Looping the loop on the Big Loop

For a prestigious and formal ceremony at its historical base in Salon-de-Provence, the Patrouille de France invited ministers, celebrities and lovers of aeronautics in droves to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its creation. A show lasting almost three hours, broadcast live on French TV channel France 2, was put on in close collaboration with other aerobatics squadrons from all over the world. To open proceedings, the French Alpha Jets crossed jet streams with the Red Arrows from the British Royal Air Force in the skies of southern France, taking a head-start on the Tour de France, which, in its own special way, is planning a partnership with England, since the Grand Start of the 2014 edition will take place in Leeds, in Yorkshire. This year however, the acrobats on two wheels have Corsica in their sights with the Tour de France and it was precisely this event which Christian Prudhomme came to formalise, because on the 100th edition of Le Tour, the Patrouille de France has obtained a starring role: in Porto-Vecchio, the aerobatics specialists will be wishing the riders a good tour on 29th June with a unique show, before reacquainting with the pack on 21st July when the Yellow Jersey enters Paris. With such lofty partners, the riders on Le Tour 2013 will be intent on hitting the heights!