This post was contributed by Scott Chilberg.
The Tour de France is the epitome of summer. The athleticism, the captivating, pulse-raising excitement, the camaraderie and the competition, all framed by the soft French countryside with its quaint towns and vineyards, is the perfect celebration of the sun’s return. So there’s something terribly wrong about the fact that many of us, due to the unfortunate lack of summer vacation in the professional world, must watch the taped footage of this epic race indoors in the evening after work. 
This is precisely why the Bicycle Alliance, along with the International Sustainability Institute, the Metropolitan Improvement District, and a slew of neighborhood sponsors, are bringing the Tour de France outside, to the Nord Alley! As you may recall, the Nord Alley played host to the enormously successful alley watch parties for the World Cup 2010, and we’ve decided to bring them back for all you bike fans out there. We’ll be hosting viewings of this action-packed race from 11:30am to 1:30pm every weekday (except July 4) that it’s running, and will even incorporate some prizes and daily deals from local Pioneer Square businesses.
You can find more information on the Tour d’Alley, including event dates and a full list of sponsors, at the Alley Network Project’s websiteor on the Facebook page. Whether you’re a devoted fan or a casual observer, the Tour de France has something to offer everyone, so bring your lunch and come watch with us!
