It couldn't have come at a better time, I was knackered and needing rest. A lazy breakfast was followed by a trip to the bike shop to replace bits that had broken on the cobbled stage a few days before...im now wearing a new sporty pair of sunglasses and no longer looking like the blues brothers (thanks for lending me yours spare pair Si, I am grateful...really!).
The view from the room, those big lumps in the distance are where we are heading for the next few days.
Then it was admin time, washing kit and the bike...look after your kit, and its supposed to look after you, right?
Welcome to "the Bombsite" as it is affectionately known
The closest I will ever get to wearing the official climbers "Polka dot" Jersey
Lunch was had in Tarbes town square, steak avec frites - c'est magnifique! then followed by a few beers whilst we watched the Pro's ride up the Mur de Huy on the TV - just as we had done a week earlier (although they seemed to make it much easier). Cue 5 blokes watching the TV of Pro's riding along the road saying "I remember that bit".
Peter washing his bike in an unorthodox way in Tarbes town centre
And so onto Stage 10 Each night we get a briefing from Phil the lead rider and he gives a summary of what to expect the next day. There were a few noticeable lumps along the way today, but due to the scale of the last climb they don't really show up on the map as being significant - but my legs are telling me they were! Here is his version of events, and the official TdF version!
Pretty similar right?
Lunch stop was at the Eddy Merckx Velodrome - a nice touch by the organisers!
Some nice scenery along the way today - tres picturesque!
Todays big climb was right at the end of the stage, and we had been told how pretty the views were and we would love it...Hmm, low cloud and drizzle soon put paid to that, but as we continued to climb we ended up above the clouds and the views improved - the sun even came out
Pretty bleak at the top
Say hi to "Daisy" - Daisy and her friends "own" the mountain road, and if she decides she is gonna sit in the road, or cross it - she bloody well will! and cars, vans and especially bikes, will have to wait.
The locals have already been out writing the names of their favourite riders on the road, at least that's what I think they were saying about Froome?
The prize for the best decorated shed in the middle of nowhere goes to..... this one - Good effort!
As its a big day tomorrow, with lots of Pyrenean Lumps to get over...its an early(ish) night for me!
No comments:
Post a Comment