TdF Tourmakers.....any here

Dangermouse64

I applied last year and have just passed the police check and been accepted, I don't know which stage(s) yet, but I am chuffed to be a part of it, even a small part, did anyone else apply and get through?

MaxwellBygraves

Yeah I got my email through yesterday. Should be stage 3.

Dangermouse64

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

Yeah I got my email through yesterday. Should be stage 3.

Both me and the missus are doing 1 and 2...........cant wait, we used to marshal the UCI World cup weekends at Dalby so a road event will be an eye opener

xscreamsuk

another here,

Dangermouse64

xscreamsuk wrote:

another here,

Which stage(s)

manglier

Got the acceptance email yesterday. Stage 1 or 2.

Jordanderve

Hi Guys & Girls, I received my confirmation yesterday too. I applied for the dignitary role for stages 1 & 2. What roles did everyone apply for? I'm very excited already!

Kendal Black Drop

thejaunce

I too received an email yesterday confirming Tourmaker acceptance I requested stage 3 as a supervisor, but unsure of role at present, apparently confirmed early April.

islwyn

Congratulations all - Good on you for applying as did a friend of mine - without you lot it wouldn't happen!

MaxwellBygraves

Jordanderve wrote:

Hi Guys & Girls, I received my confirmation yesterday too. I applied for the dignitary role for stages 1 & 2. What roles did everyone apply for? I'm very excited already!

I applied for the dignitary role on stage 3. How did you get on with the video interview? I thought it was weird, I'd never done one before and I felt daft, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Jordanderve

Yeah I felt it went ok (I presume I have the role as I put that down as my only choice?) but talking to yourself was strange to say the least.

It seems silly but not having eye contact with someone makes it very difficult to concentrate. Were you accepted too?

RideOnTime

Islwyn wrote:

Congratulations all - Good on you for applying as did a friend of mine - without you lot it wouldn't happen!

yes +1.

roypsb

Yes, got my confirmation email. Should be stage 3. Very pleased.

mpatts

I am in too - although they haven't confirmed what stage.

hjghg5

I'm in - applied for stages 1/2. Applied to wave flags to warn the riders of obstacles

southdownswolf

hjghg5 wrote:

I'm in - applied for stages 1/2. Applied to wave flags to warn the riders of obstacles

Scariest job of the lot, seeing the peloton coming towards you at 50kmph+, swerving at the last fraction of a second

lakesluddite

Congratulations on passing the selection process to be a Tour Maker Mr Dangermouse.

You have been allocated a point along the route of Stage 7, Epernay to Nancy.

justafan

Well my journey of being a tourmaker has gone totally tits up and frankly has left a very bitter after taste.

As many of you may know when applying we were asked why, and where, do you want to volunteer
I deliberately restricted my choice of volunteering to just one part and put Buttertubs pass, as I would be camping only a couple of miles away actually on the route and would have to walk. As part of my 100 words on why I wanted to a tourmaker, I mentioned how much that part of the world means to be. (I want my ashes spread on Kisdon Hill which overlooks Swalesdale) I was also asked how I would get to my allotted place, I said walking.
So I was overjoyed to be accepted as a tourmaker. I went ahead and booked and paid for my camping,Subsequently we were warned by the campsite/farmer that the roads will be closed from 2200 the night before.

2 week ago I was offered a place on the tour some 25 miles walk away from the campsite I'm staying! I phoned the organisers , and explained the situation. Only to be met with a pat responses that individual choices cannot be met. Today I've been offered a second and final chance to walk a mere 43 miles.

I feel totally deflated, gutted, angry, and wondered why I bothered spending so many hours. applying going through on line training, just to be treated as number. I can understand the sheer logistical complexities of the day but it was months ago I applied. If you say you can only walk to your allocated place then surely someone could filter those applications first.

Jordanderve

Totally agree, here is an email I sent to them ... "Dear Sirs

I must admit to being very disappointed today with the email I received. Since applying last August, I enrolled to do a Masters in Business course on a evening whilst working full time.

When the applications were submitted in January, I thought that I would still like to be involved regardless of my time constraints following my change in circumstances.

However, as a result of these constraints, I applied for a specific role which appealed to me. If competition for the role was strong, so be it and you obviously chose the candidates who you see fit. However, to be told that your application has been successful, to cancel other plans to celebrate the Tour with friends and family, was very satisfying.

