“They have seen him here, they have seen him there,

Those Frenchies have seen him everywhere,

Comme l’escargot oop the hill, mais allez vite doon,

That slightly less overweight cycleman, Coons”

A hell of an experience let me tell you. The Tour de France is a phenomenal physical challenge and I hand selected 4 stages I thought I could do which were stages 11, 12, 18 and 19. Stages 11 and 12 are done and I still have 18 and 19 to do this week. Stage 12 was a beast and I actually wrote the blog for that day on the website, which you can read at www.tourdeforce.org.uk. I apologise for the illiteracy on my blog but it was late and we were tired.

 

I started in Sisteron at the foot of the Alps and ended in Mende in the foot of the Pyranees, amounting to 400k (240m) in two days. You will note that I carefully avoided either of the actual mountain stages but what I had not taken into account was that in doing so we still had to cross the Massif Centrale. Yes it was as massive as it sounds. We climbed nearly 12,000 feet and cycled 130 odd miles that day and it was pretty brutal but hugely satisfying and jaw droppingly beautiful. It is not an area of France that I been to before but I will definitely be coming back (preferably on far less environmentally friendly transport).

Stage 18 was reading 47 degree heat on the road (yes celcius) and, needless to say, it was flipping hot. To add to the joy it was 190k of the most boring countryside in France. What seemed like eternal Gascon forest. Why they call it a forest I do not know as it seemed more like a scrub with precious little shade from trees. Nonetheless we got through consuming around 12 bottles of water each and the odd Orangina in the process. Stage 19 was the Bordeaux stage ending up in Pauillac. When in Haut Medoc……..

There is a great article in the Telegraph written by Rod Gilmour, one of the other cyclists, which you can read at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/7889134/Tour-de-France-2010-my-hell-in-heaven.html.  Not too sure what to make of Bradley Wiggins’ comments. Thanks again to all of you who sponsored me. Hugely appreciated. Those who I have slipped onto the list who haven’t, feel free but certainly not obliged. A great cause, I assure you.

The Trust was set up by the family of William Wates who died in his gap year in South America in 1996. It has raised over £1m to help the most disadvantaged young people keep away from a life of crime and violence, and to fulfill their potential. A good cause I hope you agree. It supports charities that benefit children as individuals (aged from 5-19) and that takes them on an intensive journey to enable them back into the system in London and the South East.