed, when out of nowhere, appeared, about a dozen cyclists pedalling like fury to overtake us, and banging on the roof of the car as they passed. Apparently that is what they do in France, where they are highly revered....Not so in husband's opinion...but there lies another tale!
Di.x