HOT SEAT

As shields from the pouring rain went, the passenger seat of the car of Yvon Ledanois – directeur sportif with the Arkéa-Samsic pro team – took some beating. It certainly bested the assorted brollies, capes and humansized carrier bags that Copenhagen’s public had necessarily donned amid apocalyptic conditions, as the Tour de France finally, belatedly, visited their city, two years after it was supposed to. Unless you’re the host of a Gore-Tex symposium, no event organiser pictures such scenes when they think of their event taking place. Mind you, the Danes are a hardy people and weren’t about to let a bit of rain put a dampener on their once-in-a-generation party.

To this party had been invited by Arkéa-Samsic bike supplier Canyon, into the team’s pit area throughout the opening stage time trial, and to sit in their team car during the race. Canyon is an enthusiastic sponsor of men’s professional cycling, providing bikes to two other teams in this