NRGPT Day 6, the Queen stage!! This was an epic day, unfortunately with the Aubisque and Tourmalet being closed we werent able to ride the exact TDF Stage 16 route, but we did our best to make it hard! Today was another hot day, 25C to start with highs in the low 30’s, no need for anything more than a jersey and shorts even on the descents, this was the third day in a row of 30+C temps. The day started with the Cat 1 Spandelles Col, then right into the Cat 1 Col du Soller, we then rode a more tame Cat 2 climb before we finished off with the Col d’Aspin (Cat 2) and the Perysourde (Cat1). This totalled out at over 4400m of climbing, we where in the saddle for just short of 8hours and rode 170+km and it was still 25C at the top of the Perysourde at 6pm.
One of the highlights of the day was seeing Cadel Evans go flying by as he was reconnaissancing Stage 16 as well! Wolf even got to pace him up the Perysourde for a few km!!! This is Wolf behind Cadel before Cadel pulled off to his team car and Wolf lead the rest of the climb!
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Unfortunatley the Garmin file is incomplete and doesnt show the final climb of the Perysourde, so the totals on it are off a little from what we actually did
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Getting ready for the big day, hope you put on your sunscreen!
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Cat 1 Spandelles climb to warm up:
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Part way up the Soller climb with the Aubisque in the background:
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Kim still smiling!
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The Aubisque, still had snow unfortunately:
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Day 7 was a much lighter day! Everyone was feeling it today! We had an easy swim in the lake option and then also a comfortable ride up the HC Superbagneres to get a look out over town. Overall we have had an amazing week, incredible weather with some of the most beautiful riding in the world, its really hard to beat it here!
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Totals: 3 swims, 8 rides, 5 runs
Close to 19,000m of climbing, 5 HC climbs, over 12 Cat 1’s, 4 Cat 2’s
And we will be back again next year for those who are interested in joining us!