TODAY WE TRAVELED FROM CHICHILIANNE TO LA GRAVE. TODAY WAS THE TOUGHEST DAY OF CYCLING WE’VE EXPERIENCED ON THE TOUR SO FAR AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE TOUGHEST DAYS WE’VE EVER EXPERIENCED IN OUR CYCLING CAREERS. WE’RE TOLD THE NEXT TWO DAYS (AFTER TOMORROWS INTERIM DAY) ARE EVEN HARDER. I THINK A VAN RIDE IS POSSIBLY IN OUR FUTURE.
WE STARTED THE DAY WITH A WONDERFUL DOWNHILL AND THEN THE BUMPS STARTED. OUR FIRST CLIMB STARTED AT MILE 33.....COL ORNON. THIS CLIMB WENT ON FOR 20K (12+ MILES), THROUGH TUNNELS AND PAST BEAUTIFUL LAKES. AFTER WE CLIMBED WE HAD A SPECTACULAR DOWNHILL OF THE SAME 12 MILES BEFORE TACKLING THE FINAL CLIMB OF THE DAY, COL DU LAUTARET ANOTHER 20 K (12 MILE CLIMB). OUR HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT IS THE HOTEL AUBERGE EDELWEISS WHICH SITS IN LA GRAVE, APPROXIMATELY 1/2 WAY UP THE COL DU LAUTARET. TOMORROW WE HAVE THE OPTION TO RIDE THE BALANCE OF THE COL DU LAUTARET AND THEN THE FAMOUS COL GALBIER ANOTHER OF THE POPULAR TOUR DE FRANCE CLIMBS.
TODAY’S DISTANCE WAS JUST UNDER 70 MILES WITH AN ELEVATION GAIN OF MORE THAN 6300 FEET (1950 M).
WHY DO WE DO THESE RIDES? TAKE A LOOK AT THE PICTURES OF WHERE WE ARE CYCLING AND THE QUESTION IS ANSWERED.
BEST TO ALL,
M AND BIG
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