Etape 10

Even if you aren't that interested in stats the stage profiles (showing the hills/mountains) are pretty cool

Etape 10 by sgcbrown at Garmin Connect - Details

Stage 10 - Chambery to Gap (170km)

Map/Profile:

The Climbs: Col du Noyer

After an Epic mountain stage the previous day that saw people drag themselves into the hotel in an often delirious state the 5.45am alarm was definitely something I didn’t want to hear. Today - Chambery to Gap.

An hour transfer took us to Chambery and everyone was grateful to hear that there was to be less climbing than yesterday. However, claims that this was in some way a 'rest day' seemed a little far fetched. We were going to cover approximately 179km with 3300m of vertical ascent...

The peloton rolled out at around 8.15 and after a nice long period of flat the stage took on the familiar 'lumpy' feel we were all now familiar with.

The biggest climb of the day was the Col du Noyer (Cat 2), a col with seemingly two ways up.... One short and steep and the other, planned route, long but less steep. As I and two others approached the col we were slightly confused by the signing and decided on our route up, only realising our mistake as we battled our bikes up some very steep inclines on a farm track in barren landscape with the wind buffeting us around. Beautiful nonetheless.

The descent down is supposedly one of the most dangerous roads in France and was very, very steep and wound tightly down the face of the mountain. An absolute blast!

The last little bump of the day took us over the Col de Manse (a col famous for Lance Armstrongs’ cyclocross efforts in a previous Tour). Now, personal hygiene is obviously an important issue on our Tour as all day in bike kit and moving from hotel to hotel every night makes keeping everything clean difficult. Hand washing in the sink can only take you so far. You know, however, that new levels have been reached when an unnamed member of the peloton has a swarm of around 80 flies follow him across the Col de Manse for a full 3km...

Rick even tried to emulate Lance by cutting the corner and riding his clean bike all the way across a ploughed field. Made for a good photo at least. Some good photos will hopefully follow

We arrived in Gap in good time and those that need to replace their bikes have headed out to the local bike shop to see what is available. Hopefully it will be all sorted...

Beard finally joined us again this evening and hopes to be out on his bike tomorrow morning (the ‘downhill’ day). His knee is not totally fixed, but you have got to try, right? With him he brought Williams’ new bike, hopefully it will do the job.

Yesterday’s stage has really taken its toll on people and many struggled today, hopefully tomorrow’s slightly easier profile will give them some much needed respite.

Tonight the Morzine-Avoriaz times were in. I got up in 56mins 30secs, a pretty respectable time considering I already had 185km and some climbs in my legs. Came in in second place, behind the fitness instructor on the Tour...

Good news. The Morzine hotel's insurance will cover all the bikes stolen.

We are half way! At least in the number stages, if not distance or difficulty....

S

Time: 8hrs 19mins
Distance: 177km
Av Speed: 21.3km/h
Total Ascent: 2948m
Av HR: 121bpm

Food intake.... can you put weight on whilst cycling the Tour de France?

Just for interests sake I decided to note down the amount of food I managed to stuff into my face on just one day (in fact one of the shorter days). We are eating soo much food all day, obviously we needed but it makes funny reading to see it on paper:

2 coffees
bowl of muslie
cinnamon swirl
pain au chocolate
croissant x 2
lemon cake
ginger cake
lemon cake
lemon cake
banana
handful of dates
banana
handful of apricots
handful of peanuts
malt loaf
peanut butter sandwich
jam sandwich
bourbon biscuits x 5
chocolate biscuits x 2
plate of pasta
energy bar x 2
cake
can of coke
cake
can of fanta
750ml of energy drink x 4
recovery bar
cold starter platter
steak and potatoes
cheese course
chocolate ice cream...

Yum!

Etape 9

Check out the profile on the link below! Some serious bumps!!

Etape 9 by sgcbrown at Garmin Connect - Details

Stage 9 - Morzine to St Jean-de-Maurienne (204km)

Map/Profile:

The Climbs: Col de la Colombiere; Col des Aravis; Col des Saisies; Col de la Madeleine

Epic! The climbs; the descents; the scenery. Totally epic!

Had a fantastic day in the mountains today, just totally brilliant. Today was a massive Alpine stage, taking in four big climbs including or first Hors Categorie! Definitely one of the hardest days of the entire Tour and our hardest day before the Pyrenees (my stats verify this...).

We set off from Morzine at the slightly earlier time of 7am today in anticipation of a long day. In fact, around seven of the more ‘relaxed’ riders in our group set off 45mins earlier than the rest in order to allow them even more time.

After a few bumps and a descent from Morzine we started our first climb, the Col de la Colombiere, a pretty tough Cat 1 with a kicker at the end of the climb. Once over this we shot down into the valley before shooting straight up the Col des Aravis, a relatively straight forward Cat 2.

After a short break just out Flumet I headed out up Col des Saisies the second Cat 1 of the day. Like the Aravis, it was a climb I already knew and I spent a lot of the way up chatting with a 60 year Dutch guy who was out on a trip training for the Marmot at the weekend. Generally any cyclists we have encountered have been very chatty and keen to cycle with us for a while.

After an awesome descent from the Saisies and a blast across the valley into a headwind we hit the base of the Giant of the day. The Col de la Madeline went on for 24km and took us up to 2000m. A heck of a lot of climbing. It was a long slog, but great to ride... had a blast! After so much climbing though a lot of people really struggled and it really spread out the group...

Roly put in an awesome show today, his first proper day in the Alps. He loved it and was totally back on form. His knee pain was manageable, and he stormed round. We rolled in together at 7pm, shortly followed by Davinia, although he had been cycling for a little less time.

Some people didn’t roll in until 9.30pm and looked totally vacant. Incoherent. Everyone is sleeping now...

Photos of all the Col signage below.

We have a 5.45am rise tomorrow. Eek!

S

Time: 10hrs
Distance: 209.9km
Av Speed: 21km/h
Total Ascent: 4662m
Av HR: 139bpm