Stage 15 from Bourg-en-Bresse to Culoz. Culminating in a double ascent of the Col de Grand Colombier using different routes but with the same descent.
They first go over the normal HC category climb, descend into Culoz, over the finish line and then go up the 'Lacets' route, which is shorter, very narrow and in some places pretty steep. They then join up with the original descent and cross the line again in Culoz, this time for the end of the race.
If yesterday was a bit his and miss today was definitely a hit. I didn't do anything to make a full of myself at breakfast, apart from nearly pouring water on my cereal. When I opened my bedroom a door a women immediately appeared with a bucket full of cleaning products and I think she was half asking and half telling that my room was being cleaned now, so shift.
A bit of mild faffing in buying lunch and changing a tyre and I was setting off. Just the two checks of the map today before I had left Aix but it really isn't big enough to justify two checks.
If I was frustrated with the no show of the lake yesterday, that was frustration was shattered 5 minutes in to the 17 mile ride to Culoz. After a short climb, the lake was finally there, stretching of to the left and right and directly in front of me, the harbour in Aix down to the left, snow capped mountains behind it, a big massif in front of me laden with fir trees and the bluest, inviting water, as if someone had dyed it a darker blue to make a point. I came back down off the small climb and there was just room between the lake and the massif for the road. Hugging the massif, twisting and turning through tunnels and snow barriers it was an amazing ride. I followed the lake until it ran out and was replaced by Forest, turning left to Culoz it was all a straight run in. At the route baree I was told that not even bikes were allowed into the town. Clearly getting off it and pushing the bike made it invisible (This isn't the bike you're looking for - little treat for Star Wars fans) and within 10 yards I was back on it. Had to negotiate the the finish area and eventually joined the course at the start of the second ascent, only to be stopped again, this time by the Police not a Tour official who said that bikes couldn't go up the climb. So riding off the road the other side of the barriers, I made my way up and when the barriers stopped I got on the road, easy. As mentioned the climb was very narrow so it rose quickly and began to give stunning views of Culoz below and, the river Rhone, aforementioned Lac du Bourget and the rest of the stunning scenery. The view was that good it forced me to stop and take a photo and you can imagine how much I didn't want to on a hot nasty climb.
Eventually I reached a suitable point in the shade to call home for the afternoon and promptly sat down and had a snooze. I was woken (very startled) by a French lad and his Dad asking if I wanted a drink and with that they pored me a cup of coke, which was lovely of them.
The crowd was quite sparse on the climb, the bends were busy and there was a section where the climb feels likes it one of those car parks where you go round and round and are then flung off on a level with spaces, there were that many hairpins it felt like it was turning in on itself. It is always great to see the various shapes and sizes of people riding up,
from the super fit, lithe mounting goat to the erm...complete opposite of that. Mountain climbing is a
very personal suffering in which no one can help you. Whatever the shape, form age of the cyclist the reaction is always the same at a hairpin as they turn the bend and look round the corner, letting their eyes follow the road up, taking in what awaits them.
The build up was slightly different today as due to the road there was no caravan and only essential vehicles were allowed up. So with a smaller crowd and not a lot of traffic there was a lot snoozing and it was all very sedate. The other slight difference to the build up was the helicopter. Once you can hear them you know the riders are on their way, however with them on the same mountain twice is was odd hearing it and even the crowd at times but not able to see them.
Eventually the yellow Mavic timing bike came through, two motorbikes with flashing lights (remember the rule, non flashing bikes frankly don't care) and the cow bell is being rung, this also acted as an early warning for all those around the next hair pin who were above us looking down but couldn't see back up the road (the early warning cow bell was a fact I was delighted with). The leader appears looking fairly strong and then the chasers. At the back of this group was Pantano (A Colombian - See...See!) from IAM Cycling about 20 yards back he is taking a sticky bidon.
Cycling term explanation alert - during the race riders will return to their team cars to collect bidons for their teammates. When there is a break like there was today and there is a sufficient gap between the break and the next bunch, team cars are allowed into the gap behind the break. This means that riders in the break can drop back, receive some instructions/encouragement and take a bidon.
