“Before Kent and I left on our Trek Travel Tour de France bike tour, I had coworkers ask me if I was traveling for fun or if I was riding my bike. For us, it is one and the same. Riding my bike on the same roads that the pros would be riding was to be the vacation of a lifetime.

Our trip was a total of six days, five of which were spent riding through the breathtaking (literally and figuratively) French Alps. During those five days, most of us would climb a total of 30,000 feet over 184 miles. It was fantastic to know what the racers were experiencing when I watched them climb the 22 km up the Col du Glandon! I knew firsthand the difficulty of the last 2.5 km, which averages around 11% grade, of the Col de la Morte. Trek Travel set up a viewing of Stage 19 with an open bar and buffet, and I watched as the peloton rolled down the Col de la Croix de Fer and knew, from my own ride down that same road, how spectacular the views were.

On day number five, our group rode up Alpe d’Huez two hours prior to the actual peloton. The 21 switchbacks were jam-packed with Tour lovers from all over the globe. Each switchback seemed to have been taken over by a different country, the biggest and craziest of them all being switchback #7 where we were greeted by a sea of orange as, I believe, all of Holland had camped out and were eagerly awaiting the riders. My favorite part of that ride to the top of Alpe d’Huez is when our guide Jonathan’s playlist turned to “Living on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. It seemed to transcend language barriers, as everyone within earshot took up the chorus: “Ohh you’re halfway there. Ohhh living on a prayer!” Together, our group rolled across the actual finish line, and the people along the barriers cheered as if we were truly part of the Tour. I had a grin on my face that reached from ear to ear.

That night we got to meet one of the iconic figures of the cycling world. The man who coined the well-known (and while I was climbing, often repeated) phrase, “Shut up legs”: Jens Voigt. On TV he comes across as direct with a dry sense of humor, and that is exactly how he is in person. Jens spent an hour with the group, answering questions, taking pictures, and signing autographs. There were three teams staying at our hotel, and I had already snagged a picture with Andrew Talansky and Ryder Hesjedal and photo bombed Tony Gallopin. Some of the group had noticed André Greipel, aka The Gorilla, sitting in the bar. I convinced Jens to help me get a picture with him, seeing as how they are both German. Afterwards, Jens stayed behind to chat with Greipel and take selfies with him and his Lotto teammates while I immediately posted my prized picture to Facebook.

The sixth and last day of our adventure found us hustling off the mountain and on to Grenoble, where we boarded a train that would take us to Paris and to the final stage of the Tour de France. Trek had reserved the illustrious Automobile Club de France, which is located on the course about 500 meters from the finish. I felt a tad bit guilty as throngs of onlookers crowded behind barricades, while we sipped our drinks inches away from where the peloton was finishing the last stage. The most exciting moment came on the last lap as the sprinters flew past trying to get set up for that final push. After they passed where we were standing, we turned to where we could see the giant screen and got to watch as ‘The Gorilla’ won the most prestigious finale in cycling on the Champs-Élysées.

We finished the night and our Tour de France trip with a toast to our amazing guides and the experiences we would never have had without their help.”

Written by Marla Briley, Trek Travel guest.

In the years since her first assignment at the 2011 Tour of California, Emily Maye has made a name for herself photographing the pain and glory of professional cycling. By capturing the drama of a race and the faces behind the scenes she brings the sport to life, telling a timeless story that cannot be seen on television.
 

Tell us your story. What inspired you to pursue a career in photography?

I have been interested in storytelling as long as I can remember. I grew up in my mother’s ballet school in Santa Barbara and spent my whole childhood involved in ballet. At around 13, I fell in love with cinema and ultimately I went to USC Film School & Colombia University to study film and screenwriting. Photography was something I gravitated towards to tell visual stories and in time that became my primary focus. I love every part of the process and I am really happy with where I ended up.

What is the most rewarding part about your job?

I love photographing people and I find that the most rewarding. It’s a real challenge to capture something authentic in people and bring that out in a photograph. I gravitate towards the quieter moments and it’s so satisfying when you can capture something that may not have been obvious at first glance. I also like that in my job photographing the Trek Factory Racing Team, I get to react to a lot of different environments and race situations.
 
