Tour de France 2010

Tour de France 2010 - the Sky Team working hard!

Here at Adventure Base HQ, the ladies in the office really didn’t need too much persuasion to leave our desks for the day to check out 200 of the world’s fittest men, clad in skin-tight lycra, working up a sweat in the mountains. On any other day, that could sound altogether wrong, but when it’s TOUR DE FRANCE time, all normal laws of physics fly out of the window!

The Adventure Base Team setting up for some high speed Tour action

So, early on Sunday morning, our convoy of Chamonix riders and spectators left home dressed in our best biking kit for a day in Morzine to watch our cycling heroes do their thing. With closed roads, we parked up in Tanninges, and rode the 13km route up to Morzine and then on to the finish line at Avoriaz – for a little taster of what the riders would have in store for them later in the day.

Nicky & Kate show the boys how it's done

The road as far as Morzine is a gentle climb, meandering nicely through the beautiful alpine countryside. Easy – at our pace anyway! But then the real work begins. From Morzine to Avoriaz, it just gets steeper and steeper. Brutal in the blazing sunshine at 11am, but NOTHING compared to what the teams would have to endure when they hit it late in the afternoon, at twice the speed, and after a full day going flat out in 34 degree heat.

1km from the top of Avoriaz

So while the Tour boys fought it out in the early part of the stage, we indulged in a long lunch, a little rose, and lot of relaxing …

… Before taking our posts on a hairpin above Morzine, from where we could see back across the valley as the riders approached, then up close (and sweaty) as they flew past us on the last few kms to the finish. It was unbearably hot! We cowered in the tiny shadow of a hedge, glugged down water, and waited.

Fighting small children for the free T shirts and sweets!

The choppers flew overhead, the tour cars started to come through, and the tension (as well as the temperature) mounted. The caravan of sponsor floats provided a welcome distraction as we fought small children for t shirts, caps, sweeties, and washing powder (?), thrown from the passing lorries. Then silence.

Someone with the Tour Iphone app was filling us in. ‘Lance has fallen twice’, ‘There’s a breakaway group’, ‘Contador’s looking strong’, ‘They’re 10 minutes away …’

And eventually, there they were. A lead group flew past, up on their pedals and fighting for the honour of finishing first. Then the first chase group, visibly quicker, going uphill at a pace we normal mortals would hardly be able to sustain on the flat, and with barely a sign of stress on their faces. Incredible. Then the second group came through – Contador’s team. Then a long pause before the group with Lance Armstrong passed by.

The rest of the Tour ‘cruised’ past us in two main groups several minutes later, looking much more relaxed. It’s all part of their training, I’m sure, to maintain a chilled out expression no matter how much they’re suffering, but it’s just amazing to see in real life. These guys just don’t even seem to be sweating or breathing hard. It takes fitness to a whole other level. One rider pedalled past, both hands off his handlebars, drinking a can of coke. Whether a ‘domestique’ who’d already done his job, or a sprinter who was taking it easy, it was a defining moment of Tour de France cool!

The team cars come through ...

For die hard cycling fans who know their favourite riders’ bikes, colours, sunglasses, I’m sure it’s easy to spot who’s who. For those of us who know the names and not much more, it’s pretty hard to tell, as the groups approach, pass and then disappear in a split second. It took watching the day’s highlights later in the evening to work out we’d been witness to such an exciting stage: Lance missing his last opportunity to make his mark as a contendor in this year’s tour, the fierce pace throughout the race, and the amazing performances of the Sky & Astana riders, Andy Schlek’s first stage win …

... And then the real riders!

But it really doesn’t matter. It’s all about the atmosphere and the experience of supporting such an incredible event. The efforts of all the riders competing for 3 solid weeks is mind blowing enough when you watch it on TV, but totally awe inspiring when you see it all up so close. You don’t even have to like biking to appreciate the physical effort, team work, training, and sheer volume of organisation that makes it all happen.

So, there we have it: A bit of cycling, a spot of lunch, and the famous Tour de France up close and personal … altogether a great day out!

Adventure Base provide Chamonix based accommodation and driving support for Tour de France holidays each summer. Bring your bike and ride some of the famous Alpine cols, or simply enjoy the viewing and the stunning mountain scenery. Get in touch: info@adventurebase.com