We had a great day...

Left Lyon early morning and after home made Croque Monsieurs and coffee in Culoz cycled up the route used for the descent off Grand Colombier. Made it to the top in reasonable time though my son and my football team mate were ahead of me. He even attacked a bunch of Australians on the last part of the climb and beat them to the line which they didn't like.

Beers and sausages follwoed and then the spectacle of the caravane which you missed out on. My favourite part is watching grown adults fighting over sponsorts' tat. I saw fisticuffs over madeleines.

The action was, as you say, eventful, the best I've ever seen at a stage and I've seen about a dozen now. Anyone behind the Froome group looked absolutely shagged out. We took some fantastic pictures.

Delighted you made it, it has to be done. You'll be glad you made the effort. A lot of people don't get it but the atmosphere is great, all the cyclists get huge encouragement, even going up we had people doing that. The bar at the top was rammed too.

I'm over to the Alps again for stage 17 in just over a week on Col de la Croix de Fer and shall be cycling up that one before the stage too. Might even sport my NCFC shirt that day.

I punctured on the way down going oveer a cattle grid.

All the best.

Rob

Posted By: Chalk Hill Bitter, Jul 10, 20:27:33