au revoir...

Its all over, we're on our way back to calais at the moment but what a great experience this has been. The tour was great, i had no concept of what a big deal it is. The crowds, the entourage, the caravan and the race. It's immense. Someone said yesterday that there were half a million spectators on the course watching yesterdays stage. It certainly seems believable from what we saw on the ride up to mont ventoux. Camper vans, tents and mental dutch fans lining what seemed like every meter of the 21 km that made the climb up. The large numbers of fans werent just for the last stage though, they were there for every one that we saw. All there early enough to avoid the road closures and to take their chances with what is the lottery of the caravan. Thanks to all of the companies who provided us all with enough clothes, water and food we were kept in good shape regardless of it being 30+ or wet with lightning.
Having had no plan other then to watch as many of the stages as possible and having made no arrangements for accomodation it might have been a bit of a disaster. In fact it was quite the opposite, the van was pretty easy to look after and camping consisted of driving it into a place where is would fit before either heading of to watch the tour or cooking up a meal, having a few beers and passing out. Water is available in almost all villages from a fountain and we had nothing but good experiences everywhere we went. Id thoroughly recommend visiting the tour to anyone, but if youre going to do it, make the effort and get yourself up a mountain. You wont be disappointed...



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check it out!

1k from the top of the summit of mont ventoux, this is how the tour should be done. Sounds like things are just about to get interesting, lets see what your made of wiggo!




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phew!

Blew out todays stage in favour of a hangover for breakfast and then a ride up mont ventoux in the afternoon. Was ridiculously hard, i think i was suffering a bit with dehydration cause i polished off 6 litres and still havent been for a piss yet. Did make it to the top though in the end before a nice descent back to the house weve got again for tonight. It was absolutely crackers on the slopes today, thousands of people and camper vans. Loads of messages on the road with loads more to come, im sure. The dutch and danish fans are mental, cheering absolutely everything up the hill. Will be a great atmosphere there tomorrow and looking forward to being a part of it. GO ON WIGGO!!!!!!




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eaten by a giant

31 degrees and halfway up mt ventoux... Ouch




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time for t?

Got to annecy last and have camped up at the last time check point for todays individual tt stage. Camp site is basically a field that someone has opened up for the tour, lots of other vans here and we've not been charged anything which is cool. We're also at the top of the climb so hoping that the riders are going slow enough for up to take some photos. Have defaced the road in preparation with some encouraging words for wiggins. Sadly, the roads are closed already so no cycling for me today. On the bright side, not many kids here so caravan should be pretty sweet today!




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meanwhile, back at the ranch...

A couple of hours in the wind and rain, a steady descent and we're back on dry land. The van is parked up next to a timber yard between the 1-2k mark. Glad to be showered and out of the wet. Is dry now with a sprinkling of occasional sunshine. Caravan has been through, slim pickings today though with a bunch of kids cleaning up. Sounds like wiggins is loosing time but hopefully he'll make it up over the last few k's...




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summer in france...

Ha ha :)




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allez allez allez!

Just got back from todays stage, was great fun. Left this morning on the bikes for a 25k ride straight up to todays 2nd summit. Arrived with plenty of time to spare and so stopped at rosier for a coffee or three before tackling the last 8k into a headwind. Dropped down the other side so we could see some real pain going on, none of this free wheeling fun stuff! Was a bit touch and in with the caravan and i had to show a couple of 9 year olds whos boss to make sure i got my full selection of shizzle. Race came through after and it seemed that they were there and then gone in a flash. Remembered to take pictures though so will show them off later. To be honest ive got no idea how todays stage finished, all i can say is that i thoroughly enjoyed it...









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getting proper!

Having seen a bit of the race yesterday we set out towards verbier to ride yesterdays finish and find some action. The climb up was steeper then id been led to believe but not too bad. Blaise suffered a little when a combination of sweat and sun cream effectively blinded him. This didnt deter mr t and i though as we went of and found the world champion alejandro ballan and the lampre and columbia teams. Got a couple of photos which are very slick. In van again now, driving through italy on way towards tomorrows finish doing a bit of a recce of the route. It looks pretty cruel, very hilly on what looks like a scorcher...




