CyclingRevealed's First Impressions '05

Stage 19: Issoire to Le Puy En Velay, 153.5 km

Surviving the Tour

Today was another day dominated by a long break. Giuseppe Guerini (T-Mobile) was the worthy winner finishing just ahead of his long time three fellow break companions.

Now, as the tour closes in on Paris , what are the riders experiencing. This question is partially answered by the riders of the Tour de France Challenge (TDFC) who are riding every single stage in it's entirety but one day in advance of the actual Tour.

The TDFC is a fundraising event benefiting both the Tyler Hamilton Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Kevin Mahaney is a cancer survivor and has committed to cycle every kilometer of the 2005 Tour de France. Destination Cycling has organized the trip and together with Kevin created an organization that mirrors a top pro team. Every day they have been sending back daily reports. This one from Stage 18 (Albi – Mende) gives a graphic picture of what the TdF peloton is living out on the roads of France :

Suffering, is the word the pros use and the only word there is for this. Every day, another hotel, another city and another 8 hours on the bike. I now know why everyone who has ever ridden the Tour has reverence for it. You don't ride it, you survive it. Almost 20% of the pros will not finish.

The first week it hurt but you looked forward. The second week is a good hurt of surviving the mountains. The last week is a bad hurt. You are tired, sore and do not think of getting to Paris . Only surviving one more day knowing that soon it should end. You have no modesty, you change into your bike gear in the middle of the city. You pull barely to the side of the road to pee. You do it on your bike and couldn't care now who sees. There are no beautiful castles, hillsides or valleys anymore. It is only another hill to climb, a valley to ride thru, you don't have the strength to look around. By the end of the day only your legs know what to do, you do not even know you are there. The highlight of today was our finish on an airport runway at the Aerodrome in Mende. For me and the other two pilots on the team this was the ultimate way to end the day.

Return to ToC >>> Previous Stage >>> Next Stage >>>