This presentation, in my opinion, really sucked. More waiting time and less presentation of any kind. What were the TV producers thinking? I admired the multi-language ability of the MC's but completely wasted because of the format.
The following pictures were taken by me (copyright notice) and the movie was also shot by me.
I was on a second row and there was a really tall Dutch guy (2 meters at least, no exaggeration) in front of me. I beat him by using my trusting mini step ladder, whose very usefulness I learned from my master (who also introduced me to a radio scanner, among others). And it shows. I could shoot pictures without any obstructions.
By the time the team presentation, or what was meant to be so, started, the place was packed. I had the bird's view here.
The first team was Team HTC-Columbia, followed by FDJ, Footon-Servetto, Lampre-Farmese Vini, Caisse D'Epargne, Quick Step, Euskaltel-Euskadi, AG2R-La Mondiale, Team Katusha, Omega Pharma-Lotto, Cervelo Test Team, Liquigas-Doimo, BBox Bouygues Telecom, Team Milram, Garmin-Transitions, BMC Racing Team, Rabobank, Cofidis, Sky Cycling Team, Team Radioshack, Team Saxo Bank and Astana.
Here is Team HTC-Columbia (USA) with 118 Michael Rogers (AUS), 111 Mark Cavendish (GBR), 112 Bernhard Eisel (AUT), 113 Bert Grabsch (GER), 114 Adam Hansen (AUS), 115 Tony Martin (GER), 116 Maxime Monfort (BEL), 117 Mark Renshaw (AUS) and 119 Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR).
La Française Des Jeux (France) with 62 Sandy Casar, 63 Rémy Di Gregorio, 64 Anthony Geslin, 65 Matthieu Ladagnous, 61 Christophe Le Mével, 66 Anthony Roux, 67 Jérémy Roy, 68 Wesley Sulzberger (AUS), 69 Benoît Vaugrenard.
Footon-Servette (ESP) was presented with;
211 Eros Capecchi (ITA), 212 Jose Alberto Benitez, 213 Manuel Cardodo (POR), 214 Arkaitz Duran, 215 Markus Eibegger (AUT), 216 Fabio Felline (ITA), 217 Iban Mayoz, 218 Aitor Pérez and 219 Rafael Valls.
I am sorry to say that I did not recognize most of them.
Lampre-Farnese Vini (ITA) consisted with 201 Damiano Cunego, 202 Grega Bole (SLO), 203 Maruo Da Dalto, 204 Francesco Gavazzi, 205 Danilo Hondo (GER), 206 Mirco Lorenzetto, 207 Adriano Malori, 208 Alessandro Petacchi, 209 Simon Spilak (SLO). I did not know Danilo Hondo too well. Of course I knew of him at that time when he was with Team Gerolsteiner. He proved to be very friendly guy when he came to us on Champs Elysee to give out his autograph.
Here Alessandro is being interviewed.
