Price: £20,695
MPG: 53.3
Top speed: 124mph
It may be the world's biggest bike race, but at this summer's Tour de France the spotlight fell on the hundreds of cars that made up the convoy – there were 240 Skodas alone – and in particular on one vehicle. Car No 800 is now infamous as the vehicle that attempted to drive past the day's escape on the stage to Saint Flour in the Auvergne. It would have been a classic piece of French overtaking had a tree not got in the way. The driver swerved to avoid it, colliding with Team Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha. He hit the tarmac at 30mph and the Dutchman Johnny Hoogerland flew over him and into a barbed-wire fence. The incident provided the enduring image of the race – not something the organisers were thrilled about. Johnny needed 33 stitches in his legs, but he was fortunate, given that the potential consequences were unthinkable.
The convoy of the Tour, a kaleidoscopic chaos of cars and bikes, egos, adrenaline and crisply barked orders on short-wave radio, is the last place you really want to drive. I tried it once, nearly 20 years ago, and it was terrifying. By sheer bad luck, it was on the fastest-ever stage, run off at well over 30mph for 100 miles, and behind the main peloton were numerous groups of cyclists strung across the road to combat a ferocious crosswind. I ended up overtaking the groups one by one. Time after time they'd leave a handy gap, then immediately change direction and close it, cursing – not unreasonably – at any car that might be trying to get through. We survived, and so did they, with no near misses to remember. That's because the whole exercise was one big near miss. I stopped shaking some time later that evening and I've never been back under my own steam.
Driving en course harks back to the halcyon postwar days of Tour journalism, when bearded French intellectuals would take a few weeks off from discussing Sartre in Left Bank cafés and drive around close to the back of the peloton in open-top 2CVs, swapping quips with Jacques Anquetil and Louison Bobet, and attempting to chat up accordion-playing beauties, all in the quest for "colour".
But driving with the Tour now looks set for extinction. That's the only conclusion that could be drawn from the mayhem of this year's race. Whatever happens, the bedlam en course would have been no place for the new Ford Mondeo, the Observer's home from home for four weeks on this year's Tour. The Mondeo is everything you'd expect from a modernday eco-efficient diesel: lively enough when pushed, parsimoniously economical when not – thanks in part to a super responsive six-speed gearbox. It was as at home on an autoroute as an Alpine pass.
It's an easy drive once you get used to the fact that you don't have an ignition key but a power button – standard on the Titanium version. But it never felt as if it was asking for greater challenges than rolling happily along without pressure. Parking cameras, heated seats and even a misfuelling inhibitor to prevent you putting in petrol rather than diesel: this is a car that does a lot of thinking for you. A four-wheeled comfort zone, but none the worse for that. En course is not a comfort zone, and is best steered clear of.
Bikes at Brooklands
British cycle racing comes back to its spiritual home today as Brooklands Museum stages its annual Cycle Festival. Included in the family-friendly action will be penny farthing races on the circuit, ascents of the challenging Test Hill by cycles, Sinclair C5 electric trikes and a "Scootathon" for the younger visitors.
Very soon after its completion in June 1907, the motor racing circuit at Brooklands was recognised for its potential as an unobstructed – and legal – venue for cycle racing: at the time, organised cycle racing was banned on the public highway. So, on 8 September of that year the very first British massed-start cycle race took place with around 60 Club and non-Club riders from all over the country competing in The Weekly Despatch 100-Mile Cycle Race.
Among the many clubs and societies taking part in this year's celebration of the past, present and future of cycling will be the Veteran Cycle Club, whose riders in period costume will be bringing examples of early machines such as velocipedes, boneshakers and penny farthings. Joining them will be a host of modern-day equivalents from Raleigh Choppers to the latest lightweight racers which will provide a startling contrast to their Victorian ancestors.
At 11am, there will be a children's Scootathon. Any child wishing to take part will gain free entry* to the event provided they bring along their own Scooter and safety helmet.
If this wasn't enough there will be a cycle jumble held throughout the day for those elusive spare parts and cycling memorabilia, and the extensive Raleigh Cycle Exhibition - which is a permanent fixture at the Museum – will be open as usual.
As on every event day at Brooklands, the Motoring Village, Aircraft Park, London Bus Museum, Sunbeam Café, soft-play area and Museum Shop will all be open, making the usual admission price even better value for money. And, for a small supplement, the excellent Concorde Experience is a virtual must-see that lifts the lid on supersonic travel: booking on arrival for this attraction is recommended as demand will be high on this special day.
Admission prices for the Museum are: Adults £10, Seniors £9, Children (5-16 yrs) £5.50, Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) £27. The 'Concorde Experience' is £4 for adults and £2 for children and is advisable to be booked on arrival to avoid disappointment. The main visitor entrance for the Museum is via Mercedes-Benz World, on Brooklands Drive off Wellington Way between Weybridge and Byfleet (brooklandsmuseum.com)
