Tour de France Stage 14 (Pyrenees begin!)

The pyrenees have arrived!

A long day today.. 9 hours in the saddle. the stage profile will show you why



The first part of the ride was absolutely fantastic, and with the arrival of Ed G-P & Charlie Armistead, and the re-arrival of Bev and Chris, there was plenty of talking and riding through the first easy sections of the day. Only until we got to around the 80km mark did we feel like we had approached the Pyrenees (as we couldn't see any mountains until that point..), but cycling through this man-made tunnel really felt like it marked the "gateway to the Pyrenees"



Lunch came at the 120km mark, and amazingly everyone was there by 12.30pm, which must be our earliest one ever. This morning there were 2 start times, with the early group heading off at 6.30am, and the rest of us leaving at 7am, so to get to lunch at the base of the day's big climb that early was a real plus.

From lunch there was an 18km gentle 2-3% grind to the base of the day's major climb. Not steep, but it did mean that when you started the climb your legs did not feel overly fresh. The climb up to the top of the Port de Pailheres (which is a 15.5km "beyond classification" climb) will be forever remembered.. on a normal hot dry day it would be very hard, but no doubt beautiful. For the majority of the climb i tapped out a reasonably good pace, but 3km from the finish a massive storm passed overhead.. with 2km to go i was forced to stop and put on my rain jacket. 1km later there was lightening, hail,thunder and severe wind… i got over the top shivering and in desperate need of getting over the top and to get down to warm air once again.. the top of the climb was at 2001 metres, and god only knows what the actual temperature was at that point, but it was a long way off the 20 degrees it had been at the bottom... A few hundred metres from the summit the road was full of sheep and horses that were pulling long faces in the conditions too. I could not have stayed on the summit any longer than the 60 seconds that i did, and no way was i going to get my camera out to start taking pictures for the scrapbook. I remember that at one point i was so wet i had to do a check to see that i wasn't cycling naked.

The descent was equally horrific.. freezing cold still, rain pouring down the road with debris all over the place. I pretty much descended with the brakes fully on for the next 15 minutes, not easy when the hands are freezing.. once about 10km off the summit, we entered a cafe for our final snack stop, a fire was on, and we were given hot chocolate to warm up with.. there was a long queue in the bathroom for those wanting to spend a few minutes under the warm hand dryer too! Thinking back on it the whole 60 minute experience feels like a dream.. i think i switched off in those last few km to the summit, just intent on getting over the summit after 8 hours of cycling. I don't think i even considered how lightening proof i was so close to the storm on my carbon fibre bike, the topic of conversation at the final snack stop.

Once warm (about 45 minutes later!) and after the rain had stopped, we set off for the last 8km of downhill before entering Aix Les Thermes and for the final steep 8km ascent to the ski resort of Ax 3 Domaines. I rode this with Ed G-P, Bev and Chris, helping each other to the top through some very steep sections. Once at the top it was time for a quick photo before the descent to the hotel and into a hot bath!

Climbing to the ski resort of Ax 3 Domaines



Ed happy with the climbing it seems..



Happy that the 9 hours are over



Tough day in the Pyrenees… but 1 down and 3 more to go. Early start tomorrow!

Tour de France Stage 13

The shortest day of the Tour! 145km, and we were able to get the day done after just over 5 hours 30 mins. We are now down between Toulouse and Carcassone in a town outside of Revel. I thought i would write a quick piece on today's ride, then tell you all about a typical day here on the Tour de Force.

Here was today's profile



Having already ridden so many more kilometres than the official Tour route to date, today's stage was shorter for us than the official distance for logistical reasons. There isn't really to much to say about today's ride, except for the fact that it was a little lumpy and will be remembered for the wind over the last 10km. With the Pyrenees starting tomorrow, everyone took today's stage at an easy pace in an attempt to save the legs for the many kilometres of climbing that are looming.

There were several beautiful spots along today's route





We got to our hotel at 4.30pm, one of the earliest times so far. We were promised a decent hotel, but were still surprised to see this converted abbey as we pulled up




Highlights

The end of day giggling is getting out of hand... Sandy laughed so hard at dinner he triggered a 10 minute long nose bleed. All because the waiter looked like one of our crew..
Riding behind the draft of a tractor for about 2km whilst chatting to the driver (who was also on the phone). he lifted his mechanical arms at the back of the tractor and asked us to hold on.. of course we didn't


