On my drug-free attempt of the Tour de France route I have just completed Stages 16 and 17 and am out of the Pyrenees - thank God!
As I reported Stage 15 is brutal and the new climb, Port du Bales, a beast. Stage 16 is also just crazy hard - hard to claim it’s worse than 15 which completely wiped me out, but at 136 miles with 5 passes (2 HC, 2 Cat 1, 1 Cat 3) and an HC summit finish it’s sure to be decisive. The other 3 in my group who did it think Port du Larrou is tougher than Port du Bales, and while it’s an absolute killer and super steep, it’s the first climb of the day and I didn’t about collapse to get over it like with Port du Bales. However, the end of Stage 16 is set up for some excitement. The Col de Marie Blanche is only 9 km, but the last 5 km average nearly 12% and is after 115ish miles. Then a short descent and straight up to the finish on the Aubisque, the “Col of the Murderers”. I predict Rasmussen loses yellow in the hilly Albi time trial, and if he hasn’t regained it in 15 will attack on the Marie Blanche and pick up minutes between the Marie Blanche and the Aubisque.
And who says the flat stages after the mountains are flat? Stage 17 was a major Pain in the Arse. 6 categorized climbs and hot as hell. I had it in my mind I’d be freewheeling into Paris. And tomorrow is more of the same and 130 miles. Damn, why won’t this thing just end!
Pictures at http://letour2007live.blogspot.com. Comments appreciated on the site, thanks