Our tour is made up of 35 riders and 5 guides/mechanics/psychotherapists from Adventure Travel.
3 of these are ozzies as the OZ trip was fully booked. 8 of us are from Hawke’s Bay and another group of 10 from the Kapiti coast some of who we had met previously. Within the larger group we have two NZ champions amongst us! We are really getting on well and meeting some really nice people.
Approx 10 of the tour group are non riding participants who have an optional programme that includes seeing the sights, shopping and watching the tour. Every day we ride there are different options for riding: from “easier” (Latte) through to very difficult for the more talented (Espresso).
Day 6 Monday, July 19TdF Stage 15: Pamier>Luchon Well... yesterday we had a chance to test our hill legs and for our Latte group which included Elaine and Peter today as well as ourselves it was a ride to the top of Col des Ares a category two climb, which involved a 13 km climb to a KOM prime. Our coach took us nearer the course first, then we rode through panoramic farming landscapes and fields of sunflowers to Aspet, stopping for a Cafe au lait before setting for the ascent of the col. At the bottom our guide told us we had 30 minutes to climb the col before the gendarmes closed the road! No pressure!
The experience is something hard to describe: Climbing a col lined with thousands of people all cheering us on in a multitude of languages, riding over messages freshly painted on the road that support the favourites of the spectators, passing and being passed by stronger riders from all around the world – including many of our ozzie cousins is incredible. We received numerous applause and encouragement from the crowd and wearing NZ cycling gear certainly helped.
We even have had some French kids chanting the haka; I didn’t dare try to see if they were doing the actions.
While the Col was long, it was consistent and with the encouragement we all made it to the top. For a small number of the group (especially my wife) this was a huge achievement. The number of other riders on the course has increased considerably and we even met 2 other Hawke’s Bay people from different tour groups.
Upon arrival at the top of the Col we claimed a position to watch the tour come through in 3 hours time. Our spot was excellent on the bank just past the KOM in a lovely setting in the shade of the trees. There was even a bar in the field nearby! We were told to be well prepared with warm gear to put on as it can get very cold at the top, but we had a beautiful day, and we relaxed soaking up the atmosphere until the “caravan” (Parade) come through and then eventually the riders. The caravan throws out a multitude of give aways: from sunhats to lollies, cycling tops to newspapers. No chance of missing the riders, as the number of bikes and cars coming through before hand and the noise of the crowd and helicopters give plenty of warning.
They riders finally came though and it was on our bikes again and we followed them down the other side of the Col, not as fast as the riders, preferring to opt for safety first. Then back to our bus to head for Lourdes where we will be based for four nights, while the tour climbs the Pyrenees.
Day 7 Tuesday, July 20 TdF Stage 16: Luchon>Pau A quiet day with a number choosing to have a rest day or take a short 15 km ride up the valley towards the Pyrenees in surprisingly warm weather along a bike path to Ageles Garzost where race riders will descend from Col du Tourmalet before pointing their machines uphill again. The path was a former train route and is a tar sealed scenic pathway and hosts hundreds of cyclists for the day.
We have a relaxing time having coffee and then lunch while waiting for the start of the caravan to come, and then choose to ride back to Lourdes to watch the stage on TV.
We also have a chance to look around Lourdes. Lourdes is a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees, famous for the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes that are reported to have occurred in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous. Today Lourdes has a population of around 15,000 but is able to take in some 5,000,000 pilgrims and tourists every season. With about 270 hotels, Lourdes has the second greatest number of hotels per square kilometre in France after Paris.
The town of Lourdes is chocka block with shops selling religious trinkets to commemorate the pilgrim’s visits.
We walked around until 11pm and there were hundreds of people walking, shopping and eating at this hour.
Au Revoir from
Ivan
