Riding in part of the 100th Tour De France this year was an unforgettable experience! I was riding with my brothers Lloyd & Brad and some of my close cycling mates which made it even more special. We joined the Tour just before the Alps stages started, rode Mont Ventoux on day 1, a 20km climb with over 2000 meters of vertical ascent. For most people without a serious “granny gear” this mountain would not be ridable.
On day two, the tours rest day we rode 120km through Provence with a few relatively easy climbs and later that week had the privilege of riding arguably the most famous of the Alps climbs, Alpe D’Huez, 15km climb with 1200 meters of verticle ascent and 21 switch backs. Fortunately for us we only had to ride it once where the Tour Professionals had to ride it twice in the same day. These pro cyclists are seriously super human! We also got to see two stage starts which was chaos with thousands of cycling supporters and fans all trying to see a piece of daily signing in & start action.
Europeans are incredibly passionate about cycling and this sport is enormous over there. Another highlight for us was bumping into so many other South African cycling mad tourists who all carried around SA Flags proudly, especially after our very own Darryl Impey was the tour leader in yellow for two days during the first week of the tour. Christopher Froome was the ultimate winner of the Tour De France 2013 and although he rides for Britain he spent most of his younger years being educated at school & university in SA so we would like to claim him as partially South African. We are now back home with lots of photographs, new cycling friends and happy Tour memories and can’t wait for next year’s Tour.
Viva Le Tour!
Rhett