To then discover, this late in the day, that not only has the role has not been awarded to you (Dignitary Manager) but furthermore, to be told that you are not even a supervisor, after attending an interview, being told you are successful, undertaking training and arranging to attend an event in Leeds on 24th May, is very poor to say the least.

If the process had to be this way, you should have asked the question of the applicants that if their preferred role is not awarded, would they consider an alternative role.

I would have preferred to have been declined at the application stage instead of getting this far down the process and changing my plans.

I sincerely hope that the Tour is successful but to be informed that I could be doing any role and effectively have no choice at this late stage is not acceptable and it's with disappointment that I feel the need to no longer be part of the process.

I feel let down by the team after the whole process originally appeared to be so professional and smooth.

Yours sincerely

Mr D Jordan"

justafan

Exactly Jordan,

My campsite is bang on the route, the only way in and out of the village is by the tour route. I researched the place and registered my interest with the owner well over a year ago.
They must have realised that folks are volunteering from several hundreds of miles away and would have to make accommodation arrangements well in advance.
A quick look at the tourmakes exclusive forum does show a few unhappy folk.

I just feel like a huge kick in the stomach. like being dumped by 9 out of 10 girlfriend.

mpatts

I drove 300 miles to the orientation event yesterday. It was really, really not worth the journey, and left me with a really uneasy feeling about the whole thing.

MaxwellBygraves

mpatts wrote:

left me with a really uneasy feeling about the whole thing.

It wasn't the most stimulating of days out but why did it leave you with an uneasy feeling?

The point of the Orientation day, from their point of view, is basically a way of weeding out those with less commitment. If they'll come and sit through a mediocre Orientation day then it's quite likely they'll turn up on race day. Boot out the ones that didn't turn up.

justafan

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

mpatts wrote:

left me with a really uneasy feeling about the whole thing.

It wasn't the most stimulating of days out but why did it leave you with an uneasy feeling?

The point of the Orientation day, from their point of view, is basically a way of weeding out those with less commitment. If they'll come and sit through a mediocre Orientation day then it's quite likely they'll turn up on race day. Boot out the ones that didn't turn up.

They told you that the whole point of the day was to weed out those less committed, did they?
Or is it just your supposition.
How do they then assess the replacements commitment, for those they have 'weeded' out?

MaxwellBygraves

justafan wrote:

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

mpatts wrote:

left me with a really uneasy feeling about the whole thing.

It wasn't the most stimulating of days out but why did it leave you with an uneasy feeling?

The point of the Orientation day, from their point of view, is basically a way of weeding out those with less commitment. If they'll come and sit through a mediocre Orientation day then it's quite likely they'll turn up on race day. Boot out the ones that didn't turn up.

They told you that the whole point of the day was to weed out those less committed, did they?
Or is it just your supposition.
How do they then assess the replacements commitment, for those they have 'weeded' out?

You're adding an element of insidiousness that just isn't there.

It's quite simple, if you're running an event as big as Le Tour, depending upon thousands of volunteers, they need to know that their volunteers will turn up on the day. By running compulsory orientation and role-specific training (which any replacements will have to attend) then those that are committed turn up and get the training, those that are less committed and thus less likely to turn up on the day don't.

mpatts

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

justafan wrote:

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

mpatts wrote:

left me with a really uneasy feeling about the whole thing.

It wasn't the most stimulating of days out but why did it leave you with an uneasy feeling?

The point of the Orientation day, from their point of view, is basically a way of weeding out those with less commitment. If they'll come and sit through a mediocre Orientation day then it's quite likely they'll turn up on race day. Boot out the ones that didn't turn up.

They told you that the whole point of the day was to weed out those less committed, did they?
Or is it just your supposition.
How do they then assess the replacements commitment, for those they have 'weeded' out?

You're adding an element of insidiousness that just isn't there.

It's quite simple, if you're running an event as big as Le Tour, depending upon thousands of volunteers, they need to know that their volunteers will turn up on the day. By running compulsory orientation and role-specific training (which any replacements will have to attend) then those that are committed turn up and get the training, those that are less committed and thus less likely to turn up on the day don't.

I agree that they are trying to ensure commitment to the cause. All I am saying is that I was generally disappointed by the event - you can't please everyone and I'm still in, but it felt a lot like a work conference.

typekitty

Agree that the orientation was a lot of fluff – I left when the singer came out – but I did feel valued as a volunteer and it was obvious that a lot of organisation has gone into this. Looking forward to the role-specific training, though still don't know what I've been given.