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VIP at a race
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 14-06-2017 09:27
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Have a nice day Lachi and we want some "behind the curtain" information. 
And say hi to Sagan for me.
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| Masterblaster01 |
Posted on 14-06-2017 09:43
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 362
Joined: 07-03-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Have a nice day! Enjoy! Want to know everything afterwards 
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| Lachi |
Posted on 14-06-2017 10:27
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Robby Hunter is the VIP driver
Race is about to start
Edited by Lachi on 14-06-2017 10:44
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| Masterblaster01 |
Posted on 14-06-2017 11:08
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 362
Joined: 07-03-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Cool!
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| Lachi |
Posted on 14-06-2017 23:15
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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My VIP day is over and I have mixed feelings.
In the morning there was a VIP tent with food and drinks and I could visit the team buses. The riders were still in the buses, so I only saw them during the inscription. But today I was the only VIP guest of Robby Hunter so I could chat with him about everything in the peloton.
The VIP cars started before the riders. After 2 km, we waited for the peloton to pass by to take some photos. As soon as they passed, we hopped back into the cars and took a short-cut to overtake the peloton.
Once in front, we stopped again to let them pass because the VIP cars are supposed to travel between the early break away and the main bunch. But today it took about 75km until a break away was successful so we had to halt and overtake them a few times. Because the teams didn't let any riders escape the bunch travelled the first 50km in about 1 hour. It was amazing to see the whole peloton at such speeds from the road side.
Luckily for us the break formed before the start of the climb so we could follow them for a while and also pass them to take some pictures. After that we raced up the mountain so that we could make a stop for lunch. The lunch was improvised and simple, not very VIP-like but I don't mind having a pick-nick.
Just before the bunch arrived at our location we had to continue and for a short moment our car was allowed to drive immediately in front of the peloton. It was amazing to see the riders from this position and to see how fast they go up the mountains. Shortly before the summit of the Simplon, we overtook the break away one more time and halted afterwards to take pictures.
When we continued, the break away was already descending and it is almost impossible to overtake riders at such speeds so we followed them for quite a while. At some point we reached 100 km/h. Before the Italian border, the regulator (or whatever they are called) let us overtake the leading riders and it was not too early because the road became really bad in Italy. I felt sorry for the riders to downhill in such conditions.
The road conditions became better when we reached the highway but the Italian police messed up the road blocking and the VIP cars ended up on a wrong road. Luck and some reckless driving brought us back "en route" just behind the break away and we overtook them one more time. But we already reached the Centovalli and the roads became narrow and bad again and it was not very easy to stop again to watch the riders. So we decided to drive to the finish line as fast as possible and watch the rest of the race on screen.
But you cannot (and should not) go fast in the Centovalli and I was happy there was no oncoming traffic. I haven't seen much of the riders since the Simplon so the second part of the trip was quite boring and it also started to rain. Luckily I had my tablet with me so I could watch the broadcast once it started.
We arrived at the finish line about 20 minutes before the riders, so I could still find a good spot at the finish line because one side of the road was reserved for the VIP. I stood about 4m behind the finish line so I could see them coming. But it never stops to amaze me how fast the sprint is over. I did not even notice that Sagan made a little "dance" before I watched the replay on the big screen. In the VIP tent they offered food, drinks and dessert again, but the hospitality was nothing special.
This concluded my VIP experience. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 15-06-2017 00:42
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Sounds like you had a really great day to remember and one which will be etched in your memory for a long time |
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| matt17br |
Posted on 15-06-2017 00:53
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 10525
Joined: 28-09-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Great sum-up Lachi, really sounds like it's been a solid experience overall
Before the Italian border, the regulator (or whatever they are called) let us overtake the leading riders and it was not too early because the road became really bad in Italy. I felt sorry for the riders to downhill in such conditions.
The road conditions became better when we reached the highway but the Italian police messed up the road blocking and the VIP cars ended up on a wrong road.
Italy: we always get ourselves in the spotlight for the worst reasons 
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| Masterblaster01 |
Posted on 15-06-2017 00:54
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 362
Joined: 07-03-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Sounds like a great day indeed! Bit jealous to be honest 
But i would like to vote to exclude you from the fantasy betting, because i bet (haha) Robbie Hunter told you everything you need to know to win all the bets hahaha 
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| Cat5Hurricane |
Posted on 15-06-2017 01:36
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Amateur
Posts: 6
Joined: 17-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Lachi...you suck! But only because I am so damn jealous of your experience! |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 17:01
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| Lachi |
Posted on 16-06-2017 20:45
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8516
Joined: 29-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I was struggling with my lousy camera. Only one picture came out quite well.
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