TdF 2018: Stage 10 *NOT the Spoiler*

ridgerider

It's all well and good you all sitting in the BikeRadar Pro Race Studio writing all those splendid Spoiler Threads, but I am out here in the field (so to speak) getting hot, sweaty and dirty to bring you the reality of Stage 10. No picture libraries, no photoshop, no superfast broadband...this is: =

LE TOUR in LE RAW!

Here is a sort of map of the stage...or it's someone wearing a hat with three spikes sticking out of it.


I am based in the beautiful industrial city of Cluses for these exclusive BR reports...


None of that posh French nosh, this is all a cyclist needs to eat and drink...


Forget about all those free range horsey pictures, this is how they actually live in the mountains...


But here are some contented vache with bells on...


I am off to recon the stage on Monday, so will update the thread with real pictures of real stuff when I get back (so long as I can get some sleep with all these French drivers tooting their flipping horns all night!)

Lanterne_Rogue

Given that you've promised us Le Tour in le Raw, can I be the first amongst us to thank you for not attaching a selfie?

FocusZing

Good work! You must make a sign.

curium

Can't wait for some on course action. Hopefully you can get a picture of a race defining event

ridgerider

All will be revealed in good time.

I'm one hour ahead here... Good night all.

above_the_cows

underlayunderlay wrote:

Given that you've promised us Le Tour in le Raw, can I be the first amongst us to thank you for not attaching a selfie?

Le Tour in le Raw seems to be what Froome is having to do going by reports. :shock:

slim_boy_fat

As UK Cycling Expert would say, Chateau!

ridgerider

Reporting live, 5km from the col de la columbiere.

Lots to report later... But I have seen one pro team out on a leg loosener, and have seen two pros from another team checking out the finish!

I have seen cows as you have never seen them before.

And more real food from the region.

Onward and upward.

No_Ta_Doctor

Looking forward to the live-blog!

above_the_cows

Ridgerider wrote:

Reporting live, 5km from the col de la columbiere.

Lots to report later... But I have seen one pro team out on a leg loosener, and have seen two pros from another team checking out the finish!

I have seen cows as you have never seen them before.

And more real food from the region.

Onward and upward.

This is great! Real commitment to the forum.

m.r.m.

Ridgerider fighting the good fight. Chapeau and diverse Hats!

pottssteve

Hi, J,

Keep this up and Carlton Kirby will be sh*tting himself, I reckon!

A few more hills than Maastricht, eh?

Enjoy the ride,
Steve

takethehighroad

Ridgerider wrote:

I have seen one pro team out on a leg loosener, and have seen two pros from another team checking out the finish!

I have seen cows as you have never seen them before.

And more real food from the region.

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.

ridgerider

First of all, can I just say I feel very lucky to be able to come out here with my bike and ride some of the roads the pros will be on tomorrow. The scenery round here is absolutely stunning and everywhere you look is breathtaking. If any of you ever get the chance to ride in the Alps then take that opportunity if you can.

So, onto the silly stuff...

In the spirit of transparency, here are my numbers. I wish they were in mph but sadly they are in km. All you youngsters out there stop sniggering, just you wait till you lose your fast twitch muscles! So 7hrs in (and out of) the saddle and 1hr in cafes, but in my defence, I did also stop a lot of times to take pictures...


Anyway, the day started with a hearty cyclist's breakfast

(My wife can confirm I suffer from hayfever, and I only had two puffs)

Here is the Ridge Machine alongside the team car at the start. In the background, in the V of the mountains, is where the descent from the Columbiere leaves the mountain range and appears on the wooded hillside over Cluses.


So my ride took me from Cluses to Sallanches and Megeve on the route of the uphill TT in the 2016 tour. And it is a proper hill. I then descended to Flumet where I turned right and onto the Col des Aravis. But not before a little mid morning snack of a proper french delicacy...


