After a second successful year, Orient Express registration for the 2007 Tour is underway with NEW TOUR DATES to coincide with the new Silk Route Race/Expedition. The June start also hopes to take advantage of a season that generally has less precipitation and warmer temperatures. But no need to be worried, it will still be as challenging as ever, with subtle improvements to the route also in the works. Sign up now for Europe's most unique cycling experience.
I just had a conversation with Shanny the Tour leader who has had some busy days since he last sent an update. In Vienna we had seven new riders joining and so there was a lot of logistics to deal with to make sure they new riders have a smooth start.
The next rest day which was yesterday in Bratislava, Slovakia was busy with maintenance and repairs of the trucks, getting a trailer, propane etc. Bratislava is the official half point of the tour.
Today ride went smoothly and the bikers arrived in Gyor, Hungary. Hungary is the 5th country of the tour and the tour now turns due south. Hopefully the change of direction will bring less rain as it seems that the cyclists have seen enough rain for the tour.
Day 1. It’s Sunday morning and the city is still sleeping as we depart in the saddle from Hotel Mercure around 8 a.m. The streets are pleasantly empty of traffic; a perfect morning for a brief cycle tour of Paris before setting off across northern France, on the first stage of our journey. Snapshots at Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tour, and finally, Arche de Triomphe. Setting out of the city following the Seine River, we follow a section of Parisian highway that is expressly closed to traffic Sunday morning so that cyclists may "roule" freely on the streets. We joke that Henry has arranged this street closure with the mayor especially for the Orient Express.
Further down the highway however, the bike lane ends. In Africa it was sand and stones, but here in Europe road conditions are favourable but there is of course traffic, especially leaving Paris. On the plus side however the weather is pleasantly cool and there is no headwind to slow us down on what is to be a 110 km day. We cross the flat Ardenne region of France. The route is easy and thus excellent conditioning for the rest of the journey - at least for the riders who have not been regularly cycling 50 km every weekend.
Our destination is the medieval town of Provins, and after the leisurely tour of Paris in the morning, the main goal of the afternoon is to make tracks, those coming so equipped monitor odometers to see what kind of speed we can make down the road - seems to be anywhere between 15 and 25 km an hour, depending on the bike, the biker and a range of other factors. This is not a race, but fairly early on in the day several veteran Tour d'Afrique riders take the lead among the men in the group, disappearing into the horizon. Among the women, two triathlon athletes; Joy from California and Sheila from Sudbury, Ontario take the lead.
We arrive at our destination, the medieval town of Provins; just as a colorful summer festival is underway in the famous hilltop old city which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Some members briefly tour the ancient walled city ramparts gate and market area while others head straight for the campsite tucked in a pleasant corner on the edge of the town. A savoury meal, some wine, tales swapped of journeys through Africa and Asia lace the cool European evening.
