Logistics

I received my final l’etape pack with hotel instructions and details about being picked up etc. It is all a bit too close for comfort now and I have to finalise the logistics. It turns out that I need a bike box so that is yet another investment I have had to make. I have also finally been forced into making a decision on driving down after dithering with flight plans. With John pulling out I was not sure about driving down on my own for 12 hours before the ride but I have no choice now as there is no space in the airport transfer bus. I will try and recruit a driving buddy between now and then and book my Eurotunnel crossing.

There are a number reviews of the l’etape stage online that make good reading. (CycleFit's L'etape Recce; Kingston Wheelers Recce) It turns out that you can see the Mt Ventoux from almost every point of the ride as the route takes the riders around the base before the climb. So for 6 hours it will be casually sitting there over the riders shoulder waiting for its time to say hello. Marvellous! 3 weeks of training to go and I have completely wasted this week, I was driving home on Monday and needed the day off, Tue and Wed were spent in Germany on business wth no free time – even though I took my running gear. So this week has become a recovery week and I have two heavy weeks then one final recovery week before driving down to Montelimar. I will try and get in at least two “century” rides in before then so I can practice nutrition and try and eke out a bit more endurance.