Weekend escape to the Tour in the Pyrenees. Friday to Monday, and 4 days of riding to taste the long climbs and descents. I joined Erik, who had planned this trip much in advance. It was going to be a great weekend!
We left Friday afternoon to Andorra, our base camp. After arriving we went for a short ride to loosen our legs after 3 hours in the car. Two options: climb or descend. We decide to go up to Port d' Envalira. 9km climb at 6% to 2400m of height, and a fast decent back to the hotel.
On Saturday we left in the morning for a good ride, but once in Andorra, it started to rain. We stopped in a bar to have a cafe con leche and it started pouring. Back to the hotel earlier than expected, we decided to watch the whole time trial. Vino amazing! Still not aware of what was going to happen later on...Sunday, Plateau de Beille. We drove to the base and climbed to the top. Thousands of people on the side of the roads, thousands of riders, thousands of caravans, just amazing! 15km to the top at a constant 7%.
An hour later Contador and Rasmussen would appear at the first switch backs. People gathering on the road to see them pass by. Too close, and too fast! Rasmussen attacked at km2 and they were attacking each other passing us at at least 20miles an hour! not much was left to see, but the impression they were flying to the top. Unbelievable!
After the stage we would descend carefully with so many people. Some of the pros would descend as well back to their team vans. At the bottom we talked to Freddie, who was feeling really sick and would leave the Tour during the next stage. Horner was there too and he has been doing really well. Good luck to the Predictor-Lotto Team!!
