SUNDAY JULY 15TH
STAGE SIX
SEMUR-EN-AUXOIS TO BOURG-EN-BRESSE 199.5 km
THE first thing an experienced Tour de France hand like myself learns about
the great race is this: Don't believe a word that the guide books and route
plans tell you. Why? Well just take the day we have just experienced.
This was a 125-mile stroll through a slice of France, ending in the foothills
of the Alps, apparently. A last chance for the sprinters before the mountains
was how every magazine and book I read described it.
In cyclist's speak, that means this was a flat stage suited to the big, more
muscular guys who are good on the flat and in sprinting for the finishing line
but are too heavy to compete with the thin mountain goats who go flying up the
hills.
What the cycling magazines DON'T tell you is that you have to ride it into a
gale-force head wind and the pancake flat profile that they show you is actually
an endless, day-long trial over rolling roads that are never flat. We seemed to
be either climbing or descending all day long and that was no fun at all.
There were two cat four climbs on the stage but, really, any one of a half
dozen others could have been given that ranking as well. I keep saying this is
the hardest day yet but this undoubtedly was.
If you're a cycling fan, you'll know that this was the stage two days ago
when Britain's Bradley Wiggins made an heroic lone breakway for the stage win,
only to get caught near the end. No wonder! If the head wind Bradley had to
contend with was anything like the one we had in our faces for ten hours today,
he'd have had no chance.
There must have been a 20 mph head wind all day and it was a battle to get
any momentum going whatsoever. We were actually heading into some difficulties
with our e.t.a. until we took the executive decision to shelter behind one of
the Land Rovers for a few miles just to cover distance more quickly. On that
subject, Danielle and Becky who is from the Foundation and joined us today did
us proud in driving at the right speeds without killing us, themselves or other
motorists.
Yet again, the lads battled gamely, but this was not the sort of day we
wanted with two days in the Alps to come on Monday and Tuesday.
Peter Slater, from our sponsors SIS, performed heroically again, leading on
the front for far more than his fair share and making sure all the lads stayed
in a group and helping those who fell off the back.
And, I have to say, I have surprised myself with how good I have been feeling
over this first week, certainly compared with two years ago. There is no doubt
that I am fitter and a better cyclist but there is still that nagging worry that
my legs are about to blow at any minute and I guess that is down to confidence
or psychology more than anything. Let's put it this way I'm not exactly dying
for the mountains to start tomorrow.
The headwind ruined what should have been a stunning day, riding through yet
more staggeringly beautiful French countryside. We started in Burgundy and ended
in the foothills of the Alps and passed by some stunning chateaux and vineyards
but not even they could distract us for long from the torture we were facing.
And, again as I have been every day this week, I was left full of admiration
for how the boys came through. Put simply, these boys all feel privileged to
still be around to be able to do something like this and they all want to help
people in similar situations to them. That is why I am doing everything I can
with the help of people like Ian Wright to get THEIR message across. This year,
as I have already said, is more about them than it is me.
One of those lads Steve Timmins has also defied all reasonable laws of
cycling and physiology by wearing a long-sleeved shirt for a second straight day
despite the temperature nudging 90 today. I'm respectful of the dangers of skin
cancer we all are and Steve did get a little red a couple of days earlier. But
he must currently be the hottest man in France! The other side effect of that is
that every time we stop for food and water, Steve is plastering on the factor 50
(that's no exaggeration). It's like riding round France with Caspar the Friendly
Ghost for company!
Talking of company, some more of it has just arrived in our hotel in
Bourg-en-Bresse, in the form of Dan Ellmore who runs our kit sponsors Impsport.
I've probably said already how good we look in our team apparel and that is all
down to Dan and his support in providing us with kit and leisure wear. We might
not ride like pros, but we certainly look like them.
Dan is very welcome as our guest for the next seven days but, bearing in mind
he and his business are based in Lincoln, I hope he has been doing some secret
hill climbing.
He will be on the front tomorrow, protecting us all from this terrible wind,
as we head into the Alps proper. The day ends with a climb of the fearsome
Colombiere. We are going to need all the help that Dan, and anyone else for that
matter, can offer us.
