Hello once again meh hearties! Today is Day 11 of the Tour de Underpants, and a difficult race day is shaping up in the Alps! Although the route from Albertville to La Toussuire – Les Sybelles is shorter stage than most, today’s course has several challenging hills and promises to separate the winners from the mere finishers!
Since we are in the Savoy Region of France, the Wine of the Day is any Savoy wine you can find in a store near you! Many are affordable and delicious, but can be difficult to find in the States. Your best bet is seeing what your local wine shop or grocery store with a large selection has in stock since not much of it exported.
The riders have split off into two distinct groups as they ride through a nice wooded area close to the start outside of Albertville. The group that is leading is trying to get a head start on the large hills that are coming, and the group that is following is just going at their normal pace.
Now they are going through some switchbacks as they appear to cling to the side of the mountain. The hillsides on the Col de la Madeleine are a beautiful lush green due to plenty of rain this spring. So beautiful as they snake their way up the mountain. Some people were camping out along side the road here. Looks like epic funz!!!!
LOL! Some guy is running along side the leaders and almost blocked their path. Stay out of the way, crazy dude tram!!!!
Peter Velits just barely beat out Kessiakoff on the hill climb by a tire length or so, with the peloton about 2.5 minutes behind. Now the two leaders are flying down the backside of the hill. The road surface isn’t that great here as they fly around some very sharp corners!
Epic jagged mountaintops at Saint-Colomban-des-Villards! Now they are climbing again through the wooded area at La Chal, with over 6 miles to the top of hill at Col de la Croix de Fer. Cause it’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll!!!
The roads are very narrow here as they wind up the mountainside towards Col de la Croix de Fer. Roland managed to win this hill climb, while the peloton is still struggling up the hill. One of the mechanics had his entire upper body leaning out the car window to oil some gears as they were cruising down the road.
Watch out for the corners as you fly downhill, peeps!
Looks like the ruins of a bunker from one of the world wars there, close to some cool chalets. Rolland also won the Col du Mollard hill climb. Nicely done!
Down the other side, someone lost their water bottle as the lid went flying one way and the container portion went flying the other – LOL! Now some other guy is running along with the cyclists. Wheeees!
Oh noes, Rolland took the corner a bit too fast and crashed! He quickly got back on his cycle and continued on downhill.
The cyclists are starting to pick up the intensity a bit in Le Suel.
Le Villard is a very old town, based on the architecture, as they continue uphill towards the finish.
Cadel Evans is struggling up the final hill as Bradley Wiggins pulls ahead. TJ Van Gardener came back to encourage Cadel along.
Rolland is holding onto his lead with just a couple miles to go. Can he hold onto his lead as the road gets even steeper as the town of La Toussuire comes into view! Bradley Wiggins is grimacing up the hill. Oh my, that spectator was really excited as he ran along uphill waving a big flag and yelling at the top of his lungs – LOL!
Rolland is smiling all the way towards the finish since he is in the lead. As the finish line is in sight, he is smiling so much that his face might break – LOL!
Someone is blowing bubbles over the course a few hundred feet from the finish – LOL!
Well, it looks as though Cadel Evans has fallen back and stands no chance of winning the Tour, and it’s written all over his face. Awwws, sorry Cadel!!! I’ll always love ya!!!!! Yays!!!!
What an exciting and scenic day of racing! Thank you for once again joining meh here in the Drunken Gaming Corner, and see you tomorrow for more racing funz!!!