It's the delivery of the bidon that gives it the name 'sticky bidon'. This is can be acted out to demonstrate how it works but I would suggest not doing it in a moving car.
Driver - one of you pretend to be sitting in a car, you do not move as the car doesn't change its speed so you are the constant in this act.
The other one is the rider.
Now, rider you are thirsty, it's 3km to the top of the climb and you could win this stage.
First off, you put your hand up to signal you want something
Driver, imagine this means you are moved up to the front of the cars behind, you would also move over to the right so the rider can drop back. (Please remember that you are in France not only driving on the right but sitting on the right).
Rider - you look over your shoulder and see your team car is in position, you should now slow...please don't turn round and ride to it that would be carnage. For the purposes of the demonstration treat slowing down as the same as walking backwards.
Driver - hold out the bidon, technically not yet sticky! Now it is vital that you hold it in your palm with your fingers wrapped round it AND your palm must be at the back of the bottle in the direction you are going.
Rider - you hold out your right hand and put the bottle in your palm with your palm at the front of the bottle in the direction of travel.
Now if the driver has already let go of the bidon you've failed.
Both rider and driver should be holding the bidon as described. It is now ladies and gentleman 'Sticky'.
The idea is that the sticky bidon gives the rider a very small tow from the car and a tiny respite.
At a point, possibly 0.1 of a second before the amount of time at which the judges think you are getting a tow, driver let go, rider take the bidon.
Now go and win the race.
You may remember that Pantano has taken a sticky bidon, which normally follows that he will discard another, which he does and it nestles neatly on the other side of the road opposite me. Now there was only person who could have got to it around the same time as me and he was taking photos so didn't notice. I had to wait for the rest of the cars to go past and a couple of motorbikes before I could leg it across the road in my flip flops, grab the half full bottle (water) stuff it in a jersey pocket and hot foot it back. GET IN.
The rest of the breakaway which had blown apart came through in bits and pieces before the group of the leader and big names came through surrounded by tv cameras, another helicopter and all manner of other media. It's a strange aspect of the race that on days like today there are two centres of attention. On a sprint stage it's all about the winner and making sure the favourites finish safely. On days like today there is the race for the stage win but also the continuing battle for the maillot jaune, which can over shadow the stage winner if something dramatic happens.
The rest of the field came through in ones and twos before the bigger groups at the back brought in the sprinters and those suffering after big exertions. Steven Cummings a British rider for Dimension Data who has won a stage and been very prominent looked like he was in trouble. The cow bell rang for every rider and got a smile from an Astana rider (Fugslang) and a wink from Sky's Luke Rowe and a few had a good look at the bell as they went past.
Getting off the mountain was straight forward due to how quiet it was and riders were still finishing by the time I got back down into Culoz. Eventually found my way out of Culoz, back on the road to Aix and you can repeat everything I said about the journey here. It was simply a joy to ride that road.
I ran out of water about 5 miles outside Aix and even at 7pm it was still 25 degrees (ok, I'm guessing). Thankfully I found a Spar on the edge of town, the only open shop I had seen including in Culoz. The bottles of cold ice tea and the Fanta were wonderful.
Back into town and the hotel, washed some kit, prepared for tomorrow and had some dinner, in one of the only restaurants open on a Sunday. It was a million times better than last nights shambles though it still a shock to see people smoking at restaurant tables even if it is outside (who eats inside, how strange!)
A quick word about Chris Boardman and news of the death of his mother. If only for a very brief moment he came across as a genuinely nice bloke who couldn't have been more accommodating for a photo and a chat with me, a complete stranger who shared a passion. To think that his world changed in an instant like that is very sad. Please take a minute to read his tribute to his mum, it really is lovely.
Stat istically speaking
Miles driven - no change, 2505
Miles cycled - 207 now includes 2/3's of another cat 1
Cheese of the day - sick of the Tomme it's gone
Countries passed through - 3 but hang on...
Tat of the day - IAM bidon of course
No comments:
Post a Comment