Stage 12 of 2025 Tour de France started in Auch yesterday, 17 July. The race continued from Auch south to the Pyrenees. Papa and I decided to watch from the village of Mirande. We arrived early and walked about the village, then found a spot I liked for taking photos. From 3 hours prior to the bikers arriving in Mirande, about 25 minutes by bike south of Auch, the roads were closed and there was a constant stream of officials and sponsor vehicles. At noon, there was a parade of sponsor vehicles, similar to floats, with sponsors throwing hats and food and other things from their vehicles. A young boy was on the street below us with a big box and the sponsors were throwing things directly into the box. They filled it up! By 1:15, helicopters appeared and then cars with bikes on top started streaming past, until 1:45 when gendarmes on motorcycles led the Tour de France peloton. It passed in seconds and there was a second peloton, and finally a lone rider, with official vehicles and motorcycles all around. The riders all passed within 2 minutes! Very exciting!
