30 June, 2012
Stage 7 from Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles and my first day in the mountains. In the Vosges mountains today, the low mountains rather than the big alpine mountains to come. Nevertheless it was hot today and the final climb was steep.
La Planche des Belles Filles is the first summit finish of this year’s Tour. The average gradient is 8.5% but the final ramp up to the ski station hits 14% with a short stretch of 22% near the finish line.
29 June, 2012
Stage 6 from Epernay to Metz and my strongest day riding yet, shame about the thunderstorm half way through the ride.
And after today’s stage it was an hour in the car from Metz to Nancy where hooray, finally a fully working Wi-Fi connection for the first time since leaving Liege. So, I have completed the first week of my Tour de France charity cycle ride and happy to report that after 760 miles I have no aches or pains to speak of.
28 June, 2012
Stage 5 from Rouen to Saint-Quentin and it was a flat one. The thunderstorms that were forecast didn’t materialise and in fact the weather just keeps improving.
I’m sure I saw 32°C as I rode through a town towards the end of the day and while the factor 50 sun cream Kay applied did its job it did tend to attract a lot of midges.
27 June, 2012
Stage 4 from Abbeville to Rouen and despite the weather remaining unsettled today is the first day I can honestly say I really enjoyed riding since beginning my Tour.
26 June, 2012
Stage 3 from Orchies to Boulogne-sur-Mer and happy days. A hilly finish in Boulogne but loving French roads and finally getting feeling back in my hands.
25 June, 2012
Stage 2 from Vise to Tournai today and I was very happy this morning because no aches or pains despite the awful conditions and my tumble on wet cobbles yesterday. Strong headwind most of the day but at least I was warm and the rain held off.
24 June, 2012
Stage 1 from Liege to Seraing was more challenging than I could rver have imagined. Atrocious weather and near hypothermic at the end. Oh, and I slipped on wet cobbles on the way back to the hotel. A very, very tough day in the saddle. Long, hilly, cold, wet and windy. And did I mention it was cold, wet and windy.
23 June, 2012
Happy to report I’m in Liege and my Tour de France kicked off at 6pm this evening when I rode the Prologue, or a version of it. Proved a bit tricky to navigate and ride and I hope this wasn’t a sign of things to come. It’s not easy cycling around Liege on a Saturday evening.
18 June, 2012
A big thank you to my sister Adrienne for today’s sports massage. Last one before I leave for Belgium. Painful as ever but legs feeling all the better for it.
17 June, 2012
Not long now until my Tour de France for Teenage Cancer Trust kicks off in Liege. And just in time my new cycling kit arrived today.
