Stage 16

Hi Guys

Today was stage 16 of the Tour with the GC contenders attempting to get some time back on Contador. Our ride was up the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard. 22.7km average gradient @ 5.1%. It is a nice steady climb for the group to test their legs before tomorrow’s ride which has 3 category climbs! After a quick photo at the top of the left over snow and KOM banner we descended down into the local village to watch the race come by before heading inside to watch the final on TV and also to rehydrate!!
Even though Contador is now the outright leader for Team Astana, Lance was still able to show he has some spring in the old legs. Tomorrow’s stage will again be a chance for the GC contenders to claw back some time on Contador, it won’t happen but will be fun to watch!
I hope everyone is enjoying their training and i look forward to catching up with everyone next week.Cheers Gilly

Heading to Italy

Monday
The teams in the Tour enjoyed their 2nd rest day but for us we need to continue heading south to the Alpes to pick up the race 1st thing Tuesday. Our ride was a steady 80km ride from Beaune to Cluny. Cluny was at the centre of the religious world at the start of the millennium. The orginal abbey was funded in 910 AD. Not much remains of the Abbey but the local racing track and horses enjoy the remains for stables.
After lunch in the beautiful town we hoped on our bus to drive a few hours south to Chamonix and is nestles near Mont Blanc the highest peak in Europe. Mont Blanc is an amazing 4807m above sea level.
Check out the view from our room for the next 3 days.
Tomorrow we hit the hills for the 1st time.
Ciao Gilly

Leaving Paris

Hi Team
It has been a few days before the last update. Things have been busy with picking new riders up from Paris on Saturday before leave to head south towards the Alpes early Sunday morning. Our first group ride was an easy 50km down wind journey to our overnight stay in Beaune. Beaune is in the centre of the Burgundy wine region, very Nice! The town centre is surrounded by a stone wall.
In terms of the Tour it finally became interesting with some unbelievable riding by Contador to almost seal his 2nd Tour De France victory.

Time to head to Paris

Hey Everyone

After a few days of riding around Mazamet it is time to saddle up and drive north to Paris. The stay in the south of France has been great, nice quiet roads and plenty of Vino and more Vino and more Vino. To get an idea of how big cycling is here in Europe is that they have photographers on the big climbs just taking photos all day every day. I have attached a photo from Mt Ventoux.

Looking forward to getting in some long rides to get rid of off the extra kilos!!! The Tour this year has been pretty slow and negative racing but it looks like getting more exciting in the last week.

Just to let you know it is currently 30 degrees here unlike the 6 degrees back in Brisbane :) !!

Ciao Gilly

Mazamet

Hi All

Over the past few days we have been staying down in Mazamet in the South of France. We had a quick road trip to Barcelona for a day, it was a little different then what i was expecting, well hoping for. After a day there it was back to France to get ready for our next trip and the last 10 days of the TDF. The counrty side here is spectacular with quiet roads and beautiful scienary.

It is great to get out for a ride around the outer rim of the towns as well as the climb up Pic de Nore ( 17km climb ) which is only 2 km away. It is great as you ride 19km to the summit and get to ride 23km down hill home the long way back, NICE!

Back home we have a local ride called the river loop around the Brisbane river. I have attached the photos of the 35km loop we do, now label the "Mazamet River Loop"

Ciao Gilly

Satge 5

Today there was no riding for us as team for the past 6 days heads off. We loaded up the bike and travelled down to Mazamet for a few days of quiet riding some great climbs before heading down to Barcelona. I hope everyone back home is doing well, look forwarded to catching up with you all soon. Cheers Gilly

Stage 4

Team Time Trial!!!
A highlight is the team time trial. The teams averaged 50 plus KPH over 40km of tight and undulating road with a few spills along the way. We had a flat ride out to the TT course (30KM) and onto the course for a quick loop ourselves. Check out the great photo of team Saxo Bank out rolling over the course for a warm up.