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Tour de France and a Test match too – British fans cheer until they're hoarse Tour de France and a Test match too – British fans cheer until they're hoarse
(about 1 hour later)
The cheers that rang out around a packed and humid Place Charles de Gaulle a little after 9.30pm local time on Sunday hailed the end of another epochal day for British sport. The cheers that rang out around a packed and humid Place Charles de Gaulle a little after 9.30 hailed the end of another epochal day for British sport.
A year after Bradley Wiggins' history-making Tour de France win and the subsequent glory of the London Olympics, here it was once again: that sweet, heady and unmistakable smell of sporting excellence.A year after Bradley Wiggins' history-making Tour de France win and the subsequent glory of the London Olympics, here it was once again: that sweet, heady and unmistakable smell of sporting excellence.
As dusk fell on the Arc de Triomphe, the Britons who had travelled to Paris to witness Chris Froome's triumph found themselves wrestling with the news that the England cricket team hadn't done too badly either by trouncing Australia in the second Ashes Test back in London. As dusk fell on the Arc de Triomphe, the Britons who had travelled to Paris to witness Chris Froome's triumph found themselves coming to terms with the news that the England cricket team hadn't done too badly either, cruising to a 347-run second Test victory over Australia at Lord's.
Lisa Germany from Norfolk had already come close to losing her voice by the time Froome became the second British rider to win the tour in its 100-year history. She managed to reach deep into her vocal reserves as the 28-year-old Kenya-born cyclist followed Wiggins into the history books. "It's amazing!" she screamed as his long-expected victory finally materialised. "Two years on the trot! Mind you, he was biting at Wiggins' heel last year as well." Like many of the British contingent gathered in the great shadow of the arch, Lisa Germany from Norfolk had almost lost her voice by the time Froome became the second British rider to win the tour in its 100 year history.
Even so, she managed to reach deep into her vocal reserves as the 28-year-old Kenya-born cyclist followed Wiggins into the history books. "It's amazing!" she screamed as the long-expected victory finally materialised. "Two years on the trot! Mind you, he was biting at Wiggins' heel last year as well."
Pausing for breath, she added: "I'm a bit hoarse, actually."Pausing for breath, she added: "I'm a bit hoarse, actually."
Her friend Darlene Ablitt from Suffolk, who was juggling three large regulation yellow tour balloons and a gigantic union flag, was every bit as delighted – and every bit as hoarse. Her friend Darlene Ablitt from Suffolk, who was juggling three large regulation yellow Tour balloons and a gigantic union flag, was every bit as delighted – and every bit as hoarse.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! It's just incredible," she said. "I just can't believe it. And the cricket is absolutely incredible: I knew they were doing well yesterday, but I've been so engrossed in this I didn't know till now!""Oh my God! Oh my God! It's just incredible," she said. "I just can't believe it. And the cricket is absolutely incredible: I knew they were doing well yesterday, but I've been so engrossed in this I didn't know till now!"
Like many British cycling fans, the pair had spent much of the last week in France following Froome's progress. Others, like Pete Osborn from Chester, had been keeping up with the cricket scores on their phones while awaiting the arrival of the riders.
Simon Nicholson and his friends from the Wendlebury cycling club in Oxfordshire had been in position by the circular barricade that ringed the Arc De Triomphe since 9am on Sunday. But neither the merciless, street-melting summer sun nor the looming lager shortage could temper his delight at being by the finish line to watch Froome glide victorious into the centre of Paris. "It was a pleasant feeling but it's almost becoming too easy and you feel sorry for the Aussies," he said – before swiftly checking himself: "Then you think back to all the Aussie annihilations of the past and you don't feel sorry for them at all."
Yet, thrilling an event as the Tour de France is – and remarkable as Froome's achievement undoubtedly was, Nicholson's mind was equally fixed on what the win would mean for the sport at home. The recent dominance of British riders, he said, had led to a grassroots revolution. The last year, Osborn reflected, suggested Britain had undergone a strange metamorphosis and awoken to find itself a nation of champions.
"It's about seeing British cycling going from strength to strength. That's what it's all about." "We've become the new Australia, haven't we?" he mused.
Just as importantly, added Nicholson, Froome had demonstrated that the sport was beginning to shrug off the taint of doping that had permeated it so thoroughly and so insidiously for so long. To look at the British cyclist's struggles, he said, was to realise he was no Lance Armstrong: "I think Froome's frailties in certain stages have gone a long way to proving that he's not superman." His friend Craig Macleay nodded.
