A
gentler start to the day than usual. . .. if two hours in a Land rover can be
described as gentler. Anyway, the bikes were packed onto the trailer –
an impressive sight when you consider this was team “Ti/Carbon”. With
four titanium bikes and four carbon bikes totaling about $35k in hardware you
can be sure we all made sure they were on securely – the most delicate
part of the operation being the safe removal of Graeme’s $120 (each) Campagnolo
Record Carbon water bottle cages without any damage.
The course for the pro’s
was a circuit starting and ending in Grenoble and taking in some big climbs
along the way. Our plan was to ride up the descent of the days final climb,
wait at the top to watch the race then descend and head back to the chalet.
Unfortunately nobody told ENGLISH (the Navigator) the plan and he thought we
were going to pre-ride the latter route of the pros – this combined with
a French map made the trip there interesting. 
Anyway
we eventually got where we needed to be and decanted the Land Rover. After Iain
set a new world record for longest @!#$ (EVER) we started the climb of Col Du
Sarcenas, a nice gentle 14km climb (not). The climb was steep and narrow and
had quite heavy traffic – something we were not used to. No KOM points
were on offer so everyone behaved and stayed relatively close together –
2/3 of the way up Andy was waiting in a small village where we stopped for a
packed lunch that Sam had prepared then had a café stop to ease digestion.
ENGLISH bravely sampled some of the local Pizza (sans Olive) – I say brave
as you had to see the van that was selling it. Anyway after a bit of a rest
we started off on the final few KM of the climb. It was busy at the top but
nothing like in the TFD, we picked out or spots then hung about for what seemed
forever for the racers to come by. Lots of cars were going by dropping of hats
and hands, etc. So if anyone got a big red hand or green CA hat from France
and was told these were hard to come by you now know better. . . . .
Anyway
the wait was pretty boring – TFB practiced his manic run up the road much
to the amusement of the group and locals alike but only committed to do it if
David Miller was in the lead group (slim chance). Iain, Graeme, and Mike D all
waited around with the Richard Virenque fan club – funny looking bunch
. … . .all men and mostly wearing “swordfighter” shorts –
didn’t get the attraction myself but the lads seemed happy there. Anyway
we picked out what I’m sure you will agree (by the quality of the images)
the best stretch on the road and our antics were suffice than nobody dared to
invade our turf. After more false starts that I care to remember a couple of
‘12 year old girls on bikes’ finally made their way up the hill –
Sandy Cesar, FDJ (I later found out) and 
Stuart
O’Grady (Cofidis and in the green jersey). Funny how sprinters look big
on TV – that’s only in comparison to the climbers – size, or
lack therof aside, it is impressive to see these machines ascend the Cols. OK
so this was not the TDF and this was not L’Alpe D”Huez but when you
could reach out and stick a $20 down their shorts (bad analogy perhaps) it gives
you a feel of just how close you are – if only for 1 10th of a second –
as the photo’s will show.
After the show went by (surprisingly quickly) we went back to the Land Rover – the hardcore bunch – Iain, Mike D and English decided they wanted to do some more work on the bike and we were happy to cooperate with them making sure Andy drove at least 5 miles and 1000ft (ascent) further than they wanted to arriving in St. Pierre. After this it was a quick stretch then back Bourg for a good nights sleep and in the morning L’Alpe D’Huez.
Oh, dinner . . .. .how could I forget. Sunday so it had to be a roast. If my memory serves me correctly and it usually does when concerning matters of eating it was Roast Lamb with mint jelly and creamed potatoes. I also recall some home made strawberry ice-cream with fresh strawberries. Interestingly enough this was the first night the carafes were not refilled – can’t think why.
Photo’s:
O’Grady – Blurred but demonstrates the speed they were going up a
long steep climb (12km, 8% avg).
Tyler – you can just see Mayo’s jersey exit right, Tyler is main shot with Oscar Sevilla behind him and Lance behind and to the left of Sevilla. Note also Tyler wears a Bell helmet wheras Sevilla & company have Catlike lids.
Virenque & Mike - Richard is at the back of his group but still close to the front of the race – Mike is also in shot.
Our Turf – Malboro Man and ENGLISH stake out our road – Iain, tom and Andy are in there somewhere.