So as I was climbing up to Aravis, that's then I saw my first pro team on rest day action. In horse racing circles, it used to be said that you should put a bet on the first horse you see on race day, so my exclusive 'NOT the Stage 10 Spoiler' team tip for you all is...

Team Katusha–Alpecin

No pictures as they passed in the other direction, but a bit later I was overtaken by a single rider and I then caught up with him at a roundabout. For the good of the forum I went and spoke with him, hoping for some exclusive 'NOT the Stage 10 Spoiler' interview...sadly it turned out he works for Canyon and my hopes were shattered. Anyway, at least I tried!

On a more serious note, do you ever wonder what happens to the lovely cows they all drool over in the 'real' spoiler threads once the TdF passes through town? Well, don't tell AtC as she is having a really good day up until now...


Having taken all the polka dot points on the Col des Aravis, I descended towards La Clusaz where the stage route joins from the left having ridden over the Col de la Croix Fry. I then had the pleasure of riding the route, with all the flags, banners, camper vans, road painting and metal barriers that all contribute to the show. After La Clusez, the riders turn left to tackle the Plateau and the gravel road. That wasn't part of my itinerary, but at the junction, I did spot FrenchFighter, although he did jump out of the frame as I took the picture...


[Now in reality, I then rode the last part of the course in reverse, i.e. from Le Grand Bornand to Cluses, but in the interests of narrative I am going to describe the route in the proper stage order]

Having ridden the Plateau, the stage drops down to Cluses and then tackles the climb up to Romme. This is a stunning little road than winds up the side of the mountain in a very steep manner. One for the pure climbers in my opinion; not a road to TT up at all. Stunning views if you are in the Autobus with time to look over the edge of the road...


I reckon this is where it is all going to kick off, so the 'NOT the Stage 10 Spoiler' spectating tip is to base yourself here...this is where I am going, and the party was in full swing already!


Quite a twisty, technical descent, so could also be used as a springboard to get a gap before the last climb of the day. near the bottom, spotted a bit of garden art, but not having a helicopter at my disposal, you will just have to use your imagination...


Col de la Columbiere is a spectacular location. The Other Thread can use all their 3d visuals and Google maps Pro, but nothing, absolutely nothing beats being there, total immersed in the landscape, riding a bike to your hearts discontent. However, here are some snaps...

The climb up after Romme...



A Confidis fan's motorhome...I'm surprised anyone dared to park near them.


A bit of local french food to cool me down. I went for blueberry as i was once told the area is famous for it.


The final summit of the stage. Who will be leading at this point? I'll tell you who later...


The descent down to Le Grand Bornand...


Le Grand Bornand, no finish line stuff had arrived yet, so absolutely no idea where the finish is, but a mate has said it is often in front of the ice rink (where ever that is).


A nice sculpture in LGB, kills two birds with one snap and wraps up my travelogue.


So back to the serious stuff, there was a tail wind up to Romme and Columbiere today, so I think that will help a breakaway stay away. I think the climb to Romme offers opportunities to create time splits. The two riders I saw checking out the last few Kms were from Bora Hansgrohe. The Bora Hansgrohe fan club have based themselves on the Col de la Columbiere. Therefore you heard it here first, the 'NOT the Stage 10 Spoiler' top tip for the stage 10 winner is...

Rafał Majka

Lanterne_Rogue

Ridgerider wrote:

A Confidis fan's motorhome...I'm surprised anyone dared to park near them.

And in proper Cofidis style they're going in the opposite direction to everyone else.


Thanks for the write up - about time we started sending out foreign correspondents! Any tips on how the stage would go if you happened to be nursing a broken shoulder? Asking for a friend...

Dorset_Boy

Well Cav will be on his R5, not his S5, but it is tiny still. He and Movistar have lucked out at the Imperial Palace, but there is a casino there, so hopefully no late nights. They have a 300m ride to the start area.

