Sunday, July 22, 2012

THE TOUR DE FRANCE WAS HERE

Youpi! Today the Tour de France publicity caravan, then the cyclists, whizzed past on a backstreet in Versailles on the way to Paris for the contest's final heat. It's one of the biggest annual sporting events in the world. Individual and team time trials, mountain stages, flat and rolling stages--all while touring France on a three-week and 3,200 km bike ride.
Bradley Wiggins, in the maillot jaune, was all smiles as the peloton advanced along the narrow backstreet in Versailles to the applause of the neighborhood crowd. Later in the afternoon on the Champs-Elysées he became the first British competitor ever to win the Tour de France.

Vocabulary
youpi:  yippee
le maillot jaune:  the yellow jersey; in the Tour de France and other major cycling events it is worn by the leader who is classed first among the competitors
le peloton:  the pack (in sports)
être dans le peloton de tête: to be among the front runners

©2012 P.B. Lecron

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