Le Tour Comes To Longdendale

The tour is coming to Yorkshire, however can that be?

Better hang out some bunting and learn to say 'Merci'

The cyclists arrived for Le Grand Depart

Taking all of us Northerners to their hearts

The Duke and Duchess, they came to us

Instead of Cambridge, caused a bit of a fuss

Jensie the oldest man in the race

Went solo through the Dales at a hell of a pace

Disappointment in Harrogate for our man Cav

As a sprinter it can be the luck you have

In the end 'twas all about Kittel

He collared le maillot jaune as well

It dawned bright in Glossop on the second day

Many worries about cars being towed away

Fears were fuelled of a total lockdown

Because the tour was coming close to town

People began to panic, a bit of a to-do

'Cos they might miss their Sunday out at B&Q

But many hiked and biked by various routes

To be enchanted by the rabbits and the fruit shoots

The crowd was captivated by the tour caravan

More 'Je ne sais quoi?' than 'Ca ne fait rien'

Standing by the roadside looking for quelque chose

Going polka dotty for caps and haribots

A multitude had assembled on iconic Holme Moss

But TV missed out Derbyshire, just didn't give a toss

And it wasn't the commentator's finest hour

In saying that the riders were descending to Ladybower

Thousands saw the peloton, a glistening mass

On its way back to Yorkshire up a packed Woodhead Pass

More climbs were to come including Ewden Bank

For that we had the organisers to thank

It took its toll on the riders and many were floored

Well before the denoument on Jenkin Road

The big boys all came out to play

And it was Nibali who excelled to win the day

It's all over now yet still savoured in the mind

Even though these shores have been left behind

They're already forsaking the tea for le vin

Daily they're losing their Yorkshire tan

As I ride up the valley, the yellow has gone

And yet the memories will still linger on

And in years to come, many will gladly tell their tale

About when Le Tour came to Longdendale