On Sunday the Tour’s 15th stage ran from Laissac-Sévérac l’Église to Le Puy-en-Velay, the Haute-Loire town famous for its lentils and lace-making. Based in Puy, Alicia was able to photograph the final category 1 climb of Col de Peyra Taillade while soaking up the atmosphere of the town.

Spectators on the side of the road near the Col de Peyra Taillade. Below: messages on the road and at the roadside.



Monday was a rest day for the riders, which gave Alicia a chance to catch up with people relaxing and getting ready for Tuesday’s 165km (102-mile) stage from Le Puy-en-Velay back out into the mountains and across to Romans-sur-Isère.

Spectators play football as they wait for the Tour to pass near Col de Peyra Taillade.



Up the hill

Stage 15 finishes in Le Puy-en-Velay after a hilly ride through the Massif Central ending in the category 1 climb of Col de Peyra Taillade, which is 8.3km long and reaches an elevation of 1,190 metres. The caravans arrive before the peloton, throwing out gifts to the crowd.

The caravans arrive throwing out gifts to the crowd near Col de Peyra Taillade.



The climbs are popular with spectators not just for the views but for the chance to see close up the riders tackle the tough section of the stage.

Locals wait for the riders to pass by near Col de Peyra Taillade



By the time the riders reached the climb they have already ridden 158km. The peloton split into several groups meaning fans get several chances to see the riders come past. British rider Chris Froome, a three-time winner of the Tour de France, retained the yellow jersey despite a broken back wheel and a chase to get back to the peloton.

The peloton passes just before the Col de Peyra Taillade.



The stage was won by Bauke Mollema who managed to stay away from the peloton to claim his first stage victory.

Attendez le Tour

At the river in Prades there is a beach which is popular with local holidaymakers. Half the fun of going to see the Tour is the waiting for the race to come and go. Alica chatted to those turning cycling into a vacation.

Tom and Bernardine Beckers, with their children Florina, 6 and Sebastian, 4 from the Netherlands.



Bernardine Beckers: “We come here every year for a holiday, and we’re happy that the Tour is going to be passing by. I’ve only ever seen it on the television before, Tom watches it all the time so it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see it for real. The children are excited about it.”

French spectators play the card game la Bataille inside their camper.



Pierre Yves and Evelyne Poilvert with their grandchildren Noa Youzan, 5, and Yael Michelet, 5, from Côtes-d’Armor. The family are parked up in camper vans on the side of the road, where the Tour will pass. They are on holiday together for 15 days and will head to the alps after watching the race in Le Puy-en-Velay.

Roadside rummy while spectators’ camper vans are parked up on the side of the road near Col de Peyra Taillade.



We drove all the way from the UK, we came down over ​3 days, it’ll be a 2,500-mile trip by the time we’re done Mick

Michelle McKenzie, 54 and Mick Browne, 59 from Leyland in Lancashire.



Michelle McKenzie says; “Probably more people are into cycling these days. There’s so many people though, it’s unreal.”

Mick Browne says; “I’ve seen the tour five times in total since in the late eighties and early nineties. It’s changed massively. The amount of people here has increased. We’re looking forward to seeing Chris Froome but we like some of the continentals too, Bardet, Dan Martin.”

Richard and Sarah Tregear with their children Emily, 5 and Oliver, 9 from Cowbridge in south Wales.



We get loads of hats from the caravans and last time they chucked out team jerseys, we got one but it only fitted daddy Oli

I hope to see the caravans, because they spray water. I want Chris Froome to win. I stood on the road saying; ‘​​Allez allez allez' Emily

Emily and Oliver on their bikes, a cowbell Tour souvenir.



The Treagar family are on a 16-day holiday in the south of France. They have driven from south Wales, and are parked up in a camper van on the side of the road near the final hill before the decent into Le Puy-en-Velay.

Sarah: “We literally were out on a cycle ride and I said what do you want to do for your 40th and he said: ‘Tour de France’ and that was it, we planned everything, hired a motor home, came down. We’re more prepared this year, it’s simple things.”



Richard “I love cycling, I always watch it on TV in the summer, so it’s nice to see it in the flesh.”





Rest day

Monday was one of only two rest days during the three-week, 3,540km race. Place du Martouret in front of the town hall in Le Puy-en-Vela is filled with people enjoying the entertainment.

Alicia met some of the market stall holders and caught up with the entertainers: Les Freres Jacquard from Cévennes restored their old caravan and have made it into their stage.

