[DVBC] DVBC at TDF

[eric zwicky]

larry,

excellent report, thanks!

we'll be at the col d'aubisque stage, staying in eaux-bonnes, just down 
the mountain.    we'll be at the hotel de la poste from the 21st to the 
26th.   is anybody else going to be there?

-eric



Larry Green wrote:
> Larry and Cheryl were in fact in Autun at the finish of stage 5. Cheryl 
> and Don watched from their hotel window and Ann and I watched from a 
> wall further up the road just before the Flame Rouge- 1Km marker. (I did 
> wear my DVBC jersey).
> The crowd was mostly French and a mixture of other Europeans, very few 
> Americans and other tourists in this part of France.
> We enjoyed our picnic lunch and the endless caravan tossing items- hats, 
> t- shirts, food, bags, purses, etc to the fans along the route. Since 
> this was the first hilly stage, so the riders arrived in small groups- 
> Hincapie and Leipheimer in the first rush, then  a long series of 2's 
> and singles with the Americans Zabrieski and Vandervelde at the end. 
> Horner and the other Americans were somewhere, but too hard to find.
> Big dinner with the townspeople that night in the square- French 
> entertainment Las Vegas style and music long into the night.
> The cycle clubs in the towns along the 5th stage sponsored a public 
> stage ride 5 days before the arrival of the Tour. They staff the course 
> very much like our tours with local clubs at the rest stops.
> Our group and our bikes traveled by van to Avallon- about 90 miles from 
> Autun and waited for the riders from Chablis and the other towns along 
> the way to arrive- then we were off.
> Cheryl and I had not ridden for 5 days and had not been on our 
> reassembled bikes until that AM.
> No Excuse.
> The course was immediately hilly with long climbs and descents after 
> navigating the cobblestone streets in Avallon. We were quickly at the 
> back and there we rode, just ahead of the broom wagon. Eventually it was 
> decided for us that we should accept some van time and we did along with 
> someone from our group who had trashed his BB.
> My foot was killing me and I was ready to quit, but Cheryl encouraged me 
> to keep going and off we went again. (Our friend's Campy BB was repaired 
> with a channel wrench from the local tech staff.)
> We were actually keeping up with some of the locals at this point. At 
> the next rest stop, however, our guide suggested that we be taken on an 
> alternate route for the final section, since they did not want to wait 
> for us to slog over the last 2 major cat 2 and 3 climbs into town. We 
> did that, and ended with 56.5 miles of the 90 mile route. OK with me, 
> all things considered. Ask Cheryl.
> I felt it was a wonderful trip overall, with time in Paris,  the TDF 
> experience, great meals, wine, accommodations, tours, scenery, 
> challenging rides and excellent support.
> I logged 242 unforgettable miles over 6 riding days, one shorted by 
> heavy rains. No riding in Paris, the day of the vineyard tours and a 
> second self- chosen rest day the day of the TDF.
> I hope everyone gets the opportunity to do this sometime.
> Larry/Doc
> 
> 
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