Thursday was Bastille Day in France, and a good day to watch the Tour. Nine of us left St. Savin around 10 AM to ride to Luz Ardiden. We staked out our spot about 6 kilometers from the finish. We were there at noon, which meant that we had to wait until about 3:30 PM for the caravan to arrive and about another hour for the race. It was quite a spectacle. Sammy Sanchez won the day.
Getting down from a Tour finish is quite an ordeal---even on a bike. Many of those who were driving probably didn't make it down until 10 or 11 PM. We waited until the autobus passed (the last group of riders who are struggling to make the time cut for the stage). However, the broom wagon had not passed, and we didn't see it until we were almost at the bottom of the climb. A Katusha rider finished 59 minutes behind the winner of the stage. Needless to say, he didn't make the time cut.
Col du Soulor
I watched Friday's Stage from the top of the Col du Soulor. I decided to be smart and ride up to the top of the col by first going over the Col du Spandelles and then up the north side of the Soulor. I hardly saw a soul until the last few kilometers of the ride. Of course, I did put in 6,500 feet of climbing to get there.
I arrived just after the caravan passed. All of the spectators were booing, because the caravan wasn't throwing out free souvenirs. Of course, boos changed to cheers as the riders passed. Thor Hushovd, world champion, was third over the top of the climb and ended up winning the stage. Hushovd is NOT known as a climber.
Yes, I was on TV, but it was a helicopter shot, and you have to know exactly where to look.
Plateau de Beille
Thomas Voeckler stays in yellow. Man, he is tough. Chapeau!!! And Jens Voigt!!! The man crashes twice on the descent from Port de Lers, gets back on the bike, and then sets the tempo at the bottom of the Plateau de Beille climb for Leopard-Trek, destroying all but the best climbers. There was no change in the overall standings today, which is surprising. Basso, the Schlecks, Evans, and Contador are all still around. And Voeckler will probably hang onto the yellow jersey until the Alps now.
No comments:
Post a Comment