His friend Neil Ross, now settled in Oxfordshire but originally from South Africa, was thrilled to be watching his first tour – and to be present for the triumph of South Africa-raised Froome. "It's been a great year: we had Bradley Wiggins a year ago; then the Olympics; Andy Murray winning Wimbledon, and now this."
"Regardless of who's winning, it's something I've always wanted to do," he said. "But [Froome's victory] does make it special. I've been here since 9am and I'm sticking to the floor but it's just great and the atmosphere is fantastic." Simon Nicholson and his friends from the Wendlebury cycling club in Oxfordshire had been in position by the circular barricade that ringed the Arc De Triomphe since 9am on Sunday.
Glancing at the rapidly reddening bodies around him, he added: "I wouldn't sit in the sun for any other reason." Neither the merciless, street-melting summer sun nor a threatened lager shortage could temper his delight at being by the finish line to watch Chris Froome glide, victorious, into the centre of Paris. Equally palpable was his pride that the British rider had demonstrated that the sport was beginning to shrug off the taint of doping which had permeated it so thoroughly and so insidiously for so long. To look at the Froome's struggles, he said, was to realise that this was no Lance Armstrong: "I think Froome's frailties in certain stages have gone a long way to proving that he's not superman."
The lure of the most famous race in cycling had drawn fans from all over the world to the Arc de Triomphe, from whose centre a vast tricolore twisted listlessly in the breeze. Amid the regulation yellow caps, shirts, parasols and folding chairs were the flags of Colombia, South Africa, Japan, Great Britain and a lone Manx triskelion carried on the end of an enormous pole by a man wearing a Supermanx t-shirt in homage to Mark Cavendish, whose dreams of a fifth successive final stage win were dashed at the last moment. The lure of the most famous race in cycling had drawn fans from all over the world to the Arc de Triomphe, from whose centre a vast tricolore twisted listlessly in the breeze. Amid the yellow caps, shirts, parasols and folding chairs were the flags of Colombia, South Africa, Japan, Great Britain and a lone Manx triskelion carried on the end of an enormous pole by a man wearing a Supermanx T-shirt in homage to Mark Cavendish, whose dreams of a fifth successive final stage win were dashed at the last moment.
Ollie Jones, a 21-year- old from Manchester, had set off with four friends from south-west London a little before lunch time on Monday to pedal his way to Paris. Ollie Jones, a 21 year old from Manchester, had set off with four friends from south-west London a little before lunch time on Monday to pedal their way to Paris.
After four days' solid riding, they had developed a deep and chafing sympathy for the pioneering Tour riders.After four days' solid riding, they had developed a deep and chafing sympathy for the pioneering Tour riders.
"We rode here on fixed-gear bikes, so it was a bit of a killer," he joked. "We've been saying it was inspired by the original tourers." "We rode here on fixed-gear bikes, so it was a bit of a killer," he said. "We've been saying it was inspired by the original tourers."
A little further down the barrier, camp Wendlebury also had cause to marvel at the strength and endurance of all those who had competed in the race.A little further down the barrier, camp Wendlebury also had cause to marvel at the strength and endurance of all those who had competed in the race.
"We're pasted in oil but some of these guys have done 2,000 miles, so if we can't do a day in the sun, we're not doing them justice," said Nicholson."We're pasted in oil but some of these guys have done 2,000 miles, so if we can't do a day in the sun, we're not doing them justice," said Nicholson.
But how deep were their own reserves of stamina? How long could they endure?But how deep were their own reserves of stamina? How long could they endure?
Nicholson smiled. "Until we fall asleep – or the beer runs out."Nicholson smiled. "Until we fall asleep – or the beer runs out."
It may have very well have taken Lisa Germany a little longer than that to come to terms with what she had witnessed one sweltering night in Paris. As the crowds began to surge out of the Place Charles de Gaulle to celebrate around town, she shook her head in wonder and repeated her initial assessment: "Two years on the trot." It may have very well have taken Lisa Germany a little longer than that to come to terms with what she had witnessed one sweltering July night in Paris. As the crowds began to surge out of the Place Charles de Gaulle to celebrate around town, she shook her head in wonder and repeated her initial assessment: "Two years on the trot ..."
• This article was amended on 21 July 2013. The original standfirst referred to Britain beating Australia in the Ashes. This has been corrected