Tour update

Left the hotel at 8.30 am and rode to Marie St Campan Where we turned off the tour route and climbed up the Col D'ASpin which tops out at 1490 meters.a gentle climb by tour standards at about 7% average for 8 km.the view from the top was stunning.
aS we climbed we had superb views of the valley below and we we serenaded by the cows jangling their cowbells.
tHe roads are jam packed with cyclists so you have to keep your wits about you when screaming down the mountain,I must comment on the patience of the French motorist and public.they never get upset by bike riders and are constantly waving and calling out encouragement ,pity it's not like that at home!
AFter riding along the valley we turned off at immediately climbed a section that was 14%!
I thought my legs were about to explode but luckily after 200 metres it turned then leveled out to start the climb of the Hourquet D'ancien a climb that has never been used in the tour before.the road had been closed down to cars the day before as it was full! The lower slopes were packed with people walking to the summit.
this climb is 9 km at an average of 6% and reaches 1520 metres a really nice climb thru the forest .just to put a perspective to how these climbs are whangapoua hill is 3km long and rises 350 metres!

The road was lined with cars and camper vans and families picnicking,some had been there 2 days!they clapped and cheered every rider and yelled " allez allez" it really helps you to keep going with that sort of encouragement.
when we reached the summit we stopped and waited for the race to come along .but before that we were entertained by the publicity caravan which I will report on with pics at another time,it is just madness! Hard to describe the noise as it goes by with tons of free trinkets thrown out to the crowd! Great fun!
An hour later the race comes up the mountain.after endless motorbikes and cars the riders come into view,a small group of 4 are out in front I'm amazed at how fast they are going the noise of the crowd is deafening,I find myself screaming like a banshee at the riders.4minutes later the peloton goes by they get screamed at too!
As soon as the last rider had gone by we got back on the bikes and headed back down the valley with thousands of other cyclists and found a bar to watch the race on tv.
4.5 hours riding covering 83 km and 3800 calories! Mind you I have a liking for fine French pastries so replacing them is no problem!
Will put some pics up as soon as I can. Bon nuit from Bagneres De Bigore