Cycling a Tour de France Stage | L’etape du Tour (130km 4500m)

welcome back to another day suffering in the high mountains of the French Alps on my bike. What a sport. Thanks to Sports Tours International for the opp, check out their roster of bucket list cycling races/events and experiences here – http://bit.ly/3GcORKt

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00:00 Trailer
01:29 Intro & Sports Tours International
04:05 Shakeout ride
06:20 Final prep & Expo
08:02 L’Etape du Tour

Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Afternoon. [Music] [Music] We are back in Le Alps for another another day of suffering in the high mountains of France. This is the Latap the tour weekend. We’re out again with Sports Tours International. If you weren’t aware, I did the Marmott Grand Fondo with them last month. It was one of the toughest days I’ve ever had in endurance sports up there, rivaling some of my toughest marathons. I never thought I would suffer as bad on a bike as I did in marathons, but it was very comparable to be honest. I’m gone. I’m dead. So, I thought we come and do it again at the tap tour. This is the official tour to France Sportif. Stage 19 is what’s in store for us. 130 km, 4,500 m. Basically a lot of climbing. So there’s 16,000 people doing this event, which has got to make it one of the biggest sports in Europe for sure. It’s going to be incredible. There’s 200 people out here with sports tours as well. Sports tours offer sort of packages for race events and stuff like that and they cover all the logistics. So for example, today the race through them, they pick me up from the airport in Geneva. They’ve got a big coach where they load up all the bikes and the luggage and that and then they take everyone and drop them off at their accommodation that they also book for us. So, it’s pretty sound. It just takes out the logistical stress of planning an event in a location like this cuz the Alps is just it’s very difficult to get logistically from A to B most of the time unless you just rent a car. And knowing where to book accommodation is is quite difficult as well if you’ve not been here before. Them guys know all this stuff. They’ve been doing it for donkeys years. So, have a look at some of their packages if you are interested in doing some kind of event. If you if you like suffering just like I do, have a gander cuz they got marathons, cycling events, loads of stuff. So today is Friday. This is just like a settling in day building the bikes, checking everything is okay. Saturday we have the expo where we go around similar to marathons really. Just go around an exhibition that they’ve got set up for the tap the tour, collect your race bibs and sort your final prep. And then Sunday is the big day. We are off at 720 my wave. We are the third wave of the day. They’ve got 16 waves over a thousand riders. So, gonna be carnage out on the roads, I imagine, with that many people. But, I guess we’ll find out. I think they are staggering it quite a lot. So, hopefully it won’t be uh won’t be too crowded and will be sort of thinned out a little bit. Yeah, for the rest of the day, just going to watch the time trial that’s on in the tour, get some food from the hotel, and just relax a little bit. [Music] That is what I love about these little French towns in the Alps. They’ve all just got like little drinking fountains so you can fill up your bottles and that one fresh cold alpine water. Anyway, I’m just out on a little shakeout spin just to double check. Everything is feeling okay. The bike’s functioning fine. My shoes are all right. Just got about an hour and yeah, let’s uh take it nice and easy and then we’re going to the expo this afternoon. [Music] This is basically what I’m in for for the entirety of tomorrow. Just sat at 8% gradient. Churning away the pedals, trying to hold 200 and something watts and it’s feeling uncomfortable already. I think last time in the Marmont, it did take my legs a hot minute to warm up to be honest. And this is my second ride of the week. I’ve done 45 minutes this week due to circumstances out of my control. So, my legs are feeling a little bit stiff, but I’ll sort that out today. get up this climb, get back down and do some stretching and that. So, my gearing setup for tomorrow is the same as it was at Lamar. We’ve got 5236 on the front, 11:34 on the back. And usually that is okay. But I do find myself right now wishing I just had one more gear. You know, when it when we get to the 8 9%s, I just wish I had one more smaller gear to just click into and just take away that little bit of the bite that I’m getting in the lowest gear currently. [Music] [Music] Right, we are set for the evening now. We are all good. Everything is prepped. We went to the expo earlier. It was actually a pretty good expo. Massive, very big is is what surprised me. I didn’t think it’d be that big. Obviously, it’s organized