Friday 10 July 2015

TdF Stage 12 Lannemazen to Plateau de Beille

Ok,so this blog is a day behind for 2 good reasons - 1, yesterday was a brute of a stage, and 2 the place had no "whi-ffy" as the French pronounce it!
 
Today was the biggest stage in the Pyrenees, and we were treated to some decent weather, but it was a brutal day! We started after a transfer at about 8:30am - and I rocked up to the "hotel" at 8:45pm (i'll call it that cos I cant print what id like to say about it - the good news was that a late finish and early start meant I wasn't there too long!)

The 1st climb we took on was the Col de Portet-d'Aspet. It wasnt long but was very steep, up to 18% in places. The reason the col is on the tour this year, is to commemorate the death of Fabio Casartelli, he was taking part in the Tour 20 years ago when he tragically crashed on a descent and hit a wall - it really focusses the mind on what we are taking on with this event, there is danger at every corner!

The view from halfway up the Col de la Core - the 2nd climb of the day, a drag of c16kms in the heat of the day

Beautiful - oui?

Okay, so you can tell that we are starting to get seriously high up now - see that village in the distance at the bottom (the small speck in the middle of the picture)...that's where we started the climb! 

The views help to take your mind off the pain of the climb

Parapente (Paragliding) they run down the hill and just take off, and they are flying BELOW where we are cycling up





The summit of the Port de Lers, the 3rd climb of the day - 13kms at c6-7%

Very chuffed to reach the summit of the last climb of the day, the Plateau de Beille - the last time I came up here on a bike a few years ago, it was just above freezing at the top, and shrouded in fog, so at least I could enjoy the views today

Simon tried to showboat when he arrived at the summit...note to Simon - if you are gonna take your hands off the bars to celebrate - make sure you are travelling at more the 3mph!

The 3 Musketeers at the top of the Plateau, (Simon, Moi, and Birthday boy Chris)

The sun was just about to set, so whilst it looks lovely, it was bloody cold in the shade at that height - the descent with the windchill was freezing!

Wow...Nuff said!

Pictures don't really really do the views justice - you really had to be there, but I hope you get a feel for why I enjoy doing this biking lark

Sunset(ish) at the top of the Plateau de Beille
 
So, the final tale of the tape for this stage was 131miles, and over 14k ft of climbing-that's halfway up Mt Everest if you want a comparison...in 1 day!
 
 
 

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