Graham Watson
@grahamwatson10
...ex-cycling photographer, travel-addict, wine lover - now retired and having even more fun!
Mighty Pyrenean stage today..! The beauty of the Col du Tourmalet was very evident in 1983; Miguel Indurain & Claudio Chiappucci escaped on Col d'Aspin in 1991; Brad Wiggins in Yellow on the Col de Peyresourde in 2012; Robert Millar won the climb to Superbagnéres in 1989...
Pontarlier receives Le Tour today after a trek across the scenic Jura and Doubs region of France; Eric Dekker won here in 2001 and Stuart O'Grady became race-leader that same day...
A short, 95-kilometre stage today with Cormet de Roselend as the scenic highlight. La Plagne awaits, a ski-resort where Laurent Fignon won in 1987, Alex Zulle in 1995, and Michael Boogerd in 2002...
Col du Glandon (in 1997) and Col de la Madeleine (in 2004) tee-up stage 18 for its inaugural finish on Col de la Loze, via Courchevel. Marco Pantani beat Lance Armstrong there in 2000, Richard Virenque beat Jan Ullrich there in 1997...
Bolléne to Valence, crossing the vast plateau of the Drome with its fields of lavender and poppies; Bjarne Riis wore Yellow here in 1996, Andre Greipel won a bunch sprint at Valence in 2015...
Lavender of Provence entertains before the suffering begins on Ventoux; Juan-Manuel Garate won in 2009 when Andy Schleck duelled with Alberto Contador; Chris Froome took the slow way on Bastille Day to a finish changed because of gale-force winds in 2016...
Mont Ventoux day today, it does not come around too often..! Charly Mottet wore Yellow in a TT in 1987, Eros Poli beat the odds in 1994 despite the chase from Miguel Indurain and Richard Virenque; the 2000 Tour saw a mighty showdown between Lance Armstrong and Marco Pantani...
Carcassonne and its walled-city receives Le Tour today, after passing through Revel, where Michael Matthews won in 2016; Yaroslav Popovych won into Carcassonne in 2006...
Today's mountain TT climbs from Loudenvielle - where Laurent Brochard won in 1997, and where Gilberto Simoni won in 2003 - to Peyragudes, via the west side of the Col de Peyresourde...
Big showdown at Hautacam today. Miguel Indurain led Leblanc in 1994 but the Frenchman won the stage; Riis was un-stoppable in 1996, Armstrong won his first duel against Pantani in 2000 on a stage won by Javier Otxoa. Expect a true Bearnaise welcome to the Pyrenees - by accordian!
On the road again...from Toulouse to Toulouse via the rolling landscapes of Tarn and Haute Garonne. Expect an Airbus fly-over near Blagnac and sunflowers throughout the day; Mark Cavendish won into Toulouse in 2008...
No Tour racing today, so why not listen to a podcast or two - specifically this one where I talk about photography and cycling and life on the road: thecameracafeshow.com/episode/graham…
At last, some real climbing, and in the beautiful Massif Central to Puy de Sancy! Stephen Roche won into nearby La Bourboule in 1993, Thomas Voeckler led the 2004 Tour through the region, Rui-Costa won at nearby Super-Besse in 2011...
Stage 9 into Chateauroux, re-named for the day as 'Mark Cavendish Town', in honour of the three-time stage-winner here: Cavendish won in 2008, 2011, and 2021... We're in chateau country all day, there'll be lots of them to enjoy...
12 of Graham Watson's favourite ever photos 📸 From black and white images from the 1980s, through to LeMond, Indurain, Contador and Cooke dnlbenson.substack.com/p/12-of-graham…
Laval awaits for the Tour sprinters today - Tom Steels won there in 1999. Vitré hosts the day's bonus sprint, which is where Robbie McEwen won a stage in 2006...
Le Tour is in Bernard Hinault country today, with views of the sea to-boot. Thor Hushovd wore Yellow here in 2011, Chris Froome wore Yellow in 2015; Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador battled for the first-ever stage-win on Mur-de-Bretagne in 2011...
A hilly Normandie stage coming across WWll battlefields; Vire is the birthplace of Le Tour's race-director Thierry Gouvenou, and where Mario Cipollini won in 1997 in an outrageous all-yellow costume..!
Rouen and its stunning cathedral awaits Le Tour today with an assortment of previous winners: Gerrit Solleveld won alone in the rain in 1990, Jan Kirsippu won in 2002, Andre Greipel won in 2012...
Valenciennes to Dunkirk today, it recalls a contrast in fortunes for Rolf Sorensen, who crashed into the start-town in 1991, and for Jeroen Blijlevens - who won into the finish-town in 1995...
