July 21st Stage 18 Start in Pinerolo

The morning of July 21st the Tour would start in Pinerolo, Italy and make its way over 3 huge mountain passes and finish at the summit of the Col du Galibier - the highest mountain finish ever in the Tour de France.

We got up early in the morning, had breakfast and drove to Pinerolo. Only about 85km from Briancon but almost 2 hours. Just like the cyclists do, we had to navigate mountain ascents and switchbacks, tunnels and hairy corners. The drive out of Briancon is a beautiful climb to 1800m that I would have love to have rode on my bike but just ran out of time. Then we go through the village of Sestreire in Italy topping out at 2000m and then its all downhill to Pinerolo around 300m above sea level. We make it, park our car and walk about 2k to the start area.

All the roads are closed off with barriers lining them so it is easy to figure out where the start is, just follow the course. It gets crowded at the finish - the front of the area is the Leopard Trek and Movistar team buses. We hang out here a bit, but it is very crowded. My girls get an autograph from Rui Costa, winner of stage 12 to Super-Besse.

Here he is with some gals. Eventually he has to coochie-coo the dog before he can get to racing.
We decide to head down the line to the HTC bus. I figure it is going to be packed with people waiting to see Cav but maybe just because it is further away from the start there is hardly anyone there which is awesome. We get lots of room up against the barriers and get to see some movie stars ;-)

I have the DVD of Chasing Legends - a cycling documentary following the HTC team in the 2009 Tour de France. Together with my family we must have watched it 10+ times so are super familiar with all the players. Along with Cavendish the team directors Brian Holm and Rolf Aldag got a lot of camera time in the movie and were likeable and funny.
So it was awesome to see both of them there and they were both nice enough to chat and sign autographs for my girls.
Here Rolf comes over to sign after my wife calls him over in German. They seem enthused that we are big fans of the movie.


Brian comes over later after chatting with some guy from Sky and is also super nice. I talk to him about todays stage and tell him I loved his line in the movie during one of the mountain stages where he says "Some days I wish I was still a professional cyclist........but not today!"
Todays stage is definitely one of those.


Brian brings over some hats for my kids - Sweeet!!
Highroad fans for life!

Later on, Mark Renshaw a.ka. Prince Harry emerges and is happy to talk to the fans and sign authographs. He appears a little smaller than I thought considering he is such a workhorse.
Super Nice guy.
Interesting seeing a guy with an Ironman Canada hat there too.
The entire time riders were going back and forth and eventually to the start line so I snapped pics of many of them. The teams with buses at the front I didn't get.
Phillipe Gilbert

Alberto Contador & convoy


Sammy Sanchez who had a great tour
Badass Laurens ten Dam
World Champ and multiple stage winner Thor Hushovd. He had lots of supporters as Norway was well represented. I probably saw more Norway flags than any other country
The Yellow Jersey - Voeckler looks like he is lauching an attack.
Ryder Hesjedal playing it cool
Hanging out at the start was very enjoyable, the teams and riders pretty approachable. It was a great time and I am glad we made the effort to get over there as it was not super easy.

July 18th Col de Vence

My last ride in Nice - so sad :(

I had one ride left in my planned routes, the Col de Vence. Not a huge climb but I was excited to see some new territory. All my previous rides were either east or due north from my apartment. This would take me west past the airport and then up into the hills. The terrain is definitely different, more rolling & smooth compared to the rocky, ragged and steep terrain on the other side of Nice.


Some stats on the Col de Vence:
Category 1 climb, 12kms @6.4% topping out at 963m

Below is one of the signs for the route - at this point the gradient is 5%. Not sure if it means 5% to the top or 5% for the next kilometer. These signs are at every kilometer and the rest of them were all 7%

This climb was different in that the slope was easier to tackle, and very consistent throughout. Not really any steep pitches to trouble you. The views were of a barren landscape with small brush and not really any trees. You could see very far but because it wasn't steep you were never really able to see much of the road you came up from.


Once to the top, time to descend. This was a prefect descent for me as there were only a couple switchbacks and the gradual slope meant I could actually make it down without using my brakes much! Certainly my most enjoyable descent from the risk/exhilaration standpoint.