by the ASO who organized the tour and stuff like that as well. So, it was legit and there was hella loads of brands there. Pretty much every cycling brand you can think of was there with a stand in that. I didn’t get too much video whilst I was there just because it kept like pissing it down unfortunately. And the weather all day actually has been pretty strange. It’s been like overcast with bouts of stormy weather. So, I don’t know what is going to be in store for us tomorrow. But what I do know is I’m feeling about as ready as I can be and it just cannot be as bad as the Marmmont. That’s all I’m telling myself. I got around the Marmmont. I can get around this unless something goes drastically wrong. All that is left to do is try and get a good night’s sleep. But we are up at 4:30 in the morning. And does anyone ever really get a good night’s sleep the night before an event like this, especially when you got to be up at the crack of dawn? Probably not, but we’ll give it a shot anyway. going down for breakfast at half 4 and then we are getting a transfer or the coach over at half 5 starting at 7:20. So, everyone’s left their bike at the expo. So, we’re going to hopefully collect them all tomorrow morning, assuming they’re still there. Uh the event organizers have put on like a massive bike storage thing where there’s about 10,000 bikes just chilling, which is terrifying, but should be all right. I’m assuming they got some arm security out there or something to stop people from thieving the bikes, but we’ll find out in the morning. [Music] I’m in the [Music] laying the ground. [Music] Good morning. It is race day. It’s half 6 and I am all set up. My bike’s all ready to go and now I just need to find my way to the starting pen. It’s actually looking like a pretty pang day. Forecast wasn’t too grand, but I think it’s uh hopefully touchwood ain’t going to be any rain and it ain’t going to be dead. But we’ll find out. The weather changes pretty drastically around here. So, get to the start pen and have a good day. I am in the third wave out, which is good because there’s actually 16 waves. So, some people aren’t getting off until like half 8, which is a long time to wait around. [Music] Half an hour until we start. I’m feeling pretty good. You know, I was able to eat a lot of food at breakfast, which ain’t normally the case at half 4 in the morning. So, feeling positive. Getting some last minute stretching in and that, you know, got to loosen up. the the literary room. So before we get going on [Music] this guy, man. Oh, I’m getting the stupid [Music] and you say [Music] and we’re off. First 5 km. Pretty quick start to be honest. Similar to the Marmmont, everyone’s just in a massive stringed out pelaton. Probably putting down too many watts. So I need to pull over for a piss in a minute, but I don’t want to lose the group. So, I’m going to wait until we get on to the first climb of the day, which is in a couple of kilometers. [Music] Right, first climb of the day. Don’t know what name it is or how long it is or the gradient. I’m just wondering whether it’s worth putting out some extra watts to sit on a group or just going at my own tempo. I never know what’s the best thing to do or if I’d be best just riding to a heart rate. Things I probably should have thought about before got on to the first climb of the day. E, but judging by the gradient on this, I think it is a decent like steady one. I think the harder climbs are later in the day sadly. All right. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] All right. So, this first climb is 11k at 5%. Really quite nice actually. Just get in a low gear and spin away. Get your heart rate low. It’s uh an ideal climb actually. Getting up there. Scenery is looking pretty good. I can feel the scars from outdoes affecting how I want to ride today. I’m just not pushing at all. I’m scared to. What I need to do is make sure I get to the bottom of Lana at about 110k with legs enough to get up it cuz that’s 20k at 7.7% or something. That’s going to be a grueler. And ideally, I don’t want another situation like outdoors where I have to stop every 3 seconds. Sorry to tell you this, but I don’t have anything left. Heat. Heat. [Music] Right, we’re 26 Kilm in 1 hour 10 minutes on the clock. We’ve done the first climb and now we’re going up the call the sees which I think was 13 km at 6.5% or category climb. So one of the tough ones apparently [Music] 910 m of climbing for this one. All right. So far so good. It’s a lot cooler than it was in the Marmmont as well. I think it’s about 20° at the minute. Quite a cool breeze as well. We’re in the shade there. So, yeah, feeling good. [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Approaching the first aid station or water station. Don’t know where I’m going to stop actually. Expecting it to be absolutely rammed. I’m getting caught by a lot of the people who started behind me. Yeah, I didn’t bother stopping at that first one. I think it was just a drink stop. The next one’s in another 10 km anyway. So, should be grand. I’ve got enough food and drink to get me there at least. 