People enjoy the entertainment from Les Freres Jacquard at Place du Martouret.



People enjoy the entertainment from the band Orkestar Kemi Asanov at Place du Martouret.

We’re normally closed Monday, but I’m opening as it’s a rest day. We’ll be up at 4am, to start making our cakes tomorrow Veronique Savelon

Veronique Savelon, 52, and Morgan Rudelle, 24, inside Le Cyrano, a patisserie in Le Puy-en-Velay.



I come from the region, this is a special market for the rest day. I brought 84 cheeses with me, the usual amount I sell Guylaine Vigouroux

Meet the fans

Fans of the Tour travel from far and wide to enjoy the atmosphere and the racing. Alicia spoke to quite a few. Christoph came with his teenage son Joeri and his father, Rene, from Essen in Belgium.

It’s father and son stuff, we’re three generations together in a tent Christoph

Christoph says; “This is our 6th tour de france, every time we come we make a new sign. This is our sign, Essen greets Styby - that’s Czech rider Zdeněk Štybar’s nickname. We like the circus of the Tour.”

Christoph and Rene from Essen, Belgium.



Christoph: “This is Fons our mascot, I take pictures of him all the time especially with dogs. We’re dog lovers. We post them on Twitter. It’s his first year at the tour. He’s been adopted by my class, I’m a teacher. I told my class he was going on holiday and in September they can see his adventures.”

Joeri: “My favourite thing about coming here is to support the cyclists and see all the other people supporting the cyclists and the atmosphere. And the mountains are very nice.”

Toby Clark, 59, Victoria Clark, 50, from Eltham, London.



Toby: “This is our second Tour, we last came in 2011. It was a sprint finish, it was better to see it like this. There’s a huge party atmosphere, almost like a carnival. We’re big cycling fans.”

Victoria: “We saw Chris Froome today, he was surrounded by his Sky team-mates. I was shouting: ‘Come on Chris’.”

Toby: “I shouted: ‘Allez allez!’ Chris Froome’s the man!”

Haakon Vestmo: “We drove through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Lichenstein, Austria and France in a car to get here. I have a Nissan from 1993, I don’t think we’re coming home in that car. We’re staying in a tent, the trip has been without problem, nice girls and drinking. We love cycling … the commentator Dag Otto says on TV he stops every Norwegian and says hi. We hope he stops and says hi.”

A man dressed as the devil (NB Not ‘El Diablo’ who is seen most years across the whole race). Some fans like to bring their bikes.



French spectators Victor (right) and friends from Le Puy watch the tour from the hills near Col de Peyra Taillade.



Victor: “I’m born in Le Puy-en-Velay, we came here at 8am to get our spot. We’ve seen the tour here twice. I’m a cycling fan. My favourite rider is Romain Bardet because he’s born in Brioude, about 40 minutes from here, he’s good at the hills. We chose this spot because we think the riders will be very slow to pass here.”

Anita and Soren Hansen, 54, from Roskilde, Denmark.



My tips for people who want to camp are: food, water, gas, electricity and an empty toilet​!​. Soren

Soren: “This is our forth time at the Tour. We’re supporting Lars Bak and Michael Valgren from Denmark. Our favourite was Jakob Fuglsang but he’s out. We come back because we love the atmosphere and freedom, to be together with all these people and watch the caravan, it’s very funny.”

Anita: “And to talk with people from other countries.”

Soren: “We have this banner up so our friends can see when it shows on the TV in Denmark. We are going to watch stage 17 in La Mure after this and find another place to watch the tour go by, the same as we’re doing here.”

Rollout

As stage 16 gets underway, Froome is wearing the yellow jersey as overall leader. Stage 16 was a 165km ride to Romans-sur-Isère where riders encountered some interesting crosswinds and a sprint finish.

The crowds line the street behind metal barriers as the tour moves out.



The crowd wait for the caravans as entertainers give out gifts to the crowd.



Romain Bardet fans seen at the start of stage 16 in Le Puy-en-Velay: Yoanna Reynaldo, 31, left, and Nicolas Loison, 30, both from Le Puy.



Nicolas Loison: “We arrived to watch the tour depart at 10am, we saw Romain Bardet, he was going very fast. He’s a very good boy. He’s a child of the area so he’s very popular. It’s very important for us to support Bardet and the beautiful city of Le Puy. I’m so proud for my city and Romain Bardet.”