Tor D’nunda
Posted on Sunday 24th January 2010
This is another go at Strine after my pitiful attempt last year, and probably closer to how most people would rattle off the name of the inaugural road race of the professional cycling calendar.
For once I actually had a weekend off, so after seeing Avatar last night – very good in 3D, see it if you haven’t yet – we went to see the final stage of the Tour Down Under today. One of the advantages of practically living in the city centre is that we didn’t have to walk far to see the race as it looped around the northern city parklands.
I can understand why many people watch any sort of racing on television, as you get a rapid flurry of activity as the field goes through followed by some minutes of inactivity before the loop repeats itself. However there is something about the atmosphere of the crowd and the opportunity to get very close to some elite athletes that the screen can’t replicate. It also never truly shows how quick these guys move as even on tight city streets they still averaged well over 30kph , not slowing at all for the corners.
Also an opportunity to see the iconic Lance Armstrong, although I couldn’t really tell him apart from the other cyclists given they all wear team colours and ride the same bikes. When moving quickly it’s difficult to pick one lean, tanned, waxed man from another. However, the benefits of a camera with a good lens and 9 frames per second shooting, and some careful sifting through the pictures, showed that he was there after all
Remainder of the piccies here.