34 km in. Halfway up the cordes. Just gone through what appears to be little ski village. And now we are leaving it to get up to the top of the climb. Hit some steeper gradients now. having to uh hit the heart rate up a little bit. Sort of 160 BPM 9%. [Music] It will be after a while [Applause] is all but gone but lingers on set clouds of air. We watch the town awaken to the trembling morning light. You’re so near and spring is everywhere. [Music] We danced until the stars came out and spread across the sky. But we on the tandem have started about half an hour behind me. They’ve caught me up already. That is some going that maybe it’s easier for them cuz they got two people on one bike. That’s what I’m telling myself. Yeah, in the heat now. Heart rate is at 160 on this climb when it’s steep. This is the problem I had last time. So, I can’t go any slower. I’ll just stop. Do you know what I mean? That’s why I need that extra gear. Some good crowds out. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Spring is here. I feel everywhere. Your soul and love is in the air. [Music] Right, Calace is done. I think we’re descending down now into a little village. 40 km in,580 m of ascent. It’s just relentless, man. Right, let’s see what delicacies they are for us here, then. [Music] Wei just actually strawberry juice. Weei wee [Music] messy robe choice. crackers. Um, I know what else to pick up. Anyway, what have we got up next? Right, we’re descending down into Bow for now. And then we have got the Capri, which a lot of people have said is is a really tough one. There’s a lot of steep sections in it. I think the final like five or 6K, like 8 9%. So, yeah, that’s going to be a bit of a rough one. [Music] Heat up [Music] [Music] That was Spectacular descent that way as well. 15 kilometers of descending. Really nice sweeping roads. So yeah, we’ve got a little bit of about like a 2 3k flat section through the valley to the next climb. Feeling good. Feeling good. So beautiful around here, man. [Applause] You got it. You got it. [Music] You got it. All right. The call of prey. [Applause] This is where we begin to suffer. I know sometimes life can be tough [Music] and you feel like you just had enough. [Music] When you’re thinking everything is gone wrong, just remember that I’m here to cheer you on. 12.6 km. That’s 7.7% average. It’s not looking good, bro. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Oh, mate. Old French couple by the side of the road with some water coming in too clutch with that. I was running really low. I totally forgot to fill my water bottles up when I was at the food stop. So on the the big climbs or the coals every kilometer there’s a sign that tells you the average gradient for what’s coming next. So, got 7 km to go. This one is 9%. Oh, lord. [Music] [Music] Weaving our way up the many hair pins of the Capri. Starting to feel it in my legs, not going to lie. It’s gone over 2,000 m of ascent. over 65k [Music] together [Music] with me. So just be [Music] [Applause] [Music] gradient is starting to bite a little bit now. Last few kilometers have been over 9%. And it’s warming up a bit. Saying 26°. Doesn’t feel that warm though. I’m all right for now. Not at the point where I’m pouring water on my head just yet. 4K to go. 9.8 average gradient for this like next kilometer. [Applause] This is steep. Hurting. But I’m not suffering. Caffeine gel is masking the pain a little bit. Doing a good job of it. Look at the state of it. [Music] 1K to the top. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat up here. [Music] Heat up [Music] Mate, these views are out of this world. Ridiculous. The camera ain’t going to do it justice, but just feast your eyes on this. [Applause] Outrageous. Right, where are we up to? 73 km in. Jesus. Feels like I’ve been out all day. 2,600 elevation climbed. 4 hours in the saddle already. Christ. We are just getting to the colder Rosaland I believe. Now that’s the second to last climb. Once we get up there, we’ve got a big whopper of a descent and then we’re at the foot of La Plan. Let’s go. I’ve got the Sports Tours aid station coming up in just I think a couple of kilometers below the summit of Ker Rosaland. So, going to stop there for a minute. Get a gel down whilst we can and then strap in for the penultimate climb. Feeling good, you know. Really am happy with how things have gone so far. Riding within myself. Hopefully, I’m going to have something left for the final climb of the day. Can have a bit of a go up there. [Applause] Cannot believe been out for over 4 hours. It’s gone so quick. [Applause] I’m mad that places like this exist in the planet and I live in Stockport. All right, the sports tours tent is here just in time. I’ve run out of literally everything. Got a bag with my Morton and stuff in for the last part of the ride now. Oh god, feeling it. Marian, do you need your bag? We need a quicker stop or um for a bit of some hurry. Oh, the draggy bus. I don’t have a band. Okay. Oh, yes. Oh, got you a glasses. Uh, messy factor. Do you want a glass of coffee? Oh, yes, please. Yeah. Good stuff. Right. have some aua first down. But the view is exactly the same gra [Music] have that one later. