Stage 14, Mazamet / Plateau de Beille Km 197, Saturday, July 21, the first Pyrenean stage:
The uncertainty of weather conditions is not of the main difficulties of the day today. The Pyrenees are known to alternate hot days and sweltering conditions of fog, rain and sometimes snow when crossing of the highest peaks. You start going up immediately without even time to warm up properly. We could start up, but the presence of two French national TV, turn on the mood of my fellow traveler. Top of the hill on the Cote de St. Saraille m. 810 (2nd-category climb, Km 9 to 5.3% on average). What characterizes the Pyrenees from the Alps is that the slopes are slightly shorter but with gradients elevation more challenging, especially given the average slope betray the true nature of the climbs themselves, in that the first few miles are steep slopes "almost ridiculous," around 2 to 3% then jump to the regular 10 to 12 and more than 14% . The climate 'was pleasant, with temperatures ideal for cycling (20 - 24 degrees), but after more than 80 km of approach to the second real roughness' of the day it starts to rain heavily plunging the temperature to 8 degrees at the top. Soaking wet and shivering in spite of the difficulties' of ascent, we reach the summit of the Port de Paihares m. 2001 (Hors Category climb, km 16.8 to 7.2% on average). We reach the valley floor with seizures and symptoms of cold vomiting, but fortunately the rain stops and you can, riding a good pace, to warm the weary limbs. Become a key replenish the energy spent and the fluids lost during the ascent to tackle the hardest part of the race, the top de: Le Plateau de Beille, located at 1,780 m. (Hors Category climb of this well, Km 15.9 to 7.9% on average). Crossed the line in the wing of a crowd, do not wait for us, but certainly to occupy a front row seat to the same stage that the "Pro" will run the next day. "And out of one."
Km 197 courses in 7h and 57 'at an average of 25 kmh, temperature 8 to 24 degrees, altitude meters: 3785 m, Descending: 2,355 m, average heart rate 128 BPM, calories: 8,079, Vel.Max.: 78.9.
values \u200b\u200brecorded on the day following the Stage:
Weight: 76, hemoglobin: 13.3, hematocrit: 37, we do not think they have not come true to make the doping control!
15th stage, the second Pyrenean, Foix - Loudeville - The Louron Km 196, Sunday, July 22:
DEDICATED TO PARENTS, FAMILIES, CHILDREN, FRIENDS AND FANS OF: FABIO CASERTELLI and Marco Pantani
Luckily the weather has improved compared to yesterday. I cycled throughout the day with the shivers in my body, heart palpitations and a sense of emotion to remember / regret / pain.
thoughts go to 1998, when Marco Pantani won on the same lonely path. Neglecting my thoughts and opinions on cyclist Pantani, who in my opinion would be inappropriate when it comes to such a tragedy, I would like to express to the family, relatives, friends and fans of Mark, my deepest feelings and memories for a life sadly died away in a society ', which rejoices and destroys at the same time, its similar logic of money and the market, easily forgetting and remembering when you and' interest to do so. I ran the memory of Marco every mile, I ran crying and invoking his aid to try to overcome the many moments that come together to a stage like that. I am comforted by the music coming out from speakers mounted on the support vehicle, prepared to accompany songs in the Race Across America this year, which ended miserably because of the smallness of human beings. "And when you think it's over .... and then that starts the climb .... THAT FANTAAAASTICA HISTORY AND 'LIFE ...... Antonello Venditti's song that best represents my state of mind this period of my life. Foix From 455 meters it starts again immediately climb to the Col de Port 1249 m. (2nd category climb of 11.4 km at 5.3% on average). Descent cautious because of ' grainy and rough asphalt up to 406 meters in Saint-Girons then recovers slightly uphill approach to the second roughness' of the day that coincides with the 96 th km of the route: the Col de Portet d'Aspet 1069 m. (Slope class 2, Km 5.7 to 6.9% on average). The feeling that I feel now is even more 'strong since the beginning. I'm going to take the last climb of the life cycle on earth a guy who has left his earthly existence on the road, in the performance of what was probably his passion as well as his work: Fabio Casertelli, Olympic gold medal in the 100 km team running at Motorola with Lance Armstrong and in that fatal July 18, 1995 in descending the Col de Portet d'Aspet falls into one of the last curve of the descent from his head violently. I was watching television at that time to follow the Tour and I have no more ' forget the image of Fabio lying on the ground motionless and bleeding. This descent has a very smooth asphalt, but the fatal point 'preceded by a stretch of down to 17% and get out quickly and safely overcome the monument to Fabio Casertelli and immediately begin to slow down to go back. Fatality 'wanted only 200 m. point after the descent of the incident was over, that regret, that sorrow.
Destiny also wanted at that time there was an obligation on the part of a Prof. Fabio wear helmets because maybe it would still popular in this hypocritical society '.
I stayed stunned and helpless in front of the monument, I kissed the cold stone and I've flown my pain and my memory to the widow, children and family friends and fans of Fabio. I carry it in my heart like a guardian angel and even though I will not serve 'a lot I want to scream that this not happened to me now, by the fact that I'm running the Tour de France, but I have brought and will bring' always I matter more.
After this beautiful and dramatic descent to be initiated immediately the ascent to the Col de Mente m. 1349 (1st category climb, Km 7 to '8.1% average). Dive down again for a while well paved and easy to start to rise by 516 m. Marigac to the roughness of 'the most difficult of the day: the Port de Bales m. 1755 (Hors Category climb, Km 19.2 to 6.2% average), easy for the first 4 km, hard as you climb towards the summit. It 's a constant up and down on the one hand and legs and whole body just scream, the other the miles pass (though it may' seem a contradiction in terms), more 'quickly given the changing situations. It starts like 'finally the last climb of the stage leading to the Col de Peyresourde to m. 1569 (1st category climb, Km 9.7 to 7.8% on average). You can imagine the joy of the last dive into the end stage. We welcome a The warm sun on the beautiful Loudeville Louron, sweetened by a small lake mountain village nestled among the peaks of the Pyrenees, and the joy and 'so much that we give to the French national TV that follows us from the beginning stage in a sprint Bloc, that' the whole as they say here in France.
Eventually we will have 91 route km climb to a total climb of 4,481 m.
Gradient descent in 4011 m. 196 km route in 8 hours and 21 'at an average of 23.5 km / h, temperature: 14 to 26 degrees, Calories: 8,897, Vel.Max.: 81.5, average heart rate 131 BPM
Values \u200b\u200brecorded the following day the Stage:
Weight: 76.1, hemoglobin: 13, hematocrit: 36.5
Monday 'July 23 the second and final day of rest.
values \u200b\u200brecorded on the day following the day of rest:
Weight: 76.3, hemoglobin 13.5, hematocrit: 37.5
Terms Fabio
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