Time to recount! Okay so being on tour is busy, there is no doubt that 23 clients takes effort - logistics, riding, eating, more riding and eating then add atop the TdF are bound to take you away from writing daily reports.
In sum:
The riding, having the chance to do Mount Ventaux, Alpes d’Huez, Col d’Ornon, Col d’Gannon, Col de la Croix de Fer plus many others and most of them twice was an amazing experience. This year, compared to last, was 95% amazing weather. Only one day did we get caught in the rain, which then proceeded to turned into a thunderstorm.
On the riding front, there really are too many highlights to lay out in text but I’ll pass on two. One, the winds of MV were actually with us and the ride back into Mane. It was just spectacular, that day we descended more that we climbed! The other would have to be climbing up Alpe d’Huez the day before the TdF climbed up. Going past all the crazies on the corners, especially the Dutchies, will leave a lasting impression. I do have to share this point, on the Dutchie corner there was a group of drunken men who had gathered to contest body function noises, needless to say the pace through that section picked up to the cheers of the men in orange.
Food - we’ve had some grand meals, some very traditional meals and plenty of pastries. Unfortunately this trip I have not been having my daily almond croissant but that may change now I’m in Paris for the next 2 weeks. Highlight the desserts at Col du Lautaret, on the Galibier Stage, we were based at Col d’Lautret, they were all hand made on site and it was an all you can eat opportunity! Blueberry tart, cheesecake, apple crumble and pear tart ... did I sample all of them, why not! Weather - other than getting caught in the thunderstorm and subsequently freezing while the clients went home and I looked after the bikes in a bus shelter, the weather was perfect. I was hoping to see a little more rain on the day of the time trial in Grenoble, to make it more exciting - but Cadel Evans won anyway, but it was glorious. Even yesterday on the finish line of the TdF the weather was a pleasant temperature
Mode of Transport - I’ve been aligning myself in buses the past week, does that count? I did see a tandem bike yesterday which was of interest, unfortunately I didn’t couldn’t get my camera out quickly enough. It was a tandem with one rider facing one way and one the other! They were either IKEA workers or from Sweden according to their outfits. I was just hoping that they didn’t ride all the way down from up North!
Conversation - “Obama is like Hitler” I kid you not, one person said this yesterday and in lieu of what went on in Norway this week we don’t need any more comments like this!
Animal - The cows on the climb to Col du Sabot, not far from Vaujany. A shame that I did not get to ride this road, I was sagging as we only had 2 riders and it was a little wet and dangerous - safety safety safety ... They were on the road, in the hills and running along the side of the van on the way back down to Vaujany. 
What else of note: Cadel Evans winning the 2011 Tour de France, not bad for a 34 year old! Congratulations to him and his team, it will be fascinating to see what next for the boy. Two MTB World Cups, World Road Cycling Title and now wearer of the Yellow Jersey!
Parting thought of the day/blog: TdF in 2012 ... we’ll see. Now for two weeks in Paris, two weeks in the South and then the Haute Route. I do feel a little more confident about the route for the race after being down in the Alps for the last week. Bring on the next exciting chapter!