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] 1 kilometer to the top. It’s been a nice climb. Feeling really good. [Applause] [Music] Right, let’s descend for 30 km. Things you love to see. [Music] You started to understand [Music] I [Music] I’ll make [Music] Save me. [Music] The weirdest thing has happened. My DI2 won’t shift up. It will only shift down, which is probably the better of the two to be honest. But I do have been able to switch gear if needs be. Shimano intent here. Hopefully sort me out. [Music] [ __ ] me legs are seized up after that descent as well. [Music] So, the battery is okay. [Music] Caribbean. Thank God for that. It’s sort of sorted. I think it’s because it fell. I stood it up and it it fell the other day and then yeah, banged the I2 shifter pretty pretty hard, but it’s working a little bit. Guy just said don’t be uh shifting gears too much. So that’s fine. I’ll have to get it fixed when I get back. Anyway, 103 kilometers in, 5 hours in the saddle, 3,100 climbs. I think we’ve got about 7 kilometers now until the foot of Lana and then let’s just see how my legs are cuz so far I feel like I’ve managed the effort pretty well. [Music] Right, the plan. Let’s see how the legs are. Hopefully good. [Applause] 3 seconds. [Music] I love that people are camping here already. The tour doesn’t even come here until next Friday, I think. So, they’re here like 5 days in advance just chilling in the caravan and that Oh, god. Got 11k to go. It’s just been 8% most of the way up. Could do with it. Just giving a little bit. Starting to bite at this point in the day. Really similar to outdoors. This takes you up to like a ski village. 21 herpins as well. I think that’s the same as outdoors. And we’ve got about 10 to go. [Music] [Applause] All right, 8 km to go and then we’re done. Pretty uh yeah, I’m pretty cooked at this point. I’m not going to lie, now my legs are feeling it. Don’t feel anywhere near as bad as Alders, but we’re starting to starting to enter the trenches a little. Oh, I feel like starting to feel the altitude a bit and just thanking the Lord it ain’t that hot. The sun ain’t anywhere to be seen. The clouds are out, which is saving my bacon at the minute. 29° it says. It doesn’t feel like that. It’s a lot cooler than it was earlier in the day. I was just thinking about Yonas on a climb like this for example feeling about to crack and then Tad drops 1200 W for 20 seconds and must be such a grim tour for him. Paul had five hair pins left couple of kilometers really uh yeah feeling it. [Music] hurting. I’m not suffering. We’re all right for now. [Music] 2K to the top. Is that funny? Assessing the situation. I feel, you know, relatively all right. I just I could do with a bit of oxygen. You know, just my breathing is getting a little tight. The legs don’t feel horrendous if I got something left. Everything else feels okay. Just breathe for a straw. [Music] [Applause] And love is in the air. Finished. M busy up there. Oh yes. Thank the Lord. Look at that, mate. I tell you what, finishing stuff like that, when you’re in the trenches by the end as well, it feels so good. So, so good when you get to the end of it. Also, I’m pretty gassed it to be honest. I’m not sure what time I got. I’ll have a look when I get back. But considering I started taking cycling a bit more seriously this year, I feel like we’ve done quite a few big big events now. The Marmmont and this Yeah. God, I can’t tell you how much better I felt at the end than I did in the Marmont. Honest to God, it is crazy levels. I imagine that was probably a pretty good training ride for this to be fair cuz it was similar in elevation, just not quite as long. And I didn’t have to deal with the 34° heat today either, which was a blessing. Anyway, for now going to go down and get some pasta and then we just got to descend back down and meet the sports stores lot and get a transfer back to the hotel and go to bed because I am tired. If you’re thinking about doing stuff like this and you don’t know if you’ve got it in you, just give it a give it a shot cuz I guarantee you probably will be able to get around it. Probably be a bit of a suffer fest, but it’s just so good. Like riding in the Alps, man, it’s just out of this world. It’s proper. It’s just a different gravy to riding at home, unfortunately. Just look at the scenes, man. It’s just It’s peak cycling. [Applause] [Music]