A short transfer to our next stage start. Today looked like a challenging stage with Category climbs including 2 Cat 1s. It turned out to be my hardest day …. started physically tired and with heavy legs , I made hard work of the first Cat 1 climb and although the climbing wasn't brutal with 1500 miles in the legs they were made to feel much harder. Technical issues on the bike made the morning ride difficult to say the least , though they were resolved at the first feedstation by mechanics.
The weather then had its say (again), thunderstorms and torrential rain seemed to have followed us on this tour and many riders including myself were caught out without the right clothing as we cycled through the moors in atrocious conditions. We made it to the next feed station were we able to warm up in blankets and foil before heading off again, some riders decided it was tooo much and called it a day !!
The architecture changed over the following miles as we rolled through beautiful French towns all of which seemed to have wonderful churches and chateauxs and the occasional castle !!
Legs were feeling a little stronger as we started the final Cat 1 of the day Col de Peyra, just over 8 km rising to 19% toward the end of the climb.
Relieved to complete the climb,again in a thunderstorm, the remaining 30 km was mainly downhill thank goodness and on a fairly quick riding day we arrived at Le Puy en Velay, where we get to spend 2 nights in the same hotel and our second rest rest day.
That is an absolute treat ….. weary body and legs that is exactly what is needed !!?
That may have been your hardest point yet, Gerard! Two more big stages after today's to Romans-sur-Isere: and then it's all downhill from there!