Montreal Grand Prix Cycliste

Today was the Montreal leg of the Grand Prix Cycliste with some of the best racers in the world cycling 205 km around the Mont-Royal. The race is in my backyard so to speak and for the second year I have tried to go encourage them, though being sick I could not stay more than 3 turns (there are 18 minutes between each pass). I managed to find a spot on the curb behind a ciment flower pot. I sat down to take a photograph close to the ground. It was really exciting but I only found out after the fact that I was a bit too close for comfort. I was inches away from some cyclists it looks like on some of the shots. If there had been a collision, it would have been bad for me too. The security people never said anything to me. Strangely, I did not realise it as I was photographing but it sank in afterword. I guess it makes me understand the adrenaline of the photojournalists who will go to great length to get pictures though in much more dangerous situations.

I did also just clap at them as they passed later, it is so exciting. They are amazing athletes. Rui Faria Da Costa of Portugal won the race. And yes, I do have a picture of him when he was in the middle of the pack. But I prefered this one. http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Costa+wins+Grand+Prix+Cycliste+Montreal/5385602/story.html