The Tour de Suisse is the fourth biggest event on world cycling's calendar. I love it for it's unfailingly stunning courses, tough mountains and short duration. (It lasts a little over a week compared to three for the other big tours, meaning you can follow it beginning to end without losing track, or interest.)Yesterday the race got started with a fine mountain time trial of just over 7km around Lugano's lakefront and the nestling slopes of Monte Brè.
Even as the race got underway I was able to walk the route, with one of the world's greatest athletes gasping (on the climb) or swooshing (on the descent) past me roughly per minute. I hoped they, like me, were able to enjoy the grand lake views, the abundance of richly-scented honeysuckle and roses and a friendly 'buongiorno' from the locals who lined the streets. Probably not, on balance.
Either way, I could only take my hat off to the local organisers who laid on such a spectacle in their nonchalant Swiss way. Close the streets to pedestrians just because of an international sports event? Not on their watch. I recalled the brusque policemen at the Tour de France's London prologue as I strolled, occasionally having to leap aside as another childhood hero almost blasted me out of the street.
I made it down just in time to see Lance Armstrong set off and catch the last 30 or so riders getting home. My time of just under 2 hours wasn't going to bother Lance and the big guns, but I was happy with it.
One thing though: these guys love Fabian Cancellara far too much. Ok, he's a good time triallist and good in the hills. But Mercx he ain't.
(All this from a man who comes from a country who doggedly supported Chris Boardman out of blind patriotism throughout his dimly-lit career. Ok, ok..)
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