During the 19th stage of the Tour de France, which took the riders over the roof of the Tour on Friday 19 July with the Col de la Bonette, Hotel Saint Roch organised a special lunch along the route just outside Embrun, where the start of this queen stage was.

The guests cycled along a beautiful shortcut to the designated lunch point, which was in a sharp hairpin bend along the route with perfect views of the peloton. Also Le Patron was there and handed out special Tour socks to all attendees. Thus, the cycling fans stood along the course dressed up to watch the cycling spectacle.

As the polka dot jersey cake was cut, we could already see the Tour caravan approaching in the distance. With mouthfuls of cake, children rushed to the road to score their tour goodies.

When calm had returned, the buffet was opened. The barbecue lunch had been prepared by the kitchen team of the Hotel Saint Roch and consisted of richly filled salads and colourful sandwiches. The guests enjoyed their meal and while a few were serving for the second time, the sound of helicopters betrayed the approaching platoon.

Shortly after the start in Embrun, a breakaway and a leading group of around 20 men emerged, including Wilco Kelderman of Jumbo-Visma. Once again they rushed to the roadside to get the perfect view of the tour. 'Come on Wilco,' was shouted as the early breakaway flew by. About two minutes later, the rest of the peloton followed, including yellow jersey rider Tadej Pogačar and his closest pursuer Jonas Vingegaard.

Immediately after the peloton raced past, the team leaders' cars followed, of which the Alpecin-Deceuninck car stopped for a moment. Because Mathieu van der Poel's team leaders had also noticed the well-prepared lunch and they subtly stopped their car full of bikes next to the buffet. In exchange for a water bottle, they were given a sandwich to take along the way, because with the Col de Vars and Col de la Bonette ahead, the stage was still long. And how did that water bottle turn out? You can read here.

The stage was later won by Tadej Pogačar, who overtook, among others, the escaped Wilco Kelderman a few kilometres before the finish. Do you also want such an unforgettable Tour experience next time? Then keep an eye on our channels, because next year too, the cycling spectacle is likely to pass through the southern French Alps again.