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Belinda Sinclair- Tour de Fance photographer fatale

We have been blessed to have some of Belinda's talents turned to AnaNichoola, and now Alex catches up with her to find out about the part of her job we are most jealous of...

1. You started off doing wedding photography, and then taking your camera with you to shoot family and friends at local bike races. How did you make the leap from that to following the Tour de France as a photographer?

I actually started professional photography accidentally whilst working at BBC radio. I used to go off and interview people that I got told to interview, and this was at the time when websites were really starting off so I’d take a couple of pictures to go with the words and they’d get used. Then people started asking me to take pictures for them – which is how the wedding stuff came into it – but it was never really my thing. Photojournalism was more me, and the sport stuff grew out of that. As well as cycling, I also used to shoot boxing, horseracing and football and sometimes cricket (which I liked because streakers would run onto the pitch, and I’d have a long lens ready just to get pictures for the girls back in the office) but then I began concentrating more on the bike stuff, and after a while, British Cycling saw some of my pictures, liked them, asked me if I’d do some work for them. Then the Tour de France came to London (2007) and BC asked me to work on that, which I did.

2. What is the photography vibe like there? Do you have to elbow your way to get the best shots and near to the famous riders?


Well, by the time the Tour de France came along, I’d already worked on things like the World Championships and various other big races both in the UK and in mainland Europe, so I had a bit of an idea of what was in store. But every event and every organizer is different - even when something is very familiar, the operating system is often different and that can make you feel totally lost. But you sort of have to take a deep breath and just get on with it, clocking other people doing things and then pretending you knew how to do it all along when it comes to your turn. The camera bit is OK of course – I know how to take pictures and move people about to where I want them, but when I first started doing stuff, I was very conscious (particularly in Europe) that I might be doing something that wasn’t the done thing or not doing something that was. But I’ve taught myself to use my age to my advantage and to do what I’m going to do like I have an absolute right to do it. To my delight (and often relief) I’ve discovered that if you do things with conviction, nobody bats an eyelid and you end up with something better than you’d anticipated. But sometimes it is a disadvantage being a woman because there aren’t that many of us on the tour and we’re easy to spot. The first year I did the Tour, I got removed from the photographers steps because everybody was pushing and shoving. It wasn’t me, but I knew that as soon as the gendarme looked at me, I knew I would get the blame. And I did, plus a backhander across the head and dragged out of the press area.

3. Are there many other female photographers? Would you say it was an advantage or a disadvantage being a woman?

No, only a handful but I don’t like to hang around the press area anyway. I’d rather be out taking pictures and chatting to people, and I think being a woman definitely helps there. People love jawing and I will always send them a picture. It sort of makes their day anyway and I’ve had some real laughs with people by doing just that.

4. Obviously we are all accustomed to seeing the lovely podium girls, but aside from that there is an impression that the TdF is fairly male dominated. How true is this and are there many other roles undertaken by women behind the scenes?

I’ve often wondered what the podium girls do when there’s no cycling and they’re not standing there looking plastic and pretending not to be freezing cold. But yes, it is generally men behind the scenes too, although some of the press officers are female. I’ve yet to see a female mechanic or soigneur though.

5. You travelled this year with your husband in your van, how does he feel about you going off to follow 190 athletic men around with a camera?!

My husband comes along as my driver which is great because it’s one less thing for me to do. After spending all day taking pictures, I have to edit and dispatch them, and then drive to the next place. So with him there, I can sit in the back and edit while he drives, which saves me a lot of time. I usually take a motorbike as well which goes in the back of the van, and it makes getting around a lot easier for me as I’ve learned the art of sneaking along alleyways and through gardens to get where I want to, so if there’s a hold up somewhere, I can still get to where I want to be without all the driving hassle. I’ve never asked him what he thinks about the men in lycra – I’m just glad he doesn’t wear it.

6. Do you have plans to do it again?

Yes, it’s just one of those things that is too spectacular to miss. It starts in Rotterdam next year and I’m toying with the idea of doing the whole thing on a motorbike . But I’ve got a whole year to think about it. I’m off to GP de Plouay later this month on my motorbike, and will probably do the same for the Tour Of Britain in September.


To ask Belinda to photograph your cycling event contact her at Belinda@lcc.org.uk