My first problem cycling in France came up as I flatted on the way back. I was on a pretty busy road - 2 lanes each way with a speed limit of probably 80 or so. I hit an elevated reflector and as I did noted 'thats not good', lost a water bottle and went back to retrieve it. As i did so, I heard the dreaded hissing of a pinch flat. I rode a bit longer to find a safe place to pull off and make my repairs. All was good except that my CO2 was empty so I was limited to a handpump to inflate my tire. I was able to get it to around 60psi and rode home the rest of the way easy. Thankfully it was flat or sligthly downhill and the last 7k or so a beautiful bikepath along the Promenade des Anglais.

July 14th Col de Madone

Bastille Day!
I get up early as I know this is going to be a long one. I heard or read somewhere that one of Lance Armstrong's favorite training rides is the Col de Madone and that is where the name of the Trek Madone came from. I figure its a great ride as I can see the profile and it would be cool to do this ride.

The Col de Madone is a challenging ride - a Category 1 climb of 11.4kms @7.7% topping out at 900m. Lots of smaller climbs on this route too - 3 Cat 3's and 2 Cat 5's giving this ride 1260m of elevation gain.

Sun rising over mountains in Nice



Cool rockcut along road


The top of the Col de Madone in the clouds




On the right track. It was not easy finding the start point of the route up the Madone. Just a tiny little sidestreet off a secondary road that runs parallel to the sea. There was a placard on a stone wall - can't remember exactly but something about the Corniche du Madone or something. The road went straight up so I thought this might be right. Eventually I came across the sign below and all was good.

The commune of Saint Agnes looks like a cool place to visit but it was early and I was on the clock.

Some steep pitches on the route.

A shot of some of the road going up. Getting pretty cool up here.




Over the top of the mountain and now down the back. A view of the valley below



Descending some of these roads is great. Not too steep at this point - just my cup of tea.



The ride back is pretty great too. Descending down to La Turbie and then I got a little mixed up as I ended up going back to Nice via the same route as yesterday after the Col de Eze. I passed an older French guy, he got on my wheel then we were back and forth in front of each other the rest of the way to Nice. This time I asked him how to get to the Promenade des Anglais as it is close to the apartment and a good reference point and instead of having to find my way through town again, he just told me to follow. Perfect!

July 13th Col de Eze

Returned yesterday from Bourg d'Oisans and L'etape. Tired body, tired legs. Still want to ride so I dig up the shortest ride plan I have and decide to ride up to Eze and then up the Col de Eze.

This was an awesome ride - my first ride in Nice was through town and due north through a rural area and up Mt Chauve. This time I took it east and along the coast but up in the hills. Just a great, beautiful ride. The first few kms are flat and then boom, 2km at around 6.5% to climb out of town.

After passing through some cool rock tunnels we get a great view of Villefranche from high in the hills. Very typical of the scenery heading east to Monaco and beyond over the next few days.



Before I know it I am in Eze after less than an hour of steady gradual climbing usually around a 5% grade. Great stuff - not too hard so you are suffering and you can enjoy the effort and take in all the views. One of the most enjoyable cycling experiences was cycling through a small town and suddenly riding through the fantastic smell of freshly baked bread and pastry. There were many many times I would smell the boulangerie before I saw it. It is still early in the morning so I decide to ride up to the old castle up on the hill - crazy steep here - and walk through the passageways and try to get some good pictures. There is a guy hosing down the cobbles and I ask him where I can take some pictures so he just tells me to go into the restaurant and to the terrace as nobody is around.

Here is what Eze looks like from afar.

After leaving the castle, I get on my bike and climb the rest of the way to the top of the Col de Eze. Not long but there is a kilometer in there at 9% that is a real grind.
Overall the climb to the Col de Eze is a Category 2 climb - 7km @ 4.8% peaking at 520m

The return to Nice is brilliant, taking me over different roads back with the first 8km all downhill coasting or soft pedaling. No work at all, just looking around at the spectacular views. The last run-in to the apartment is a little frustrating as I get off course and lost. Its all flat though so I ride around and make my way to the sea from where its easy to find my way home.

