Gap to Geneva the Hard Way

All we had to do today was to get back to Geneva, but we couldn't help ourselves search out a decent climb to finish off the trip. We settled on the Semnoz, a 17km, 7% climb near Annecy that was in the Tour a few years ago. The weather was supposed to improve, and it did for a while, but then after 5km into the climb, it started to pour down. Visibility went down to a few metres but it did make for a very atmospheric climb. After a sketchy decent, made even trickier by a few small landslides, we made it to Annecy safely. Then it was back to Geneva and home sweet home! So, highlights from the trip were... Best atmosphere - Tignes before the race was neutralised Toughest climb - without doubt, the 33km climb to Val Thorens Best Pro Stalking - for me, acosting Bling after the stage to Gap and Dan Martin looking round after the Alan Partridge Dan, Dan, Dan, Dan gag. For the Guv, meeting Christian Prudhomme, Tim Wellens, Thomas de Gent and Thor Hushvold b...

After yesterday's neutralised stage, the risk of more landslides meant that today's stage was shortened by missing out the climb of the Cormet de Roseland. But, it still meant taking on the 33km climb to Val Thorens, Europe's highest ski resort at 2,300m. Simon decided to go to the pre stage festivities and run the risk of not getting to the climb. It half paid off as he met the main man himself, Christophe Prudomme. So I headed off to take on Val Thorens with the aim to get to the top before the forecast thunderstorms arrived. On the way up, there were loads of people cycling up the climb, including Francois, a semi pro track rider from Lyon who was doing the climb on his track bike - so no gears or brakes! It started to get a bit tough after 25km, but buoyed on by the gathering fans I reached the summit two and a half hours after starting. The weather forecast was right and it started to rain. My plan was to go back a few kilome...

Today was one of the most dramatic stages in the Tour de France for a long time. So we didn't get caught out by road closures like yesterday, we had a 5am alarm call and went straight to Tignes and missed out the Iseran. Whilst the forecast was for thunderstorms later in the day, it was a beautiful sunrise. Tignes looked like a marvelous setting for a stsge finish with lakes, dams and a great climb. To make up for missing the Iseran. The Guv and I decided to do a couple of reps of the Tignes climb. This gave us plenty of opportunity to identify an ideal viewing point to watch the race and decided on a particularly lively spot next to a bunch of monks and a half tunnel in case the weather forecast of more thunderstorms came true. After a soaking up the atmosphere and sun for a couple of hours it started to tip it down. So the tunnel came into play and if anything made the atmosphere even better. But just after the race had crested the Iseran...

We had an early start, but not early enough as we couldn't get out of Embrun due to the only road out being completely shut. Still, the Lac de Serre-Poncon next to Embrun is stunning. And Embrun was a cool small town with some excellent architecture. And a bunch of TdF signage...  And, whilst it meant that the Izoard was now off the menu, it meant that we could see the start of the stage. A friendly Team Sunweb Director Sportif gave us directions and a few pointers on the form of his riders (all suffering!). And, the chance to get up close to the riders... Then next up was the first big challenge of the trip, the Col du Lautaret at 2,058m and the mighty Col du Galibier at a towering 2,642m. I managed to get past some very persistent Gendarmerie, unlike the Guv, and got half way up the Col Lautaret to watch the race go by. I then followed the race straight after the broom wagon and the atmosphere was fantastic. I was ...