Sunday, July 15, 2007
Le Tour 2007 - Stage 12
Stage 12 Montpieler - Castres - 111 miles
Pictures at http://letour2007live.blogspot.com
After our Stage 11 experience of 112 miles straight into gale-force headwinds we were somewhat concerned about Stage 12's continued westerly direction. We were also somewhat concerned that this stage, like Stage 5, is considered a mountain transition stage - not really the mountains, but certainly not the flatlands. However, at only 111 miles we were hopeful for a relatively quick and mostly painless day. The first 40 miles were mostly unpleasant as we were on a pretty major road leaving Montpelier and fighting a headwind - not an epic headwind like the prior day but one strong enough to be quite annoying. However, after roughly 40 miles the winds died down as we were farther inland and the ride turned very nice and scenic as we rode through a stunning gorge. Beautiful and fun for the riders, less fun for Matt's wife Emma, the driver of the campervan, who had to negotiate the narrow roads with rock faces on either side and low rock overhangs. After two weeks of tough weather it seems we finally had gotten a break. This stretch of southern France should be unbearably hot, and that is what I had expected throughout, but on this day it was ideal cycling weather, about 70 degrees and sunny. Naturally it would not last. After 80 or so miles we headed through a national forest and into the Tarn region and climbed the Cat 2 La Jeanta ridge. As we approached the top we were riding in sunshine but through a mist - heaven! However, once over the top the mist turned into rain and we were forced to once again take out the arm warmers, vests, and rain capes. Who ever would have thought that on this stage for which "heat will be a factor" in the stage description, we'd ride into Castres all bundled up? All told, a moderately easy day and quite beautiful and scenic.
Pictures at http://letour2007live.blogspot.com
After our Stage 11 experience of 112 miles straight into gale-force headwinds we were somewhat concerned about Stage 12's continued westerly direction. We were also somewhat concerned that this stage, like Stage 5, is considered a mountain transition stage - not really the mountains, but certainly not the flatlands. However, at only 111 miles we were hopeful for a relatively quick and mostly painless day. The first 40 miles were mostly unpleasant as we were on a pretty major road leaving Montpelier and fighting a headwind - not an epic headwind like the prior day but one strong enough to be quite annoying. However, after roughly 40 miles the winds died down as we were farther inland and the ride turned very nice and scenic as we rode through a stunning gorge. Beautiful and fun for the riders, less fun for Matt's wife Emma, the driver of the campervan, who had to negotiate the narrow roads with rock faces on either side and low rock overhangs. After two weeks of tough weather it seems we finally had gotten a break. This stretch of southern France should be unbearably hot, and that is what I had expected throughout, but on this day it was ideal cycling weather, about 70 degrees and sunny. Naturally it would not last. After 80 or so miles we headed through a national forest and into the Tarn region and climbed the Cat 2 La Jeanta ridge. As we approached the top we were riding in sunshine but through a mist - heaven! However, once over the top the mist turned into rain and we were forced to once again take out the arm warmers, vests, and rain capes. Who ever would have thought that on this stage for which "heat will be a factor" in the stage description, we'd ride into Castres all bundled up? All told, a moderately easy day and quite beautiful and scenic.