A TYPICAL DAY

-Alarm will go off anytime between 5.45 and 7am (depending on the length of the stage or if we have a coach transfer to a different start location)
- Put on cycling gear and head down to breakfast taking our main suitcase to the front of the hotel to be loaded onto the support van.
- Breakfast (eat as much as you can!)
- Back to room to fill up water bottles with energy/electrolyte powder, get down to front of hotel for start. Start times have ranged from 7am to 8.40am
- First 20-30km of cycling are taken in groups, and at a pace that warms up the legs (as you get used to sitting down on the saddle..)
- First snack break will be at 35-50km. Eat as much as you can. refill bottles
- Cycle 40-50km to next snack location. Eat as much as you can
- Cycle to lunch. Eat as much as you can
- Cycle to final snack location around 40-25km from the finish
-Get to hotel, bags have been unloaded in the hotel reception and room keys laid out in the entrance for us.
-Always take lift to room, never walk up stairs!
- Cold bath for 10 minutes, hot bath or shower including washing cycling shorts (i have 2 pairs so every 2 days)
- Drink recovery drink
- Raise legs on wall for 15-20 minutes
- Get to dinner. Eat as much as you can
- Write blog!!
- Charge up garmin bike computer, phone,camera etc. Lay out cycling gear for the morning (and hang wet washed clothes somewhere sensible where they will dry..
- Drink diarolyte sachet and put Savlon on the sore bits in the gentleman's department..

The routine basically repeats itself every day. Here are a few of the things the support crews give us to aid us on our way

The daily laminated cards with route details



The signs that show us the way to go



The mechanics delivering the bikes after a transfer



Finding somewhere in the sun to dry your washing...

Tour de France Stage 12

Tough day in the Massif Central!

Today was a hefty 210km leg in the Massif Central region from Valence all the way down to the finish in Mende. This was a tough stage as the profile suggests



We essentially spent a great deal of the day climbing, not on the most severe of climbs, but with all of them added up it really took its toll. The climb in Mende at the finish was something special! On the profile you can see that the first 100km we essentially uphill, with only a few minor downhill stretches to rest the legs. Once we got to the Suc de Montivernoux, my group of 8-10 guys were in sight of the smaller group that had started 30 minutes before us (as they knew it was going to be a long day despite the 8am start), and the competitive spirit in Sandy and I resulted in us racing up the climb trying to catch everyone in front of us.. The views from the top (the most Southern point of the Massif Central) were awesome.



Part of the rolling section included a climb that had melting tarmac (in the heat!) which literally felt like you were cycling in syrup.. the tarmac stuck to the tyres and stones flew off the brake pads.. all sapping the energy from your legs for about 35 minutes of climbing, not ideal!



Once through the rolling hill sections from 100-160km (which included a rain shower) we hit the final feed stop, greeted by a sign saying "the last 40km run into Mende is all downhill". Great!. If it was true.. the next 35km were over rolling (mostly uphill) and psychologically the toughest section of the whole Tour so far. The "40km downhill" had actually been 38km rolling, and 12km down (ie 50km total), there were some unhappy faces to say the least..

The highlight of the day (and the highlight in 2 weeks when the pros race here) is the final ascent up the 'Cote de La Croix-Neuve", a very sharp (but short) climb that killed us all at the end of the day... My group of 8 hit the bottom together and went flat out to the finish line (already in place for the Tour). The middle section (2nd km) averages 13.5%.. there are sections around 15-16%.. it is the sort of hill where you are doing all you can just to keep the pedals turning! I didn't take any pictures as i put my camera in the support vehicle during the rain shower, but this is a picture of a pro race on it



Once the climb was over, it was a short ride back to the hotel (already 7.15pm) to get some much needed food inside all of us..There really were some people suffering after today (all newcomers that have joined for a few days), vomiting, white faces and shaking all common around dinner time.

Day highlights

Sandy (unbelievably) loudly farting just after saying "bonjour!" to 2 old French farmers, causing them to turn away in disgust
Dermott (53yrs old) shouting "I have a serious problem with my big ring" as he was unable to change gear..
Realising how weak our grips have all become (from holding the handlebars all day). Some people are unable to cut food at dinner
I need to mention the fact that my feeding tactic is to load up on sugar at the final feeding station (coke (which i haven't drunk for several years) and sweets galore), however this has often lead to me getting the absolute chronic not-able-to-breath giggles at the most ridiculous things. Today it was cycling behind Doug and watching his bum go from side to side as he pedalled in his nearly see-through white shorts.. i had tears and couldn't ride behind him again.

Today's Distance: 210.87km
Total Cycling time: 8 hours 41 minutes

The Pyrenees are getting closer!! Oh, and the part for my bike finally showed up tonight..! and it is the right one.. i just left the mechanic Gideon out in the hotel car park setting it up ready to ride for tomorrow.. can't wait!

