Col de Latrape

Another steep climb, though this one was only 4.1km long! which is very short considering what we have been doing.

Erika and Me at the 2nd catergorie climb (1110m)

We then watched the riders go by a couple of hours later, we had a good veiwing point because we could see them coming up the road from quite a long way away.

Leopard trek leading the peleton

Tonight dinner was at Carcassonne and we stay in the Chateau within the city walls - very cool



Chateaus without decent Wifi! Grrrrr....

Yes, it is a problem, these chateaus that don't have very good wifif, so that is why I am sitting in the reception of this one using my laptop.

so it will be short, but as soon as I have decent wifi I can post some pictures and update my blog, which I know I haven't done for a couple of days!

The pictures are taking too long to download, so I will try and post later on tonight at the next hotel.

2 Big Climbs in 2 Days (and Liquigas staying at our hotel)

Yesterday we got to climb the Luz Ardiden, which is a 13.3km climb at an average of 7.4% - so pretty steep

We also got to cross the finish line again, so we had to group at the 1km to go banner and ride together across the line - very cool on a HC climb

Looking down the road from the 2km to go banner

Up to the finish line

The finish line

As you can see we had great seats just 10 metres from the finsh, so we saw the awesome win by some Spanish guy (I can't remember his name lol!)

Frankie!

We also got a helicopter ride of the mountain and back to Tarbes, though we had to wait about an hour after the first group had gone, and in the mean time the team cars were parked just below us and the Spanish supporters had mobbed the Euskaltel Euskadi car, very funny to watch because they are just like football suppoters with their songs

Me and Thomas waiting for the helicopter (we were bored and freezing!)

Thomas Vockler getting a ride off the mountain (before us I might add!)

The Col d'Aubisque

Today we climbed the Col d'Aubisque - 16.4km at an average of 7.1% it was a killer!!! I did however, make it up there!!! YAY only took 2.5hrs lol!

The view from "I still have 1km to go"

About 1600m up

The stage winner Thor

And we have team Liquigas staying at our hotel!! though they are rather hard to find as they don't come out very often, but I did see Ivan Basso :)

Crossing the Finish Line and Stalking Leopard Trek...

Yesterday we got to cross the finish line on our bikes again - and me being me had to be first across the line...again!!!! two from two!

This a video of Thomas (aka Le Velo Boy) doing his version of the Le Velo dance just after we crossed the line, you can see the actual Le Velo clip on my facebook, its really funny!

Then we got to stand on the podium (while the music is playing) and pose for yet more photos

John, Me and Thomas (they were my podium girls...hehe)

After that we got to watch the finish of the race and swelter in the hot weather.

Stalking Leopard Trek Boys...

Since today we had a village start, it was an ideal time to stalk the Leopard trek Team...

Unfortunately it was pouring with rain, but that didn't stop me, and as soon as the buses had pulled up, I waited outside the bus until they came out (about an hour later) fortunately the bus has a sun/rain shade so I was able to stand under that and dry out a bit.

I got some really good photos of the guys as they are really close to you and although they just want to get on their bikes, they did stay and sign autographs.

Jens Voigt

Frank Schleck

Fabian

I really wanted a picture of Jakob Fugslang, but he went the other way, and Jens came my way instead so I got his autograph instead (I will get Jakob sometime!)

Then he posed for a photo - Bless :)



Its very crowded at the start, and you have to watch that you don't get run over by a rider or car for that matter and I did get a few photos of other riders going by but I actually have no idea who they are! But it was a great day despite the rain.

Thomas Vockler (I find it easy to always get photos of him!)

Tomorrow we have our first high mountain climb - Luz ardiden



Thomas Vockler Press Conference

Yesterday I was the only person out of our group who wanted to go and see the Europcar team on the rest day - not sure why no one else wanted to go but it was their loss!!

Anyway, I was shown on the team bus (which never happens) and I got to sit in the seats and have a look around

Then I got to see the truck where they all eat when they are not at the hotel, it was really cool and has a full funtioning kitchen

Then I got to watch the press conference with Thomas Vockler since he has the yellow jersey. The interview was all in French so I didn't understand a word of it, but he does talk  A LOT!

I also got an autograph from him as well.

Earlier in the day we went for a 3hr ride up some pretty steep hills and it was also very hot was well, about 34 degrees, but the place was very beautiful...

First Hill Ride

Today was the first mountain stage of the TdF, from Aigurande to Super-Besse Sancy (such an interesting name!)
Anyway we did a ride of about 35km including the Col de la Croix which was the bigger climb out of the two - though it wasn't really very steep, about 6-6.5% for most of the way, so it was actually quite a nice ride. The weather however wasn't very nice, it was overcast-raining-overcast-raining-sunny and then at the finish of the stage - rain.

One of the little villages we went through on our ride

another little village

Top of the Col de la Croix climb - a bit windy and rainy



We then drove to the finish where we were in the VIP Izoard area, which means there is free drinks and some food as well as an uncrowded area to watch the final 100 metres of the race

View from the top of the double deck bus - also has a tv to watch the race on as well!

The finish (don't really know who they are!)

And this is the view from my hotel window :)



Transition Day

This was the end of my 1st bike tour and the start of a new one!

So we ended our white jersey start and D-Day beaches tour day and started the Signature Series Massif Central tour which goes until the 13th July.

We left our hotel in Crepon, which was very very nice and first dropped everyone off at the train station , it was sad saying goodbye to everyone because they were all really nice and we were such a great group!

So left there was Me, Erica, John and Bob, and we transfered to the van from the bus for the long drive to Royat, which took about 5 hours, but we had a few stops along the way.

Thomas - aka office boy

Erica - hehehe

Anyway, got to our beautiful hotel in Royat and met the other couple who were joining us for this tour. So tomorrow we set out for the first ride up some mountains - yikes!

My room before it got all messed up!