Tour de France 2005

The main motivator for the trip this year was for Dave to go see a stage of the Tour de France. The trip turned out to be so much more (and very fun) but Dave and André did in fact go and see a stage.

Heading off in the morning with bikes and lots of fluids, André and Dave headed north of Montpellier into the Massif Central region and finally into the Tarn Gorge. This area was home to a Cat 2 climb of 9.2km out of the Gorge called the Cote de Boyne, part of the stage from Albi to Mende.

Before the riders come by, an amazing parade of sponsor vehicles zooms by at 30mph throwing everything from giant hands to cans of beer!

 

 
When the water truck came into view we thought "Cool, bottles of water!" but instead this guy jumps out with a pressure washer and hoses us down!!

Needless to say, I ducked and covered the camera right after filming Andre taking one for the team!
We met up with an American group riding along with the tour and set up camp on a steeper part of the climb.

We asked them how we would know when the riders would be coming; we were worried about not being ready!

Well silly us, it is the simplest thing in the world: just listen for the helicopters!!

We did and along came the peleton (after a small lead group went by earlier).

Discovery were fully in control with Lance safely right behind his team.
Although this hill took a lot out of André and I, these guys were just cruising up it without any sign of fatigue.

After the train of team cars and few stragglers, it was downhill through cars, people, and bikes for about an hour just to get back to our car. One of the crazier bike things I have ever done!
Back in the car we headed out of the Tarn Gorge and off to the motorway (we'd had enough of super twisty mountain roads for one day).

Along the way we passed this nice little house on a cliff. Talk about location!

 
The Viaduct de Millau (just completed) was an amazing way to exit the area and get home MUCH faster! Those towers are 803ft (245m) tall!!! (That is taller than the Eiffel tower!)

It provides a direct freeway link between France and Spain, freeing the town of Millau from holiday traffic jams and pollution.

See the Viaduct website for more info on this amazing engineering feat.  

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Last updated 12 October 2005 .