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martigny

Long distance lara to make it here today to see the race pass through with seconds to spare. Had a bit of a worry with the van brakes on the way down into town, they stink and werent really doing a great job of stopping us. When we finally came to a halt loads of smoke came pouring out. Anyway, all good now. Ive tried sending photos but they dont work. Will upload those later...









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bonjour

Currently about 2/3 of way to verbier, hoping to see some of the stage. Van is pretty cool but has one shit transformer aka bed that needs to be made before you can sleep in it. Lucky for me i didnt sleep in it yesterday but unlucky for me its my turn tonight.









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God bless you michel thomas

If it wasn't for your "revolutionary" teaching methods I would not be the cunning linguist that I am today. Je demande ta attention!

Je voudrais des biere
nous voudrais des biere
vous avez des biere
Je suis un mere encule - Michel, you never taught me this but I thank you anyway!

Essential French as you can see, but why, I hear you ask would a person need to know these phrases? Well, wonder no more 'cause I will reveal all, haw haw!! If you're reading this on the day it's ecrit then you will be reading it cinq journees before moi un ma trois amis partir pour Francais. Nous allons voir le tour de france.

An we go in style my friends for behold the beautiful transportation what we have arranged for ourselves...


It is right loverly or what what, yes yes? Bagsy bottom bunk my darh je lings cause hot air rises dunnit and three blokes all squirting royally is a lot of 'ot air, innit...

That's all for now but I hope to be able to update the blog whilst I is away on my vacances. Photo's an all! Must pack now, ta ta.

:\

First race of the weekend was on the E2/25, a fast course by all accounts. A hot sunny day and a start time of 4:07 in the afternoon got me feeling that this would be as good a chance as any. Got the heads up in the HQ; "if you don't go under today you won't do it this year.." and "if you've gone close before you'll do a 58 today" were the things that were rolling around in my head as I crawled towards the turn at about 20mph for what seemed like forever. The way back was a lot quicker though but not quick enough, over the line in 1:00:16 - Ouch. I was really hurting to get there and I'd promised myself that I wouldn't be riding again on Sunday as planned if I managed to break the hour.

Seeing as I didn't it was a bit of a Hobson's choice, and so it was that I found myself getting up at silly o'clock on a Sunday morning for the 2nd attempt of the weekend. There was rain when I left to get to the HQ and it seemed to be getting worse on the way. Luckily enough it had stopped by the time I started and although the road had some surface water it was still quite warm and the drying out nicely. The wind wasn't so much of a factor this time and to cut it short before you fall asleep I got across the line in 59:38. Really pleased to have cracked the hour with the same kit I started the season with. Will keep an eye out for the Sunday course again. It was the B25/4, can't help thinking I was lucky to get starts at both. The reason for entering two was that I expected to get rejected from at least one of them.

this, is it...

Got two TTs for the price of one this weekend both on flat courses, both on what should be warm days. One of them should be at least mildly wind free. I've got my race nutrition plan sorted courtesy of XXXXXX. Won't be using their products but will be following there doses:

90 minutes before - caffeine load:
Drink one 750ml bottle of Energy drink 90 minutes before your race starts. At the same time take the following Energy Gel sachets
based on body weight:
70kg to 90kg: 3 x EnergyGel Plus
during your race:
If your ride is less than one hour: swill Energy drink around your mouth for
a few seconds and spit it out (like mouth wash). If you swallow it does not work. Repeat every 5 to 10 minutes. If it’s hot or your race lasts more than one hour, ignore this advice and instead start drinking Energy drink 10 minutes
before the start and during your race.
recovery after:
To re hydrate, refuel and to increase the development of lean muscle: drink 500ml to 1000ml of Energy drink after you finish.

Could be interesting...

Making movies baby!!!