Stage 10 Pau - Hautacam (100 miles)
The hardest day so far in the tour, recovered well from yesterday but still tired which compared with todays heat peaking at 100 degrees, made it a really difficult day. Completed a couple of Category 3 climbs before lunch and then the tough haul began towards the Col de Tourmlet. The day seemed to be one long climb, which suddenly got harder once I began the 10.5 miles to 6,600 ft. I can only describe this as torture on a bike, got to the top after 1.5hrs then sped down the other side to the foot of the Hautacam. As if I hadn’t had enough I then faced the second horse category ( hardest catgory there is) climb of the day. The 8.5 mile climb to the ski station was incredibly tough but thanks to Stuarts help for cycling the 5 km with me, and the motor home headlights that lit the way to the top, I made it. Arriving at 9pm we decided to spend the night at the summit surrounded by livestock and lightning as thunder storms lit up the valley below.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Bonjour! To you all. Have caught up with the news from “the tour” and sounds like you are doing great. We left the Dordogne on Thursday with temperatures soaring well in to the 30’s so can understand what it must be like for you ( well, obviously not the bike bit…..and the hills etc..) Keep up the Good Work!!
Take Care
Martine & Stuart