Sleeping, bathtub, spa and 3 times eat properly. The group has made it to Eaux Bonnes to the famous HOTEL RICHELIEU, earned the day of rest before it gets really serious tomorrow. The Richelieu is a well known place by everyone of the cyclist community as well as Eaux Bonnes, the place to be before you enter the Pyrenees of France.
Eaux Bonnes is a somewhat out of time resort at a thermal spring. Today, however, it has more of the charm of that past, an abandoned Grand Hotel, abandoned, partly dilapidated houses and a casino that operates only sometimes. But the thermal bath is apparently still operated. Still, Eaux Bonnes is always in the spotlight because of cycling, and everyone descends on the Richelieu. As an entry point to the famous Pyrenean mountains – just before the Col du Ausbique – every kind of cyclist stops here and every few years the great Tour de France comes through.
Stage 6 – Saint Jean Pied de Port – Eaux Bonnes
With the many flat stages, the riders struggled yesterday with the entry into the first mountains of the Pyrenees in unfortunately somewhat adverse conditions – cold and rain. And then there was the infamous Col de Marie Blanque at the end. Notorious, because at the end of a quite demanding stage it then goes up again constantly 13% and yesterday it also had rain and cold, so I can well imagine how some had to fight.
This and the next stage over the big mountains were part of my Pyrenean tour in 2016, so I know from my own experience how it feels and what to expect. This is especially true for tomorrow, Sunday the 7th stage, the royal stage of the Pyrenees.
Stage 7 – into the Mountains
The classic Pyrenees Kings stage begins tomorrow with an attack on four famous mountain giants. The first climb is to the Col de Aubisque (1709m), visited 45 times by the Tour. It was won by Eddy Merckx in 1969 and most recently by the ever aggressive Thomas Voeckler in 2012.
Just below the Hotel Richeliue, the road turns right and the climb begins. First you pedal very varied curves to the ski station, here the route then changes to serpentines to the summit. It is a relatively steady not steep climb, 8% is probably the maximum here and you get to 1700m. The descent will enjoy all participants, it leads over small roads through quiet and little developed areas.
Next comes the Col du Tourmalet (2115m), the most visited climb in the history of the Tour de France(83 times). The “Eagle of Toledo”, Frederico Bahamontes, won four times on the Tourmalet.
I still remember how the first part of the Tourmalet seemed hard to me. Because it always goes straight up, always 10-12% without a break and that too on a dead straight road through a ski village. Only from the middle station it becomes varied, here begin the serpentines up to the summit. If it is not raining here, this stretch is beautiful because you can enjoy a magnificent view. Again, the descent is a dream, over small roads through a pristine area. Only on Sunday can be crazy motorcyclists on the road, who suspect a race track here.
Further get it to the Col de Aspin (1489m), he was 71 times in the Tour de France, was won in 2017 by Steve Cummings and last by Julian Alaphillippe. These few meters of altitude, about 500, with few steep climbs will then not challenge anyone very much. Also her the descent to Arreau over small roads is a pleasure.
The last climb to Col du Peyresourde (1569 m) then becomes a real challenge for most riders. One has now the whole day in the legs, already climbed 4 high passes, now it is up to the morale to continue and to tackle this last climb of still another 1000 meters in altitude. The good news is, however, also this mountain is not steep and rather “smooth” to drive until you can see at the top of the pass the berühme sign “Crepes 50 cent”. This Col du Peyresourde (1569 m), is the place where in 2016 took place the famous attack of Chris Froome, who emulated Eddy Merckx and staged the victory in Luchon and overall.
Relieved and happy, they will then roll down to Luchon and look forward to the evening. Here the flyover video of this imposing area.
Many Thanks to all the encouragements
Sincere thanks for all the recovery wishes and encouragements. i am working on my recovery. If I can get it to move back to its natural shape, I can hope for the bones to grow together without surgery. Gina, a doctor among the Riders gave me this advice and some exercises on how to accomplish this. Since it is only a simple fracture and the x-ray showed the bones are only a little displaced, the change is good that I can do it.
When I unpacked my bags, I found on the back written business cards of the hotel in Royan with best wishes and how the group regrets that I am no longer there. This also shows what a great group I had to leave.
The only consolation is that I have driven this great stage before. Nevertheless, I would have experienced this wonderful day again, especially since tomorrow will also be great weather. So I sit here and keep my fingers crossed for everyone to make it through okay.
But as we can see they are in good spirits. Here the greeting photo of the dinner before the big day. But now you could also say that most of them don’t know what’s coming …
