The Tour de France 2015, Alpe d'Huez

But I can guarantee that once they've been...there is no turning back! You are a 'tour' fan to the end. And there is no better place to pop your tour cherry than on the legendary climb of Alpe d'Huez. 

Arriving on Friday afternoon, only 24 hours before the race was due to roll through, I was already concerned that we wouldn't find a good spot to set up camp. Some fans are there for an entire week before the event just to get settled in and claim the best view points. Luckily we found what was possibly to be one of the best places on the climb. On bend number 14 (they start from number 1 at the top) we came across a giant poster of Team Sky rider Geraint Thomas along with a multitude of Welsh flags. With one Scot, a Welshman and a Swede in our party it seems as though this was meant to be!

Our neighbours were, as always, incredibly accommodating and welcomed us with open arms...and a few beers. They were a group of Welsh and English lads who had met a few years before on a stage of the tour and now come on an annual pilgrimage together to enjoy their holiday of cycling and supporting their heroes. They had in fact been camped out since Tuesday (it was now Friday) and were spending their days cycling up and down the famous 21 bends, making new friends, decorating their corner and, of course, drinking. Now dubbed 'Welsh Corner' by all those who passed, the giant image of Geraint drew much attention, with many spectators posing for a photo in front of it. The image itself had come all the way from Poland to France, via Wales, and was their pride and joy. Armed with white paint the Welsh lads were ready to claim their corner for Wales.

We spent Friday setting up camp and getting our own decorations up...a few polka dot balloons on the car and flag here and there can do wonders. On the opposite side of the corner were a family of Germans and a group of Danes, and soon we were firmly established alongside them as corner residents. 

Keen to see the legendary 'Dutch Corner', which has become somewhat of an official gathering point for Dutch supporters with plenty of orange to be seen and beer on tap, we decided to don our head torches and begin the cycle up the next seven or so bends. Not entirely equipped with state of the art road bikes, the ascent was not as easy as it could have been. However, with calls of "Allez Allez" as you cycle past and people running alongside or even pushing you up the hill, you cannot help but be carried away and keep the pedals turning. Sadly, I didn't make it as far as my companions before a huge storm rolled in and I decided to turn around and get back to the safety, and dry, of the tent.

Sleeping right next to the road on a corner, even a seemingly quiet Alpine one, is not easy. The noise of trucks, cars and motorbikes passing all night can make it hard to sleep; but then again the blasting of car horns blasting and cheering starts early so you might as well get up and join in! Even the gendarmes were there early, turning up at around 6am to set up their camp for the day.

Over breakfast there was a steady stream of cyclists and cars passing by, but by the time they shut the road to cars there were throngs of walkers and cyclists making their way up the hill to find a good viewing spot or to make it to the finish line. People in fancy dress, carrying supplies for the day, all ages and all nationalities were coming through Welsh Corner. The atmosphere was electric and infectious!

We had a few more friends cycle up to join us, with fresh supplies of wine and champagne for the race, and by the time the 40 or so ESF ski instructors cycled past for their official ascent of the mountain ahead of the tour itself, the crowds were in fine voice. Most of the singing was led by exuberant Italian Roggiero Torraco, ex pro-cyclist and one of the biggest characters you will ever have the pleasure to meet. 

The caravan arrived around 2pm and brought with it the usual excitement and scramble for free goodies, including hats and t-shirts so that you can show your proud support as the riders come through. The crowd were in a frenzy by this point and huge cheers erupted as the first rider was finally spotted making his way up the hill. From then on they came through at intervals and in smallish groups as the race began to split out and the weaker (if you can call them that!) riders dropped off the back. It was a day of attacks and this final climb was no different with many of Chris Froome's rivals trying their best to break him. You can read more about the results in our news article here.

Luckily this is one event where there is no real anti-climax. Once the riders had passed through people gathered around the van belonging to the German fans, who had planned ahead and set up a satellite dish and TV, to catch the end of the race. The champagne flowed as everyone celebrated into the evening and enjoyed watching the thousands of fans and cyclists creating a traffic jam as they descended the mighty Alpe d'Huez. 

After making some dinner and partying some more we decided to pack up our camp ground and bike our way back down into Bourg d'Oisans for some dinner and to catch some of the atmosphere down there. We found a bar that was showing a re-run of the end of the stage and we were surrounded by delighted people who were spotting themselves in the crowds on TV. It was wonderful to actually see the fight that went on further up the 21 bends, and to watch the drama of the race that ultimately saw Chris Froome retain his lead in the Tour de France.

So naturally we have all vowed to return to the Tour de France next year to party and celebrate together on 'Welsh Corner: the sequel'. Although there is no guarantee that it will return to Alpe d'Huez in 2016, I have no doubt that we will be able to find another suitable corner along the route where we can be a part of one of the greatest sporting events in Europe.