The only hedgerows I've seen during the first three stages have been bordering the roads. I guess all of the small fields have been opened up and consolidated into large ones. Same thing has happened to small farms here in the States. No fighting progress but definitely not as picturesque.
While watching today the commentator said that a monument they were passing was the National Monument to the Strike of 1942. I learned something new today: 1942 Luxembourgish general strike - Wikipedia
Today they are going through Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises where de Gaulle lies. GRAVE OF GENERAL DE GAULLE The 1960 Tour stopped there to see him.
I just saw that clip on TV not five minutes before I saw your post. Learning a lot about WWII during this years race. They showed an aerial shot of his home, which he purchased in 1934. Very beautiful. I wonder what the Germans did with it during WWII. Google Translate
Having a look at Mapping Le Tour book and see that the Tour has not visited the Calvados region except for Caen which was one of the preferred locations before the war. The tour have not taken the tour past Normandy beaches except for Omaha & Utah. Be interesting for the route to be taken from Port en Bessin, Bernieres to Ouistreham covering Gold, Juno and Sword beaches up to Benouville, hairpin bend over Caen Canal & Orne River bridges lots of past Ranville up to Honfleur options for routes through Lower Normandy. If only.
Tour de France 2017 - 06/07/2017 - Etape 6 - Vesoul / Troyes (216 km) - France - Passage du peloton à Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises © ASO/Alex BROADWAY
I was listening to the journalist Francois Thomazeau speaking about the 1960 tour last night on The Cycling Podcast. Apparently, De Gaulle was staying in his private summer residence when the race was passing and took an unannounced stroll to the side of the road to watch. It was the Race Director (and Journalist) Jacques Goddet who spotted De Gaulle and realised this was one photo opportunity that was far too good to miss. Goddet ran the tour for 50 years as his own private fiefdom and could do pretty well what he liked. He also sported the same outfit for 50 years as well. Bush shirt and shorts and a rather dapper Solar Topee.
Anyone else spot the Sherman in Marseilles ? M4A4 Sherman "Jeanne d'Arc" at Marseille Original tank from the 2nd Cuirassiers Regiment, knocked out near the Basilique de Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille on 25 August 1944. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@43.2...4!1s7o9oWpO9byiY-XD_ZErp6A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Paul Sherwen just said that the Eiffel tower was opened in 1900 for the Paris 1900 Exposition. Yeesh.
Is Froome a cheater? What do you guys think of the drug test? The commentators seem to be split. I haven't a clue
My feelings are that Froome is clean Wiggins on the other hand ........................ not so sure TD might nip out and watch it tomorrow
Will be watching today's stage simpley because it starts in Arras where we were for the umpteenth time back in March.
Just saw an aerial shot of a beautiful WWI cemetery but they didn't say what it was. I couldn't identify it. Around 87 miles into stage 9 Edit: Found it Notre Dame de Lorette - Wikipedia
Normally measured in Km's not miles - which are you using?? Stage 9 - Arras Citadelle > Roubaix - Tour de France 2018 TD