El Diablo

We met the famous El Diablo today. He was not allowed up to the summit, as he has apparently sold out his brand to sponsors. I am sure we will see him again. Here’s the picture.

Humility in the Pyrenees

OK--so today was the first day, a 30 mile ride, with 3,300 feet of climbing--just a warm-up as we join the main route of the tour tomorrow. We are in Vielha Spain for two days and then back to Lourdes as the tour circles the mountain passes in the region--the 100th year of the Pyrenees in the Tour. Training for 6 months, and the first day seemed to smack me in the face. I guess riding around New Canaan, CT and spinning at the Wall Street Equinox doesn’t totally prepare one for some serious mountain climbing. What was I thinking? Pride is now properly checked at the door, and I settle in on the realization that just completing the week will be a huge success. Losing some precious seconds on the final climb to our 3 main wolf-pack does not build confidence! My motivation will be the support I feel from my wife and kids from the other side of the world. Sometimes in running marathons, the only thing that you think about are those that are waiting at the finish--and it gets you through to the end. Only strange highlight of the day, was a hint from our guide to take a left at the bear in Arties--and he was right, there was a literal bear in a fenced pen on the side of the road.

Stage 15 waits tomorrow, Town of Bagneres finish, and a few major climbs over Port de Bales, Col du Portillon and potentially Col de Peyresourde. We don’t ride all of the course because of road access, but will do all of the major climbs, sometimes on different days as the main field.

Lourdes--The Torchlight Procession

A fitting start to the week took place this evening in Lourdes, the first stop on the eve of our first ride into the Pyrenean mountains. Lourdes is a small foothill town, famous for a water grotto and the free floating apparition of Mary that appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Lourdes is a major place of pilgrimage and alleged miraculous healings derived from a pure source of water which comes out of the grotto. Of course, I had to take a drink and preserve some water for later, and also decided that all water bottles this week must be constituted with Cyto-Grotto. We had the chance to participate in the Torchlight Marian Procession, where thousands of people from around the world walked around the square of Rosary Basilica at sundown. Hundreds of worshippers and pilgrims in hand-drawn wheelchairs and or lying in beds with wheels were rolled around the square. The crowd of thousands recited the rosary and sang the Lourdes Hymn while carrying paper shaded candles. Truly interesting to behold, and you could feel the faith and devotion of the people there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary_of_Our_Lady_of_Lourdes#The_Grotto

So tonight, with grotto water dried on my thighs, I dream of tomorrow's first ride in the mountains.

Cycling Prep Links

Just a few sites I found interesting and used for prep for this ride.

The tour company is backroads.com.
I bought most of my gear from coloradocyclist.com and procyclegear.com.
I used a high-altitude training system (sleep high and train low)--yes sleeping in a tent from
hypoxico.com.
For another blog, but I will have honey powering me from my hive brushymountainbeefarm.com.

Overview of the Stages/Riding Schedule

To give you a sense of the riding, this is the estimated schedule:

Sunday, Race Stage 14: Revel to Ax3 DomainesMonday, Race Stage 15: Pamiers to Bagnères-de-Luchon (75 miles 8,630 feet elevation gain)
Tuesday, Race Stage 16: Bagnères-de-Luchon to Pau (100 miles 11,140 feet elevation gain)
Wednesday, Race Rest Day: Col d' Aubisque (62 miles 4,450 feet elevation gain)
Thursday, Race stage 17: Pau to Col du Tourmalet (60 miles 5,630 feet elevation gain)
Friday, Race Stage 18: Salies-de-Béarn to Bordeaux (640 feet elevation gain)

The biggest test will be Stage 16, which is set up to be the most grueling and historic of this year's race, with a series of vicious passes--Col de Peyresourde, d'Aspin, du Tourmalet and d'Aubisque, before finishing in Pau.