The TT course

Today was always going to be a messy day.  We spent and hour or so on the bus to the start of tomorrow's TT course. 

It was a bit of a funny day for us as we combined a number riders from different Bikestyle trips to completely fill one bus.  After two and a half weeks together our group is pretty organised and rides well together - many of the other trips have only been on the road for a few days and organised chaos is a fair description of how they ride.  Even though there was talk among some from our trip of putting together a team time trial, It all started off quite civilly.  We rolled out two abreast with one of the guides riding on the front.  There was some enthusiasm in the group to up the pace fairly early on - but the guides made it clear that if you rode off the front then you were on your own.

Then a few things happened the guide rolled off the front - and after the first 6 or 8 riders (me included) missed a turn, we saw that the route markers were already out.  It was like some one had built a little starters tent and started the countdown - one of the 14 year olds (I just like to get in the big ring and mash it) attacked the group - seriously affronting the ego of half of team NZ and it was on.  I chased hard to get back on then realised that I didn't come to France to flog myself ob the bike for 50 km so eased off to find the second group.  Unluckily for me there was only me and one of the guides either willing or able to take turns in the second group and all that came to a halt when the guide had to stop at a fork in the road to make sure that some of the intellectually challenged riders actually saw the huge green route markers and made the turn.  That left me riding effectively by myself for about 10 km until the front markers from another Bikestyle bus arrived and dragged me around the course for another 10 km or so until I popped on the final climb.  All in all it was a fun day and we thought that the course would suit Cadel - some long false flats very few technical corners - maybe 4 on the whole course.

 

We then packed the bikes into the trailer and drove to the finish of the stage.  We were quite late arriving and got near the course just as the caravan rolled through.  A quick visit to the local supermarket for supplies and then once more up and over the barriers.  Some of the other lads on the trip were determined to join me this time and I am please to say that high fives were exchanged when Grover met me at my usual vantage point to capture pictures like this ...

I'm definitely on a nodding/ usual suspect basis with the tour chief of police (aka Inspector Clouseau) as well as the head of Tour security given that they have now seen me at quite a few finishes.  After the finish we tried to get around to the front of the stage ...

..but unfortunately in our enthusiasm we somehow crossed back into the public area and it was game over. 

Back to tte bus for the 90 minute drive to our hotel and a buffet dinner (let's just say the food was good and we all gave it a red hot go) before collapsing into bed after another busy day