Mind the Gap
The trip started with a very scenic journey down from Geneva to Gap via the Vercors National Park.
It's not the Alps proper, but still looks pretty mountainous to me.
Anyway, after a discussion with the local Gendarmerie around whether we could go down a closed road (non) and a convoluted Google Translate / Gmail conversation with the owner of the appartment we finally found the key taped to the back of the shutters.
A quick change then it was the chance to give the legs their first test with some hills around Gap. Guv choose to go fully paniered up so I took the lead and did the first bit of sad middle aged racing again a French bloke up one of the climbs.
Hopefully, G will act out the same tomorrow against Pinot, just a lot faster.
After a few detours due to road closures and more unsuccessful discussions with the Gendarmerie we just made it back in time for the finish of the stage.
We wedged in by the flamme rougue and saw Matteo Trentin shoot past on to another win for Mitchelson Scott, 30 seconds ahead of Kasper Asgreen and the rest of the 33 man break.
The bunch came in 20 minutes later with Alaphilippe resplendent in the malliot jaune, and Team Ineos right behind.
Whilst it was 35°C and Simon was being drawn to a local bar, we managed to get some semi decent pro stalking in by way of the Team Sunweb bus that was parked up round the corner from our appartment.
After a bit of drawling at the very nice Cervelo R5s and S5s that were ready for the warm down session, Nico Roache and Michael Bling Matthews appeared. Nico looked immaculate but Bling looked shot.
I had a quick chat with him and then he disappeared into the bus. Next up was Laurens Du Plus from Jumbo Visma on his was back to their bus.
All that was left to do was to find a decent bar and we came up trumps on one of the side streets where a funk soul jazz fusion band was warming up.
Tomorrow looks a whole lot more challenging with the Izoard and the Galibier to climb...
It's not the Alps proper, but still looks pretty mountainous to me.
Anyway, after a discussion with the local Gendarmerie around whether we could go down a closed road (non) and a convoluted Google Translate / Gmail conversation with the owner of the appartment we finally found the key taped to the back of the shutters.
A quick change then it was the chance to give the legs their first test with some hills around Gap. Guv choose to go fully paniered up so I took the lead and did the first bit of sad middle aged racing again a French bloke up one of the climbs.
Hopefully, G will act out the same tomorrow against Pinot, just a lot faster.
After a few detours due to road closures and more unsuccessful discussions with the Gendarmerie we just made it back in time for the finish of the stage.
We wedged in by the flamme rougue and saw Matteo Trentin shoot past on to another win for Mitchelson Scott, 30 seconds ahead of Kasper Asgreen and the rest of the 33 man break.
The bunch came in 20 minutes later with Alaphilippe resplendent in the malliot jaune, and Team Ineos right behind.
Whilst it was 35°C and Simon was being drawn to a local bar, we managed to get some semi decent pro stalking in by way of the Team Sunweb bus that was parked up round the corner from our appartment.
After a bit of drawling at the very nice Cervelo R5s and S5s that were ready for the warm down session, Nico Roache and Michael Bling Matthews appeared. Nico looked immaculate but Bling looked shot.
I had a quick chat with him and then he disappeared into the bus. Next up was Laurens Du Plus from Jumbo Visma on his was back to their bus.
All that was left to do was to find a decent bar and we came up trumps on one of the side streets where a funk soul jazz fusion band was warming up.
Tomorrow looks a whole lot more challenging with the Izoard and the Galibier to climb...
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