Mingling with the Royalty
Every day before we start a stage we have to 'sign on'. You ride down to the podium, park your bike and sign a large sheet, over your name and number. As I was climbing back down the stairs the Director of the race called me over and introduced me to someone standing beside him. It was none other than Prince Albert II, the ruler of my 'home country', Monaco.
We had a quick chat about the stage ahead and a few other things and he followed the entire stage in the lead car. It was pretty cool to be rubbing it with Royalty before the race! I asked if he wanted to change seats for the day, but he wasn't too keen!
It was another hard stage, up and down all day with two hard climbs near the end. The first climbs of the Tour always are difficult after nearly a week of racing on the flat roads.
Click here to read O'Grady's full diary entry.