 

 
 

 
 
What is the most challenging aspect of photographing world-class athletes?

It is wonderful to photograph people that are at the top of their field. They perform with intensity and have the proper form and movement that makes my job much easier. The travel has been the most challenging part for me personally. It’s a lot of days away from home and in hotels. Everyone on the Trek Factory Racing Team is very comfortable with my presence so they make my job easier in that way. It’s been three seasons now with this team and no one is surprised to find me in a corner somewhere taking photos of them.

Tell us about your most unexpectedly adventurous day of work.

I think Tim Vanderjeugd alluded to it in his interview, but we went to Colombia for 48 hours as part of the new Behind The Stripes series that we did this year. We didn’t find out we were going to get to go until right before and all of the sudden we were in Colombia (I had never been to South America) and starting a project that we weren’t even sure how we would shape at that time. Everything I saw there was an adventure. I wish I could have stayed much longer!
 
 

 
 

 
 
What tips can you give our readers who are interested in improving their travel photography?

Look for nice light! There is no better way to show your friends and family the beautiful places you have been than through nice light. I also suggest trying to find things that resonate with you in the way that they reveal the tone and culture of place beyond just the famous monuments. Try to convey the sounds and smells, not just the sight.

Do you have a personal favorite photograph that you can share with our readers?

There’s a photo of Fabian from last year on the bus with his headphones on and it was the morning he ended up winning Flanders. I really love that photo because it feels like a calm stolen moment. You don’t really imagine that I am there taking the photo in that picture and to me that is when I have done my job most successfully. But it’s really hard to pick just one. It’s been an amazing adventure to spend that much time inside of the team these past three years.
 
 

 
 
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Fenway Park. Wimbledon. Augusta National. Churchill Downs. The time honored traditions held at these iconic venues are some of the most famous in sport. And not to be left off this list is cycling’s biggest stadium: Alpe d’Huez. It may not be the longest or the steepest climb to be featured in the Tour de France, but it demands a respect unlike any other.

For amateurs, the 21 switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez are a rite of passage. Times earned on the Alpe are cycling’s ultimate bragging right and merely cresting the summit is a badge of honor worn by few. For pros, the 13.8 kilometers hold more history, hype and hurt than any other stretch of pavement. Each hairpin bears the name of a former winner and every ascent brings the opportunity for a new champion to write his name in the history books.

Since its first appearance in the 1952 Tour de France, the winding road from Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez has earned a higher level of fame and notoriety than any other featured assent. Sure, it’s the challenge that etches this climb permanently into the minds of those who have slayed it. But what exactly distinguishes this widely acclaimed road and earns it a spot atop our list of the most famous stadiums in sport?

1. The History
In 1952 Fausto Coppi attacked 6 kilometers from the top, leaving behind his breakaway compatriots and taking the first ever stage win on Alpe d’Huez. A 1986 battle for the yellow jersey between teammates Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault was one for the ages. Le Tour’s 100th anniversary in 2013 was celebrated with a double ascent that tested the pain tolerance of even the strongest pros. And this year’s suspenseful showdown between Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome was the pinnacle of a fierce three-week rivalry. History has a way of repeating itself as year after year the 21 switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez host the most memorable breakaways, showdowns and attacks of our favorite Grand Tour.

2. The Dutch Corner
This sea of orange signifies the most boisterous party at le Tour. Be sure to grab a beer for the road as there are still seven switchbacks left to conquer.

3. The Views
Yes, the exposure of these 21 switchbacks means you may bake in the sun on a blue sky day. But the views will distract you from the pain.

4. The Road Paint
After enduring the relentless 8.1% average gradient turn after turn, this marker is a beckon of hope providing a light at the end of the sufferfest.

5. The Finish Line
The Tour is won on the Alpe. Although you may not beat the fastest time set by Marco Pantani in 1997 (37 minutes and 35 seconds), the finish line on Alpe d’Huez provides a welcome relief and unrivaled sense of accomplishment. It’s a moment for pros and amateurs alike to zip up the jersey, raise their arms and win with style.