Tour of the North - A Different Perspective
My photographs of Stage 4 of the Tour of the North were taken from the rear passenger seat of commissaire 2 car and are completely unedited. I resorted to taking these photos as i could not get a lift to various locations on the race. However i am surprised at the enjoyment i got from recording how the public and supporters view the passing race and the goings on inside the bubble that is the rolling road closure provided by the PSNI.
We were at the rear of the main bunch and some times further back when the bunch split. The images show a side of the sport that is often not noticed. We tend to concentrate on the head of the race but the goings on further back and the ebb and flow of the peleton and race cavalcade along with the PSNI and civilian motorbike marshals are also interesting.
The spectators reactions to the passing of the race are also interesting.
A lot of the other photos are of riders before the start and after the finish when family, friends and fans congratulate or commisserate. Also the important hard working tea ladies and race director Joan Mc Cullough and her band of hard workers that made the race so successful. It was an enjoyable day thanks to our excellent driver Johnny Eagleson.
The cavalcade in the Tour of the North this year consisted of 15 PSNI on motorbikes and 2 in the police landrover.8 Civillian Motor bike marshals. 1 motorbike commissaire. 3 more commissaires in cars, 3 neutral service vehicals, 3 lead cars, 1 announcing vehicle ahead of the race. an ambulance crew at the rear of the race.2 cars with race judges and timekeepers, race director and 24 team cars. Along the route were also dozens of static marshals.There is also a crew of workers errecting barriers and podium at the finish line.
I hope you enjoy seeing your fans supporting you.
All photos taken by me that appear on this site or social media will contain a watermark for child-protection reasons. The watermark makes it more difficult to download and maliciously doctor the photos, and enables the original photograph to be more easily traced.