Tour de France Stage 11

"This should be a relatively easy day" is a phrase that has always been used when looking ahead to this stage.. One look at the profile of it and you can see why



"50ish km of gentle uphill, then its mostly downhill, what can be so hard?"

Today was 34 degrees, and there was a wind of 15-20mph, and guess what? it was in our faces for most of the downhill and ride to the finish.. I've been back for about 2 hours, and nobody feels like they have had an "easy day " to let the legs recover after the Alps. We made this mistake on Stage 4.. riding 180km is never easy (especially with 2,000km in the legs from the previous 10 days..)

The first part of the day was great. A lovely flatish 45km leading into the one classified climb of the day. The category 3 Col de Cabre was a great ascent, 5km long with an average of a 6.5% gradient. I climbed this with Dermott, a 53yr old iron man triathlon competitor (pb 11hrs 49) and heard a few good stories on the way up.



The descent off the Col was unusual in that it was 13km long, very nice after only climbing for 5km..




Once through the 100km mark, it was clear that the final 80km were going to be a grind into the wind that was blowing right into us. I rode this last few hours of the day in a well organised peloton of 5 (Dermott, Olli, Doug and John), helping each other through the psychologically tough sections. We had to ensure that Olli stayed awake on his bike as there were a few occasions when he was wobbling all over the road.

The awesome fivesome



We rolled into Bourg Les Valence at our earliest time so far, just on 4.15pm. How nice to see the lovely swimming pool at the entrance to our hotel complex, it wasn't long before everyone was having a dip and massaging their sore bits under the jet sprays.

Also a surprise was to get my own room for the first time! big double bed too... i haven't slept well at all since i've been here (still feel wired most nights as i get to bed), hopefully the 8am start tomorrow means i can get some decent sleep. Tough day tomorrow with 210km and a very nasty finish!

Tour de France Stage 10

Halfway there!

After yesterday's epic Alpine stage, today was described by Tour Pro Phil Dekker as a "chance to recover after the mountains", but we are not sure if this is possible on a day that includes over 3,000 metres of climbing and 8 hours in the saddle..

Here is the profile of today's stage:



As you can see, we had a gentle first few hours (good for stretching the legs!) before climbing up to around 1,000m altitude, riding some lumps and bumps before a long chunky Cat 1 climb 35km before the finish.

The 10km climb around 65km in was a chance to test the climbing legs after yesterday. The bad news is that there seemed to be several of the group that were finding it hard going on this climb, and with over 100km to go there was a strong wish that things would turn around for them.

I rode the first 125km with Rick, Sam and Jake (or the 'sacrifical lamb' as he is now called after his ridiculous early pacing on that first climb). After lunch, it was just Rick, Sam & I tackling the day's biggest test, the Col de Noyer, an 18km climb up to 1,664m (nicknamed by us at the "Kronenbourg")

Ascending the Noyer



At the top



Once at the top (135km) we had 40km to go to our finishing destination in Gap, 35km of which were downhill.. The 5km "Col de Manse" was nothing too sinister, and all that was left on the descent into Gap was to look out for the famous "farmers field corner" that Lance Armstrong took in the 2003 Tour. Anyone that doesn't know it can see a VIDEO of it HERE

Once we got to the corner we had to stop and take a few pictures. Here are Sam and Rick showing you the moment in slow motion...





From there it was only 5km to the hotel, and despite the transfer this morning we were able to get to the hotel at 6.30pm, enough time for a quick massage before dinner!

Just a quick note to everyone that has asked about the spare part for my bike that i am still in need of.. having tried about 12 bike shops along the route with no success, i have got the part being brought over on Thursday night from England (by someone that is joining the tour). i will be back on my bike come Friday! In the meantime the Giant bike that i am riding is doing great, no aches or pains, and feels good on the hills

Total Cycling time: 8 hours 3 minutes

MAP of today's STAGE

With 10 stages now completed, we have 10 more to go.. just to reminder of the route and how far we have come. Rotterdam all the way down to GAP

Tour de France Stage 9 - 'Queens Day' of the Alps..

Morzine to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (208km)

It hurts all over....

After yesterday's rest day in Morzine (washing, sleeping, eating!) it was back to business today with the hardest stage of the Tour so far. We had 4 categorised climbs to get through, the largest of which was the infamous Col de La Madeleine, a 25.5km HC category climb. (HC means "Hors category" or "beyond classification"...)

