The Giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux

2011 Part 6: Mont Ventoux is one of the most famous climbs of the Tour de France, although infamous may be a more appropriate description when it comes to the Giant of Provence. It’s right up there along with Alpe d’Huez, the Tourmalet and the Galibier. It had been on Phil and Kyle’s bucket list […]

As near as damn it to Carcassonne

2011 Part 4: We were leaving Arreau today for Trebes, a commune close to the walled city of Carcassonne. To get there we essentially had two options. We could either ride up to La Barthe-de-Neste and then head due east past Saint-Girons – about a 4 hour ride. Or we could drop down into Spain […]

It’s good to be back in the Pyrenees

2011 Part 1: Unlike last year’s wash out this year’s tour got off to a much more auspicious start. It was the usual starting point, Kyle’s house in the centre of Bewdley, and by the time everyone finally turned up a little after 10.30am it was already t-shirt weather without a cloud in the sky. […]