I was very impressed by how French it was, having got to Saumur via a Formula 1 hotel near Calais and the outskirts of Rouen and Le Mans, you can start to feel that you are part of an interchangeable assembly of Motorways and giant sheds. To be part of the highly organised volunteer structure of French cycling was a real eye-opener, it certainly showed me how PBP gets done so well. I'd recommend the Sem Fed to anyone considering PBP as it provides a degree of cultural immersion which makes PBP less bewildering. The high point of my week was tasting Saumur wines in a ride-in 'Cave' while discussing the different experiences of Admiral Gensoul at Mers-El-Kebir and Admiral Godfroy at Alexandria in July 1940. The only problem for fixed would have been some narrow and poorly surfaced 'cotes' up from the river Loire. Next year the Sem Fed is in the Nord/Pas de Calais so there will be the same sort of terrain, with less wine but more beer.
Damon.
