Photos from the Tour de France

With the teams before stage 13 in St-Paul-Troix-Chateau

I am really enjoying photography as a fan. I try to take images of what it is like being a fan at the races. All the things we notice as fans - the bikes, team supplies and equipment, the staff, the riders. It took me years to learn who the riders were, to be able to recognize them, on and off the bike. Mostly because the majority of the images I saw of the riders were either through a camera angle on a bike during a race with their helmets, sunglasses and matching kits or in official team photo shoots where they all stood in the same position.

That is why I prefer conveying either the feeling and atmosphere of the race, or up close portraits of the riders. There are plenty of sports photographers who capture the race in action or the finish line photos. But for those fans at home - I like to share images from before or after the race. 

Images from Stage 13 - 2012 Tour de France. All photos by Karen at PedalDancer®

FDJ Lapierre bikes

RSNT Trek bikes

Astana Specialized bikes

SaxoBank Specialized bikes

Bjarne Riis

Confidis staff supplies in a support car

Jerome Pineau

It goes round, but it is not round

Norwegian fans

Bradley Wiggin's bike

Fans waiting with Bicyling.com's James Startt outside the Team Sky bus for Bradley Wiggins

Berhnard Eisel's bike does not look ready to go

Sylvain Chavanel (Fra)

Johan Vansummeren (Bel)

She is the one we all watch hanging off the back of the time keepers moto

Kristijan Koren (Slo) and Daniel Oss (Ita) of Liquigas

Chris Horner (USA)

Steven Kruijswijk (Ned)

Popo

Team Argos Shimano preparing to head to the start line

Tom Veelers (Ned)

Simon Gerrans (Aus)

Jim Ochowicz (BMC team manager)

Cadel Evans and fans

George Hincapie's legs

Team Orica-GreenEDGE offering interviews pre-race

the team cars head out

A determined Thomas Voeckler heads to the start line