Photo Galleries

A Ride Up Alpe d’Huez

July 21, 2011

As I briefly mentioned in the previous post, we took a ride up Alpe d’Huez yesterday to see what all the fuss was about. This was the first time I’ve ever climbed this mythical mountain and it didn’t disappoint.

Le Tour Diary | Stage 17

July 21, 2011

I understand it was another thrilling stage today and the weather forecast took a turn for the better. Blue skies opened up and it was anywhere from 13C-25C depending on which col you were crossing. I spent my day riding Alpe d’Huez, Col du Lautaret and the Col du Galibier, not far from where the […]

Le Tour Diary | Stage 16

July 20, 2011

How wrong I was. I was convinced this Tour de France was simply going to be a race of attrition and a winner would emerge from those who hadn’t had a bad day rather than decimating attacks and fireworks in the mountains. This is one time I’m happy to be proven wrong.

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Rest Day, Up Mont Ventoux

July 19, 2011

Today myself and hundreds of other cyclists made the pilgrimage up Mont Ventoux. Since the teams and many race followers are staying very close to Ventoux, it was a convenient day out. A rest day for the pros meant that us fans could spend the whole day riding without rushing back to follow the race […]

Le Tour Diary | Stage 14

July 17, 2011

I didn’t go to the top of Plateau de Beille today, but I know for certain by seeing the stage on television that Voeckler is the sensation of this year’s tour. I don’t think anyone can argue that. He stayed with the best climbers in the world and responded to Schleck’s attacks better than anyone […]

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What You Missed This Morning…On The Col du Tourmalet

July 17, 2011

Instead of making my way to the Plateau de Beille today to watch the action live, I decided to take advantage of my location in Lourdes and climb the Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet. After that we headed to a local pub and watched the last 2hrs of the stage. I could’t think of […]

Le Tour Diary | Stage 13

July 16, 2011

Talk about a stage with mixed emotions. It was impossible not to feel sorry for Jérémy Roy after such impressive rides yesterday and today, but watching Hushovd come over the finish line after relentlessly clawing back after getting dropped on the Aubisque was sensational. It gives the rest of us blokes with 82kg frames hope […]

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Le Tour Diary | Stage 12, Mountain Top Debauchery

July 15, 2011

Stage 12 was the day we’ve been waiting for, and it did not disappoint. The French were happy because Voeckler kept his yellow jersey on Bastille Day, the crazy Basque fans went bananas over Sanchez, and all the Aussies on the mountain thought they were in Bay 13 at the MCG and didn’t care what […]

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Le Tour Diary | Stage 11

July 14, 2011

Up until now the Tour has been very exciting from my perspective, but I can see why you folks in Australia may opt to watching the highlights on SBS instead of staying up until 1am to watch each stage. But it’s about to change…

Le Tour Diary | Stage 9, Tour de France Jinxed

July 11, 2011

The Tour lost a handful of contenders in today’s stage including Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana), Jurgen Van den Broeck (Omega Pharma Lotto) and Dave Zabriskie (Garmin). Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) and Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky Procycling) were brought down by a France 2/3 television car with 37 kilometres to remaining.