Saw the Drops ladies hammering the cycle path into Annecy earlier, and met the Lotto ladies mechanics.
Shame they all get to ride the main road round the lake and not the bike path. Good job Betancur isn't here as he'd get distracted by all the Pizza joints on the first 15 kms.
Who will spot the short cut and turn around at the start and head down the side of the lake cutting off about 12 kms - pretty hand breakaway lead I reckon!

above_the_cows

Ridgerider wrote:

In the spirit of transparency, here are my numbers. I wish they were in mph but sadly they are in km. All you youngsters out there stop sniggering, just you wait till you lose your fast twitch muscles! So 7hrs in (and out of) the saddle and 1hr in cafes, but in my defence, I did also stop a lot of times to take pictures...

I am never showing any of you my numbers... This seems perfectly acceptable to me. Up and down, stop for photos, enjoy the scenery, we're not pros, what life with a bike should be.

Ridgerider wrote:

Anyway, the day started with a hearty cyclist's breakfast

(My wife can confirm I suffer from hayfever, and I only had two puffs)

Good stuff this. I can attest.*

Ridgerider wrote:

On a more serious note, do you ever wonder what happens to the lovely cows they all drool over in the 'real' spoiler threads once the TdF passes through town? Well, don't tell AtC as she is having a really good day up until now...

It's OK I know where cows go when they die and why they are here in the first place.

But I have had a blooming good day! This thread is a cherry on top.

Ridgerider wrote:

A nice sculpture in LGB, kills two birds with one snap and wraps up my travelogue.

YES! Cow art, are you all not entertained? This IS the Tour. Love it.




*Shhhh I also have a puffer with that there salbutamol...

johnboy183

Really enjoying this. Thank you

bobmcstuff

I've ridden some of those roads!! I have to go back. Somehow I managed to combine 5 days of silly climbing with putting weight on, too much reblochon I think. But what is cycling if not an excuse to eat cheese?

Great stuff, thank you.

m.r.m.

Ridgerider wrote:

Anyway, the day started with a hearty cyclist's breakfast

(My wife can confirm I suffer from hayfever, and I only had two puffs)

Was not aware bacon was available in inhalable form. Please send me twelve!

ridgerider

2hr walk to Romme from here. Just started. Caravan comes through at 2.38.

twotoebenny

I rode today's route last weekend and it's great. Having holidayed in Annecy area a couple of times I can confirm it's a fantastic place to visit and pedal your bike. France is not great if your gluten free though

above_the_cows

TwoToeBenny wrote:

I rode today's route last weekend and it's great. Having holidayed in Annecy area a couple of times I can confirm it's a fantastic place to visit and pedal your bike. France is not great if your gluten free though

Or vegetarian. I live with a coeliac vegetarian. France is a nightmare.

ridgerider

Helicopter hovering

twotoebenny

Above The Cows wrote:

TwoToeBenny wrote:

I rode today's route last weekend and it's great. Having holidayed in Annecy area a couple of times I can confirm it's a fantastic place to visit and pedal your bike. France is not great if your gluten free though

Or vegetarian. I live with a coeliac vegetarian. France is a nightmare.

For a country who proclaim to be foodies they're not good at all that stuff eh? Coeliac myself and would not "choose" to restrict my diet further.

indyp

Great write up and sounds brilliant place to cycle round.

I'm hoping to go to the area for the first time with bike & tent next month

amrushton

Excellent bike path from Annecy > Albertville. Gets you off the busy road which is parallel to the path

ddraver

RR, I forget the name of the village but it's on the quiet side of the lake toward the far end (Talloires?). There is a coffee/bike shop there that is a must visit. As well as good coffee and cycling friendly food their hire fleet! OMG their hire fleet!! They have a bunch of Open U.Ps, Ti road bikes and a handful of other proper drool worthy bikes that are *for hire*!!!

ridgerider

Romme. Bierre. Barriers. Gendarmerie all in sunglasses

ridgerider

Crowds. Flags. Noise. Views!

ridgerider

Le caravan... Good positioning