TdF Stage 15 Mende to Valence

Stage 15 profile

 

 

After the nightmarish steep finish to the day before stage up Montee Lauren Jalabert, it was relaxed start to the day...straight into another climb?!...Oh Good?! Luckily once we had got to the top it plateaued for a good few miles...happy days!

We were generally heading west today as we moved towards Valence, it was going well until the headwind of the last 20miles!

We are in the "transition" stages between Pyrenees and the Alps, and we were also at the mid point between the Atlantic and the Med

Another lovely sunny day...just the 35c seen today, brrrr its getting chilly?!

At the top of the plateau looking down on Jaujac as we head through the Ardeche region of France - Tres Jolly!

Yep, as per usual - we started down there in the distance, and then pedalled uphill for what felt like an age in the heat

The views from the top were worth it though

The view from the ascent of the Col de L'Escrinet

And finally we are now down to the flat levels again, heading over the Rhone river...the picture doesn't show the headwind though - that's all you need 180kms into the stage

 

The hotel managed to run out of glasses, were we happy to improvise...Mai Oui, but of course!

 

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