Here is the stage profile of what we did:



To add to the severity of today, we had to do it all in over 30 degree heat, something that took its toll on the windless sections of the climbs. In the last 2 days cycling, we have ascended the height of Mount Everest.

The first climb of the day was the Col de La Columbiere. I have done this once before, but from the easier side that we were to be going down today. The way up from the Sconzier side was over 14km in length, and took us up above 1600m. A beautiful climb, but steep over the last 3kms.





From there is was "down-up-down-up" as we conquered the Col des Aravis and the Col des Saises. The early part of the day was made easier by the fact that Mum and sister Uschi were still here, and offering encouragement every 2-3km on the climbs via yodelling or holding up the massive " GO Q GO" banner. They left midway through the stage to catch their flight to Geneva, but it was fantastic to have them here over the last 3 days. I will miss them!



There was a long 28km downhill section (some parts directly into wind so didn't feel downhill at all..) before we hit the early slopes of the Col de la Madeleine. This climb is 25.5km in length, and to aid us they have the "km to go" tablets at the side of the road that also tells you the average gradient of the next KM - very useful!



It was every man (woman) for themselves on the climb, i paced myself well enough to finish strongly. Colin did the opposite by starting strongly and blowing up in the last few km... The top lies at exactly 2,000m, and we were above some snow even at this time of the year. I didn't wait too long before starting the descent to the final snack stop at the base of the mountain. From there it was 13km to the hotel, and into a cold (then hot) bath before dinner to refuel for tomorrow's stage.

TOTAL DISTANCE: 1,643.93km
HOURS CYCLING: 59 hours 52 minutes

MAP OF STAGE 9

Tour de France Stage 8 - First Mountain day

So after 1,500km and 7 days of cycling, having started in Rotterdam, we have reached the Alps and have finished our first classified "mountain stage" of this year's route.

One look at the stage profile will tell you why this is classified as a mountain stage....



As you can see, the serious climbing was saved for the end of the day, with the ascent of the Col de la Ramaz (14km) and finally the climb up from the ski resort of Morzine to Avoriaz (also a 14km climb) to really test the legs ahead of Sunday's rest day. I had the added advantage of having my mum and sister Uschi arriving from London to stay for a couple of days, the plan being to meet on the climbs at the end of the day.

The first 130km were not plain sailing.. a few short sharp climbs in 30 degree heat more than got the legs warm. My aim for the day was to arrive at the 2 mountains as fresh as possible, so i stayed within a group of 8 for the large part of the ride up until lunch. Lunch was based just 6km from the base of the Ramaz climb, but in a beautiful setting right next to a lake that had plenty of people removing clothes and going for a quick dip to cool down..



The ascent of the Ramaz was the harder of the 2 climbs. A 3km section between 8-11km saw gradients of up to 13%, during which it was a struggle even in the lowest gear (i am still on my spare bike don't forget!). Once finished there was a very dangerous descent down to Les Gets (lots of gravel as they prepare to resurface the road for when the Tour passes in 2 weeks), the kind of descent the really hurts your hands having to use the breaks so much.

Once in Les Gets i was finally able to meet up with Mum and Uschi!! so great to see them (after 8 hours cycling), and it gave me an extra spurt for the final climb up to Avoriaz. They had made a sign from a bedsheet with "GO Q GO" on it, very touching! the only picture i managed to get though was this one of Mum trying to raise it...



At the bottom of the Avoriaz climb we were hit with a surprise - they were going to time us up the 14km climb to the top with electronic timing chips. This added a little spice and pressure for the final ascent (by this point we had been cycling for over 8 hours). After a huge amount of sugar at the final feed station (coke,sweets etc) i actually felt great all the way up. Comedy moment of the ascent was when i tried to throw my helmet to mum and usch as i passed them, and ended up wobbling and falling off. Only a couple of grazes, and maybe an extra adrenalin boost to help the legs.

The climb was beautiful, and i rode the whole way on my own. Mum and Usch drove up every 2km to stop and take some pictures





Above the ski lifts



With 1km to go until the summit, a flash rain storm hit me, which was actually really refreshing after the long day in the 30 degree heat.



Usch and mum were at the finish line to wrap me in the "GO Q GO" sheet and drive me to the hotel after a hard 196km on the bike. Today was an epic day, with some people finishing around 9pm, having set off at 7.45am. The rest day after 8 long stages and over 1,600km is very much needed!

Managed to upload some videos of the Avoriaz climb onto Youtube

Avoriaz Climb 1
Avoriaz Climb 2
Avoriaz Climb 3 (top!)

Stage 8 involved:

Cycling time: 8 hours 52 minutes
Elevation gain: 4,501m