TDF100 - A "Rest "Day" means no HC climbs

Today the Tour will pass through our base camp in Albertville so we will need to be back from riding to see it.  We got to sleep in (if you consider being down for breakfast by 830).  Here is our crew getting ready to roll.  The guy in the middle pointing is Chris Gutowski who put this amazing trip together for us.  Chris is pointing to where we are headed today ( yea, he is pointing  UP).

This morning we ride from the hotel through part of the Tour route that heads from Albertville up to the Col de Tamie.  This is a cat 2 climb of about 8 k.  Again, the route was lined with boisterous fans cheering us on.  One if the highlights was  a Belgian corner with 5 or so vintage VW vans with matching caravans in pristine conditions.  The raucous Belgians spoke perfect English fueled by Stella Arrois, and gave Jane a nice push up some steeps.  Thanks guys!

At the top of the Col de Tamie we stopped to regroup

 

And then we headed on to a gorgeous down hill through Alpine meadows and villages awaiting the Tour

Sometimes we stopped just to chitchat and take photos

At the bottom we turned on to a bike path.  A REALLY long and perfect Nike path.  Rodolfe lead us along.  

Here is Lance

And Pam

And Eric (Pam and Eric are from Toronto and this is their third trip with Velosport), 

And John!

The ride lead us back to Albertville.  We arrived just in time for the Tour publicity caravan.  This is So Crazy!

We got to the sprint line just in time to get a great spot and some swag!

We cheered on Canada's Ryder Hejsdal who took the intermediate sprint

And we cheered for anyone riding a Giant or a Cannondale

Fun!  Time for a break.  Lunch was a delightful picnic of local meats and cheeses, and dinner was such a delight as it was shared with friends, old and new.

What will tomorrow bring?  More movement, more adventures.  Au revoir for now.

JnJ