I went to see the stage finish in St Étienne on July 13th, and have tried to keep up with events relating to the Tour while I have been travelling. In Avignon I have been able to sit and watch each day’s stage as it happens – a novelty, usually I’m watching from 11.00pm until 2.00am – and I still managed to fall asleep.

The sudden halt to the day’s racing on Friday came as a shock. It was high thirties in Avignon and not too far away rain and hail caused a landslide and the end of the day (and hopes of a tour win) for riders. That stage had started at Pont de Gard, only about 40 kilometres from Avignon.

Watching a front end loader shifting water and rubble off the road in big sprays was, in its own way, fascinating. The TV coverage was excellent, and for once I thought the commentators were justified in shouting a lot!