Today we did the only time trail stage of this year’s Tour. Usually there may be two individual time trials and one team time trial scattered amongst the stages which would have given us effectively a couple of additional ‘rest days’. This year the TT is saved until the end, giving us very little respite over the last few weeks.
A lot of additional people of all ages and abilities have come out for the final few days and the size of the group has swelled to 70+. A lot of families were out today also, leading to a great atmosphere.
The course was much shorter than our ordinary stages and took us along the Route des Chateaux of the Medoc, a great way to spend the penultimate day.
The route began in Bordeaux with a 4km ride on the cycle paths along the Garonne and past the most prestigious, elegant buildings that Bordeaux has to offer. That was then followed by around 10km through the ‘Commercial Zone’ of Bordeaux....slightly less charming.
Soon we joined the Route des Chateaux and things started to look up as we passed famous vineyards and chateaux under the baking sun. The chateaux themselves and the towns we passed through were immaculate, picture postcard perfect.
Before long we arrived along a tree lined boulevard by the Garonne in Pauillac and a slap-up lunch in a nice bar restaurant. A quick shower and a coach transfer all the way back to where we started and we were on the TGV heading for the suburbs of Paris.
Massy, where we are staying this evening, isn’t the liveliest of places and we really struggled to find a place that served both food and beer at the same time (after being kicked out of the hotel bar because we complained that €11 for a pint of shandy was a little pricey). We managed just and had to make do with pizza outside a bar on the tiny town high street.
Jake and Rick deserve a mention today for their sterling fancy dress efforts, riding the whole stage in retro 1980s skin suits and faux time trial helmets made from tin foil. Brilliant.
Final day tomorrow, riding into Paris is going to be something to remember for a long time...
S
Time: 2hrs 27mins
Distance: 53.32km
Av Speed: 21.8km/h
Total Ascent: 139m
Av HR: 98pm
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