Last time I went to the ACP presentation, which takes place this weekend. The big changes last time were the starts, especially the free starts. The intermediate control between Loudeac and Carhaix, and the Brest control.
The big difference socially was the lack of the campsite, which functioned as a centre. That was compensated for by the bar and the concert on the roundabout. I'm interested to know what impact the use of the velodrome has had on the relationship with the local authority, as they provided that entertainment.
The ride through Brest, and also through Fougeres, past the castle, were good ideas. But I'm not sure they worked. The signs on the route in Brest tended to indicate an enhanced relationship with the city council.
The trend in participation has been towards internationalisation. I think the biggest change this time will be from more participation from expats working in major centres. At LEL, one of the Singapore riders was from South Africa. I'll be expecting to see more of that, especially from London.
I'm uncertain whether there's any place for filming PBP, the space between the official, and included, DVD and the abundant GoPro footage is ever more specialised. We'll probably do it, as Heather likes the event, and Dave likes the photo opportunities. I've been keeping an eye on camera developments, and there are some promising ones. With our knowledge of the event there may be a market for very high quality footage from unusual standpoints for inclusion in other projects.