Having waited patiently (my version, with patience is not being one of my virtues) for the last few days for the clouds to disappear, and having tracked the weather forecast and watched the skies continuously, I opened the curtains this morning to see nothing but blue sky. The big ride was on! The support crew dropped me off on the top of the Col d'Aspin so I could do the 12km descent down the Arreau side to start the actual ride. As I did so they headed back towards and up the Tourmalet to meet me (much) later at the top.I rode the other side of the Col d'Aspin yesterday so it was nice to see the other side today. It was a little tougher but very scenic with amazing views down to Arreau. Having been on the summit many times now there was no need to loiter, so it was quickly down the hill and along the valley to the base of the Col du Tourmalet. The climb starts in the small town of Saint Marie de Campan and here I had another lump-in-the-throat / emotional moment making the famous left turn to start the ascent that so many professionals and legends of the Tour have done before me. I also quickly passed the farmhouse Nicola and I sheltered in as spectators during the 2004 tour and had a grin to myself. The climb was packed with tourists and cyclists making this by far the busiest road I have ridden on so far. The climb up to the ski station of La Mongie, where Ivan Basso beat Lance Armstrong in the 2004 edition we watched, was tough but consistent so I could get a rhythm going and grind up the hill.
By the time I got to La Mongie my legs were screaming but I had still had 4km to go. There were no way that I was going to stop so I kept the pedals turning. As I got to the final turn before the summit I saw the support crew cheering me on which was awesome and inspired me to do a final effort to get to the top. It was a very emotional moment reaching the summit and seeing the famous statue of Octave Lapize, the rider to ride over the Tourmalet when the Tour went over the first time in 1910 (and as he did so shouted at the race organisers that they were assassins). When the family caught up with me it was great to share the achievement with them and Nicola took pictures of the kids and I to capture the moment for prosperity. What a memorable and special day.
Tomorrow, given my legs are struggling to get me up the gite staircase right now, a rest day is needed. Heather has requested a visit to a chateau (she is her mother's daughter after all) which works for me just so long as there are no stairs.
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