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!

 

For todays stats click 'ere



TdF Stage 14 Rodez to Mende - Montee Laurent Jalabert

Stage 14 already, that's 2/3rds of the way through now, wow doesn't time fly when you are flogging your guts out every day!

 

 

Today was another "Interim" stage between the Pyrenees and Alps, it took us along and through the Tarn Valley which was amazing - if you have ever thought of visiting this part of the world, id recommend it.

A picture of a roundabout, you can take the boy out of MK, but you cant take MK out of the boy!

We started the day at the top of the plateau, which meant a speedy descent to the bottom of the valley, including overtaking a couple of slower moving cars

This village was cut right into the hillside - very picturesque

One of the key "sights" to be seen today was the Millau viaduct, the picture doesn't really do it justice - its mahoosive! and we ended up riding right underneath it. The French are obviously very proud of their bridge, as its mentioned everywhere (but was designed by a brit Norman Foster...ha ha)

A big lump...and an amazing piece of architecture

One of many fantastic views as we went through the Tarn Valley

Build the road round the mountain?...Non!

It really was one of the most picturesque stages we have  been through today, everyone in the peleton agreed on that.

 

Ok, so a few KMs ago, I started climbing from down there - a cheeky little Cat 2 climb of 9kms at 6%avg

A bit further up the same climb - fab views!

 

The real sting in the tail for todays stage was this little critter - 174kms into the stage when the temp had reached 35c, and they decide to put a really steep climb at the end of the stage ( the Course designers know how to get the best for TV coverage!)

 

Officially, its called the Cote de la Croix Neuve, although its known locally as Montee Laurent Jalabert after the famous French TdF rider who won the stage here years ago...win a stage, have a mountain named after you - seems reasonable right??

 

 

It really was a leg breaker after 175kms, it averages at 10%+ but there were long sections of 16+% (for those of you in MK, think Bow Brickhill hill for 3kms...ouch!) 

 

Another transition day across the Massif Central tomorrow - im hoping for another 120mile "easy day"

 

Je suis knackered!

 

Todays stats...an "easy day"...yeah right?!

 

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TdF Stage 13 Muret to Rodez

A tres picturesque day today, lots of sunflowers and tree lined avenues early doors. There's no such thing as a "gimme" stage in the Tour de France, but this would be about as close as you could get to it, 121 Miles and 7800ft Climbing - compare that to your normal sportive event?!

Tres Jolly

At least its flat...makes a change!

The Peleton in action, Simon getting in touch with his feminine side, wearing Pink.

Dave giving it his best Tommy Voeckler impression..BTW Dave - you are on the wrong side of the road!

Seems like a great place to stop and get out of the 100f heat...so we did! Ice cold cokes all round...I know, I know, no beers -who would have thought it?!

 

We were in a group of 4 as we headed to the end of the stage, and everyone's legs were tired..or so we thought. We dropped Simon on a couple of short climbs before the end, so being a decent group we sat up and waited for him -only to see him catch up and then come flying past us and off on his own..the git!

 

All in all, it was day that we all needed after the sufferfest of the day before, and the bonus is that we start directly from the hotel, which means the alarm wont go off at 5:30am! Happy days, bring on tomorrow. Bon soir!

 

Todays stats

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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Biggest stage of Le Tour so far...Brutal! - stats du jour

TdF Stage 11 Pau to Cauterets

WHAT.A.DAY!!!

Today was a BIG day in the Pyrenees. The weather at breakfast was drizzling, so I packed my rain gear in the van, and just set off with my gilet.....big mistake - HUGE!

As soon as the van had disappeared with my wet weather kit, it started chucking it down and didn't stop for the next 4 hours - below is a piccy of me after being reunited with my rain jacket, about 30 miles too late - that's as close as I could get to a smile!

 

When the rain did clear we were treated to some great views, and my mood improved (slightly)

Views form about a third of the way up the Col d'Aspin before we disappeared into the clouds

The 1st big climb of the day was the Col d'Aspin at just under 1500 metres, but there was bigger to come!

This poor guy Eugene Christophe was taking part in the TdF in 1913 before the days of teams/support, and the rules were that you had to be self sufficient and carry/fix your own problems. He managed to break his steel forks on his bike, so walked his bike to the nearest town and asked if he could use the local forge to weld his forks - the blacksmith agreed and told his son to work the bellows for the fire. When the organisers found out he had outside help, they promptly disqualified him - despite him completing the 326km stage...Harsh!!!

Oh good, just 16.9kms to the top of the Col du Tourmalet (2115m) from here..that'll be about 1hr 45mins then

Ta da! 1hr 37mins later, a friendly German tourist was kind enough to take a piccy of me at the top - the sign does/should say "Col" du Tourmalet" - honest! although to their credit, they did all give me a round of applause for getting to the top - I couldn't translate what they were saying, but I reckon it must of gone along the lines of "I never thought he would make it up 'ere on a bike"

This river was the water running down off the Col du Tourmalet - if the wall looks new, its cos it is! The whole area including the mountain road was washed away completely 2 years ago - luckily the river was running much lower today

 

Another big day ahead tomorrow - more climbing than today...my knees cant wait!

Click here for todays lumpy stats