A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of joining with a number of friends for a trip to northern France to see several of the early stages of the Tour de France. Every evening we pored over the tour route to select the best place to view the race and cycled out to it out from our hotel every morning.As you may know cycling is a big thing in France and the Tour de France is about as big as it gets. Preparation for the race takes place well in advance – indeed the route for next year’s race is already known (spoiler – the 2027 Tour will start in Edinburgh!) and every village, town and city that the race passes through seem to take the day off. Crowds of people wait patiently along the route, vying to get the get the best view of their favourite cyclist or team flashing past in a blur. And before that there is the Caravanne a possession of floats advertising everything from snack foods to home energy efficiency to Parc Asterix.
So to crib a few words from the Tour de France website about the Caravanne:
LA CARAVANE DU TOUR DE FRANCE”, IN A FEW WORDS:
- A continuous show lasting more than 30 minutes
- A show stretching 10 km
- 30 brands represented
- 4 safety information cars at the front and rear of the Caravan
- 12 republican guard riders and 4 dispatch bikers to control the Caravan
- 3 medical vehicles…
As an Asterix and Obelix fan, Parc Asterix was my favourite
– its quite something to see a giant Asterix and Obelix whizzing by. And the spectators get quite excited when free advertising goodies are thrown out from the Caravane. I was rather disappointed not to get tickets to Parc Asterix…. but I did get a rather nice LeClerk supermarket Tour de France T shirt!
– its quite something to see a giant Asterix and Obelix whizzing by. And the spectators get quite excited when free advertising goodies are thrown out from the Caravane. I was rather disappointed not to get tickets to Parc Asterix…. but I did get a rather nice LeClerk supermarket Tour de France T shirt!Like the riders competing in the Tour de France, scripture teaches us that we too are in a race, and like the Tour, one in which perseverance and endurance are the key
– yet whilst they rigorously train and then race over three weeks, 21 stages and 2075 miles for an earthly prize that will fade over time, we train through and with the grace of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit for a race with a much more important prize – a prize that lasts for ever – eternal life with our Father in Heaven.
– yet whilst they rigorously train and then race over three weeks, 21 stages and 2075 miles for an earthly prize that will fade over time, we train through and with the grace of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit for a race with a much more important prize – a prize that lasts for ever – eternal life with our Father in Heaven.As we read in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 vs 24-25
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the
prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Andrew
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