The TDF do not classify this as a mountain stage, it is called a "hilly" day, but after 7.5 hours cycling and over 3,500m of climbing there may be a few of us ready to dispute that claim.. These 2 stages before the rest day in Morzine have been lingering on everyone's minds, as it really was going to be the first real taste of the mountains and some lengthy climbing. A brief look at the stage profile shows the progressively harder mountains before the finish
Total distance ridden: 175.5km
TOTAL (7 days) 1,424.63km
Cycling time: 7 hours 32
TOTAL: 56 hours 14 minutes
Elevation gain: 3,580 metres
Calories burned: 7,644
TOTAL 55,652
GARMIN data with MAP HERE
After yesterday's debacle with my bike, i spend the first 2 hours of the ride getting used to my replacement one, as well as talking to the mechanics back in "On yuor bike" in London to arrange to spare parts that i desperately need. The fact that my mum and sister are coming out to Morzine tomorrow is fantastic, but even more fantastic is that my sister has already bringing the needed parts with her tomorrow, so i should only have 2 days on the replacement one.. The spare bike (courtsey of Dermott) rides pretty well, but it just isn't the same.. I cant wait to get it back!
Today's climbs included 2 "2nd category climbs", one of 12km, the other 15km. It was another scorching day (30 degrees), and the heat was really felt whilst climbing, due to the lack of any breeze. Despite the pain of the long climbs, it was very difficult not to admire the beautiful Jura region
The day ended with the climb up to 'Les Rousses', a ski station and our highest finish of the Tour so far. In the last 20 minutes of riding we were hit with a rain shower, one that actually produced painful rain...
For my bike 'failure' yesterday, i received the "fusser of the day" award to ride with today.. that means riding with a pink horn and tassles tied to the handlebars.. it also meant that i was to present the award at dinner tonight. Nominations included Rick fussing about how big his calfs were; Colin, Sam and Rowley for fussing about how good they looked, but the clear winner was Mark who was complaining today about how "nobody remembers my name or knows who i am".. hopefully the pink horn and tassles will mean everyone in the area will know who you are come tomorrow.
Day highlights
Swallowing a big fly whilst descending at 70km/h
Seeing Jake riding with one shaved leg. He was advised to shave them to aid his daily massages, but didn't have time (or the energy) to do them both
Mark effing and blinding at an old french man on the side of the road who was holding a water bottle. (He thought that he was squirted by him (usually an act of kindness at the top of a mountain), but 50m up the road realised it had actually started to rain...)
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