2010 was a significant year for the Tour de France, it being 100 years since it first rode into the high mountains of the Pyrenees. With climbs such as the Port de Pailheres, the Col d’Aubisque and the Col du Tourmalet (twice) on this years route the organisers had made sure it would be a fitting tribute to the blood, sweat and tears which have paved it’s way here. We managed to catch up with the Tour on three separate stages, including on the mighty Col du Tourmalet – where the mountains had their own idea of what a celebration meant – shrouding the tops in thick cloud while Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador battled it out for the Maillor Jaune. None the less it was an epic moment of sporting history.
Stage 15: Pamiers to Bagneres-du-Luchon
Classic French style on how to watch the Tour – with friends by the side of the road under the shade of a tree. Lunch was consumed between the frenzy of the Caravane and the arrival of the riders, all in all very civilized.
Stage 16 – Bagneres-du-Luchon to Pau
Having followed the route of the Tour along most of the route of Stage 15 we managed to leap-frog it at Bagnères-de-Luchon, pressing on in the fading light to find a great camp spot on the top of the Col d’Aspin. Having been woken early by the set up crews we settled in for the wait and spent the morning enjoying the build up. The Caravane came through at about 11.30 and the riders arrived at about 13.00, though this time we were able to see them coming from our elevated position. It took them about 30 minutes to make it up the Col, roughly the same time as it took us to drive!
Stage 17: Pau to Col du Tourmalet
On the rest day of the Tour I was struck down with a stomach bug, so while Helen went up to the Col to witness the hundreds of riders experiencing the Tourmalet first hand I lay in the tent recovering. On the eve of Stage 17 and the culmination of this year’s Tour in the mountains the region was hit by huge storms. Thunder so loud and close the ground shook (we could tell as we were camping). For a while in the morning we doubted if we would make it up to the Col for the race, so bad were the conditions – but seeing countless others head up (mostly draped in plastic sheeting) and having come so far we decided we would regret turning back at this late stage. The weather – or at least the rain – held off, instead the cloud rolled in. By the time the Caravane arrived it emerged from the mist like a bizarre ghostly procession. Still – the crowds went wild as even more merchandise was dished out, hats and ponchos being the favoured items. By the time the lead riders – Schleck and Contador – arrived visibility was down to about 30 meters, still this was the epic battle the organisers and crowd had wanted and there was no way a bit of cloud was going to dampen our enthusiasm. Cheers, claps and even vuvuzelas greeted the riders to the summit of the last mountain of the Tour. Armstrong, in his last Tour got a big cheer, as did local rider Sanchez who was placed 3rd at the time. Once the main contenders had finished we tired to get a glimpse of the presentations – unfortunately, due to the cloud, a glimpse is all we got. The atmosphere was amazing, the setting epic, but the weather was disappointing. We considered two out of three a result.
