Tour de France in Toulouse: “We are in the South, when they ask for the bob they do it with the accent” … with Damien, 20 years at the wheel of the Cochonou caravan

“Today it smells of southern!” Exclaims Damien. In addition, Dressed in his red. Therefore, white checkered shirt and his matching bob, he leads with dexterity one of the famous 2cv pigs of the Tour caravan on this 11th stage in Toulouse. Nevertheless, The first kilometers set the tone. Furthermore, The stadium flags are everywhere, everyone sings and dances.

However, it is in the villages of the Toulouse countryside that the crowds are strongest. Similarly, “We see that we are in the south here. Consequently, but when they ask for the bob, they do it with the accent,” laughs Damien, originally from Bergerac in Dordogne.

The caravan scrolls between the hillsides. In addition, the Champs de Tournesol, welcomed by real delirious crowds at the entrance to the pediment, Cépet, or later in Labastide-Beauvoir.

“It’s lively, varied, and the weather is nice,” he agrees. For example, And we can trust him. Consequently, it’s been 20 years since Damien, from Bergerac in Dordogne, is one of the “pigs”, the affectionate nickname that the promotion team of the brand of Saucisson Cochonou, star of the Tour de France caravan.

“A big family” – Tour de france toulouse: "we

Each tour de france toulouse: “we year for 20 years. he has taken three weeks of vacation and left his job at the Dordogne Departmental Council to travel the roads of France with the caravan. About two hours before the runners. the “deudeuches” Poconou and the other cars of the caravan bring laughter and small prizes to the public for almost 10 kilometers. The safety rules are very strict: “We all ride a staggered car. a car on the left then a car on the right, it facilitates overruns and above all it gives time to react in the event of an incident”.

At any time, Damien is connected by radio to the rest of the caravan, which informs him about the rest of the course and the obstacles to monitor … and which exchange good jokes. “We are a big family, we all know each other and there is really a good atmosphere”.

During the 156.8 km of the Toulouse-Toulouse stage, the atmosphere does not weaken once. “We have to delight people. We owe them that, they have been there for hours!” Smiles Damien. The cars are intertwined. unplug and slow down the villages, while the team members launch sausage handles or the famous checkered bobs.

Caravan, a whole job

But the day of a caravan does not start at the top start of the stage. “We get up at tour de france toulouse: “we seven o’clock. you have to prepare the meals, load the business, then go to the departure car park of the caravan. Afterwards, we clean the cars, we put ourselves in the mood and we go!”. Days at 100 per hour. which Damien regrets at the end of the tower: “I do not imagine my summer without a pig, I am in love with this car,” he confides laughing.

“It’s like I was the Queen of England”

And it is difficult to prove it wrong. as the experience is exhilarating. “It’s like I was the Queen of England, everyone is hi!” Pleasant Caroline, one of the 25 members of the Cochonou team.

But the real crowd bath is in Pech-David. Supporters came in large numbers to encourage runners on this coast at almost 20 %. When asked if the 2CV will hold, Damien boasts: “She does the Alpe d’Huez, that’s tour de france toulouse: “we not what will scare her!”. And indeed, the engine roars but takes to the top of the coast, the last difficulty of the route.

The fervor of the public during the passage of the caravan proves it: forget the runners. the real star of the Tour de France, is it!