3 Tours Challenge - Tour de France

Two weeks down and six stages to go! This is rest day two and I need it. This has been incredibly hard this week.

After the tribulations of the Grand Colombier and Mont du Chat last Saturday, I thought things might get a little easier. Indeed, Monday and Tuesday of last week, although covering just shy of 250 miles, we only climbed a mile and a quarter combined. The legs felt good, speed was strong and, although the Pyrenees beckoned, the challenge seemed achievable. Sunflowers lined the route and waited patiently for the sun to emerge from cooling clouds which eased the journey for us.

Whilst the group had been boosted by some great new additions to share the load and bring some new energy and positivity, Geoff had to return home to recover for the Vuelta as with each pedal stroke his previous injury made the hip swell intensify the pain. Geoff has raised so much money for the world leading centre in blood cancers in Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth hospital. His determination to finish off the challenge in Spain has been a spur to all of us. Thanks to all who have sponsored me so far; if not, please do take this opportunity and remember to tick the gift aid box please donate here

On Wednesday, however, my legs were reminded that the Tour de France is the greatest annual sporting challenge for a reason. We entered the Pyrenees with a bang. more than three miles of climbing on the first day whilst riding for 135 miles with ten and a half hours in the saddle. The mountains of the Pyrenees are truly beautiful and there was an immense amount of cheering fans shouting "courage" and "allez, allez" as I hauled my not insubstantial frame up each metre of the climbs. Descents were easier; long but on a slightly shallower gradient. Thursday, again in the Pyrenees was shorter but a day for the professionals to attack as again the roads climbed, with ridiculously steep gradients of 18% at times, whilst only a little over 60 miles were ridden, still we climbed for a mile and a half.

We're heading for those mountains!

Steady progress was then made across the country until yesterday - Stage 15 - when nearly two miles of climbing over nearly 120 miles showed up the massive build up of fatigue in my legs which was further exposed by a driving head wind at the top of the first Category 1 climb. Whilst the countryside, stone walls and cottages were reminiscent of the Yorkshire Dales - so was the wind, an inspiration for some great art (Wuthering Heights for example), it's not a place for tired legs desperate for a rest. This was a hard, hard, hard stage. The Massif Central, after the Jura and the Pyrenees is tough. All we need now is the Alps - oh. that's next week!