Tourmalet

We decided to climb the tourmalet the day after the race had gone over it due to the huge crowds on race day and it looks like it was a good idea as the next day the road was still gridlocked with cars and campers trying to get off the mountain.
The road starts to rise as soon as we left our hotel but only at about 4% but when you reach Marie St Campan it kicks up to 9% and hovers around there for 15 ks then at la mongie it has a few ramps at 10%
the views are breathtaking, we came across a herd of cows that blocked the roads and were in no mood to move,then I rounded a bend to find lamas on the road!
The heat and the thin air made it hard going but when you reach the summit at 2150 metres and hear the cheers of the crowd as you reach the summit make all the pain and suffering worthwhile.
After a coffee in the summit cafe which is a museam of sorts with the walls adorned with old photos of cyclings legends and memorobilia.  We then  descended 19 km to a lovely village for lunch.
We rode a bike path for 20 ks then stopped on the tour route at 4 k to go and watched the race go by,
After riding thru loudes we had a fast downhill run back to the hotel.
I have watched the tour go over the tourmalet many times and have dreamed of climbing it.I am in awe of the pros now that I know how hard it is.
Tomorrow we ride to les cabannes and the climb of plateau de beille.