Tour de France 2014

Tour de France 2014 – Stage 1

November 14, 2025June 14, 2014

Col du Petit Saint-Bernard

The col du Petit Saint-Bernard was cycled ‘according to the road book’ on Saturday, but I chose the alternative, i.e. both ends instead of combining it with a climb to Tigne.

The main road (N60) leading to Bourg-Saint-Maurice is not the best of experiences, but as it is (mostly) ‘false flat’, it offers a good warm up.

The ascent from Bourg-Saint-Maurice is not too difficult and not very busy either. The landscape and views alternate between open and ‘tree covered’, which amounts to an overall nice experience.

However, upon leaving la Rosière, there were no more hairpins and as the vegetation got more sparse, it was getting more windy and a bit chilly…

Tour de France 2014 – Prologue

November 14, 2025June 13, 2014

A warming up with a twist

I had not planned a real stage, as I was not sure about our time of arrival. I had seen a loop that looked attractive – it would avoid the main road to Aime, by going uphill from the start, towards Valezan.

Between Valezan and La Côte-d’Aime it started to rain – drizzling at first, but pouring after a while. However, this stopped before I passed Granier on the way down to Aime.

When I got to Aime, Paula accidentally lead the (short) way home over the N90, but we returned and headed back towards Macôt as intended.

I had planned to follow the D220 to Landry and then circle back to Bellentre, but when I passed the roundabout with the ‘La Plagne‘ sign, I couldn’t help myself…

Ready Or Not…

November 14, 2025June 11, 2014

Just 24 hours before we head off to the Alps for my own Tour de France 2014, I find myself to be excited and anxious at the same time.

Months of planning and training is coming to an end, “zee baik” is prepped and I’ve packed my bags.

I’m so ready to go… Or am I?

(And yes, I’m aware the Latin text in the image is not what that means.)

Tour de France 2014 – Road Book

November 14, 2025June 5, 2014

Less than a week before the start, the road book to Cyclopaat’s Tour de France 2014 has finally been released.

Suffice it to say that this year’s tour for professionals pales in comparison to this, at least as far as mountain stages are concerned.

First reconnaissance was done using the excellent “Cycling the Alps” website, trying to figure out how to catch as many cols in each stage as possible.

Stages were then drawn with the help of Strava’s mapping utility, listing segments and determining where the KOM points will be given.

Needles to say, we’re feeling sorry for the poor bastards that will have to endure this kind of insanity, inflicted by a race director as disturbed as the infamous Grunter von Agony, who will probably weep with joy and incorporate some of this shit in his next production.

So, let’s introduce the fools who have signed up for this “Mother of All Tours”, shall we?

Er…

Tour de France 2014 – Countdown

November 14, 2025May 20, 2014

The image above is a panoramic view of the “Cime de la Bonette”, the loop around the top of the Col de la Bonette.

Similar to the one they created over / around the top of the Galibier, it was basically added to make it look more impressive and to “top” other high roads.

With the additional loop, the Bonette is 2,802 meters, the Stelvio is 2,758 and the Col de l’Iseran is 2,770. However, these are real passes and technically, the “Cime” is not.

Both the Iseran and the Bonette are on the list for my Tour de France 2014 in June…