Geoff Thomas Foundation

STAGE EIGHTEEN

CAHORS TO ANGOULEME, 211 km

WITH Geoff still ruled out and helping - or should that be hindering? - the
support staff, he leaves the diary duties today to rider and cancer survivor
DAVE GRANGER.

TODAY'S stage through the Dordogne went very well. It was a nice stage, the
first half especially, as we went through some lovely medieval villages, built
into rock faces alongside a river.

Then, after we stopped for a lunch break, things seemed to go even better, It
took a while to get going again after the stop. As it has done all Tour, it took
me about 25-30 minutes to get the heaviness out of my legs. But everyone needed
the lunch stop to recharge the batteries and, after that, the miles seemed to
fly by.

Before we knew it, we had another quick stop and there was only 35 miles to
go. There was also a 50 km flat section in the middle which helped because a lot
of today was rolling terrain which tend to sap your energy and break your
rhythm.

All in all, we rode extremely well as a team, averaging over 17 mph for the
130-plus mile stage and, for me personally, it's hard to believe we are so close
to the finish in Paris.

One of the big disappointments of the past few days has been the fact that
Geoff has been too unwell to ride. He was such an inspiration to so many people
when he did this two years ago and was such an inspiration when he was on the
bike over this Tour. Since he has been off the bike, he has been just as helpful
to us all as a member of the support crew.

In fact, all of us riders have been fortunate with the support we have
received from our family and friends. Not only did we get that support while we
were being treated for cancer but we have benefited from that support while we
have been training for the Tour. For us to be able to give up three weeks of our
lives like this takes sacrifice from those around us as well as the riders
ourselves.

In training with all the guys before we came out here, doing rides like the
Polka Dot Challenge and the Tramway, I really thought I would struggle
throughout the Tour. I've really surprised myself that I have got stronger as
the Tour has gone on.

When we get to Paris on Tuesday, that will mark a year to the day since I was
diagnosed with throat cancer. The next day, I had my tonsils removed then three
weeks later had my lymph nodes removed from the left side of my neck. Finally, I
had six weeks of radiotherapy from September to early December although,
obviously, I still had the after effects to deal with.

It wasn't until April, when I went on holiday to Australia, that I was able
to eat properly. Until then, I was being fed through a tube in my stomach. So,
after all that, I wasn't able to start training properly until the beginning of
May.

Before cancer, I had competed in the triathlon world championships at my age
group and done the Ironman so I had competed at a reasonable level.

I met Griz and his Cyclists Fighting Cancer charity through a mutual friend,
Arjo van Vliet, at the end of last year. Mike called me and told me about the
Tour, asked if I'd be interested and I asked him for the night to sleep on it. I
called him back half an hour later to tell him I was in!

I just wanted a challenge again, a way of moving forward after my illness.
I've always been a Tour de France fan, ever since I was a kid and watched Eddy
Merckx. As kids, we used to race each other and pretend to be whoever the Tour
leader was so this has been a dream come true for me. It's like the World Cup,
the Olympics for me. I thought the Triathlon world championships were something
else, but this has been just unbelievable.

After my treatment, I was given the all-clear by my consultant although, as
he says, nothing is certain in life. But when I told my consultant what I was
planning to do, he said I was crazy, given the problems I have with my mouth and
throat although, knowing me as he does, he wished me well and sponsored me!

The after effects of radiotherapy have left my mouth and throat
hyper-sensitive and I'm unable to produce saliva. Hence, it takes me twice as
long to eat a meal because I don't have the fluid to wash it down. It's the same
on the bike where I have survived on SIS gels and pots of rice pudding and
custard! The SIS energy stuff has got me through this.

Eating was the biggest worry for me before the Tour, being able to get enough
energy and calories down me. In all the miles we've done, I have had the same
SIS Go Bar in my pocket and eaten about three-quarters of it!

So I was really concerned that I would slow the lads down but that hasn't
been the case and I felt that I really came into my own in the mountains. I rode
a few on my own, which was great, because you could focus on your own pace. Then
I rode a few others with Steve Timmins and Ian Whittell which also helped as
they dragged my backside up some of the tougher climbs.

The only really bad day I had was before the rest day in Val d'Isere when I
came down with a viral infection. I have struggled with my mouth and throat most
days but kept on top of it with pain killers but, in Val d'Isere, I thought I
was finished. Thankfully, we had a rest day and a visit to the doctor saved me.

That was my lowpoint. I thought I was going to have to quit and I thought of
all the people I would be letting down. My partner Sandra, who I had only been
going out with for three months when I was diagnosed, stuck by me and has been a
tower of strength. She has a hairdressing business and, through her clients, she
has raised about ?1,500 in sponsorship. Her support has been unbelievable, so
has her family and my family - my daughters Michelle and Joanne, my sister Sue,
my brother-in-law Paul.

I remember during the first week, waking up every morning so fatigued
wondering how I would get through the day ahead. Now we're nearly there. And, if
I had to pick a highlight of the Tour, I would say it has been the help and
support I've received from all the other riders. There was one day, in
particular, when we had left the Alps when we had a brutal stage into Marseille.
It was hot, windy, I was having trouble with my throat and we split into two
groups because Griz was having problems as well. Me, Steve and Whitts rode over
100 miles together and the help those two gave me got me through. It was
amazing.

You find out a lot about yourself, and a lot about your family and friends,
at times like this.