July 11th L'Etape du Tour

A few months after planning our trip to France which had to be done far in advance in order to use air miles the 2011 route for the Tour de France was announced. A friend of a friend had done L'etape in 2010 and when the 2011 route was announced I started to think about the possibility of doing L'etape. Rumors were swirling that there would be 2 put on in 2011 and that one of them would include the legendary Alpe d'Huez mountain stage. When the route and date was announced it turned out to be favorable with our travel dates. I registered and started to worry what climbing real mountains would be like. Cycling at home includes lots of short & steep pitches but really nothing that will take more than 5 minutes to climb. What would it be like climbing one of these hills not for 5 minutes but for an hour or longer with no respite???






We start with the Category 1 Col du Telegraphe.
Stats : 12.3kms at 6.9% topping out at 1580m
I know to take it easy. Its early. Real early. This comes after the first 15 or so kms out of Modane that were generally downhill and exhilarating. Just my type of descent - not too steep, just a 2-4% or so gradual descent with some swooping turns. There was a span of 10kms that took only about 12 and a half minutes!



A shot of the guys behind me
Navigating a switchback

Now onto the Galibier! 18km @ 6.6% topping out at 2645m
Leaving the ski village there is a long straight that is the deadliest false flat I have ever ridden. Somehow it looks flat but is about a 4+% grade!! I was working hard & going slow like everyone else but no matter what angle I looked at it from it appeared flat.


I was in this race for the experience, the chance to climb some of the epic mountains of the Tour de France and wasn't concrened about how long it was going to take. I was going to go easy, enjoy the views and wait until the bottom of Alpe d'Huez and hammer from there. Lots of chances for photo ops.


Its magical looking back at the road you have covered that is snaking down the mountain with cyclists in an infinite line









Now we are making some progress - that's a long way down where we came from

Another break just before the summit. The road is steep here.

Incredible views.




I had to stop for this shot. A spectacular day with great weather. About two days later it would get as low as 3 degrees and snow would fall putting Stage 18 of the Tour in doubt.




A terrifying descent for me. My home territory is totally flat with small hills that are generally straight line and you never have to worry about navigating any downhill turns. But here? Oh man. Riding the brakes down the mountain pretty much the whole time is tiring. I had to stop and give my forearms and neck a break as they are straining all the way down.
Leaving the Galibier and onto Alpe D'Huez. Time to take things serious - no more photo stops. I finally go into the red as I am all alone and a big group is ahead on the run-in to Bourg D'Oisans. I bridge after about 5mins in the red zone but am rewarded with a spot in a big pack to take me to the base of the last mountain. This stretch is great but the tunnels scare me to death. My first experience with them and its not pleasant. Flying down the road at 40+kph and all of the sudden you are thrown into darkness where you cannot see the road and can only barely see the cyclists beside and in front of you. After a couple of these I remove my sunglasses for the rest of the tunnels as that at least allows me to make out some of the road in front of me. Glad when they are done!


No pictures on the way up Alpe d'Huez.
13.2km @8.3% topping out at 1834m
I make the climb in 66+minutes, pretty happy with my time
Overall my time was in the top 31% but for the ascent up Alpe d'Huez I made the top 4%

After resting up and some chow at the top its time to come down as others are still making their way up. Some walking, some sitting, just barley moving forward. I come across a big group waiting to get water and even sprayed down with hoses. Its carnage out on the slopes of the mountain. Soon after I meet up with the broom wagon making its way up!







The scene post race at the top. A little cool and quite windy. I was eager to make my way down


A view to the valley below as I start my descent.
L'etape was an incredible experience. Physically it is challenging but enjoyable. The things I will remember most are the spectacular views and the hard ride up Alpe d'Huez passing people left & right and the silence during the climb. Everyone in their own pain cave, no energy to be wasted talking, hearing only the heavy breathing going up the mountain. I was fortunate to have good weather, no mechanicals or crashes and make it safely to the finish. Most importantly a supportive family that got dragged around France spending close to 20hours in a car over 3 days with no complaining!!!!


Stats:
Col du Telegraphe - Category 1 - 12km @6.2% topping out at 1566m
Col du Galibier - Hors catégorie - 18km @6.9% topping out at 2645m
Alpe d'Huez - Hors catégorie - 13.2km @8.1% topping out at 1815m