Here’s the 2023 Hochsauerland “Best Of” picture gallery – you can read the report here…
If you’re interested in the (larger) originals, drop me a line…
Tour de France 2023 – Update
An update on my Tour de France 2023.
As I wrote in my previous post, the Hochsauerland trip was a bit of a struggle due to (additional) physical problems.
While I was in a similar pickle last year, the bruised or broken ribs sustained the week before, at least had time to heal before my Tour de France 2022.
It didn’t end up as a good training for that Tour and this year, that scenario repeated itself.
With an additional sting…
Hochsauerland 2023 – Report
Report on our trip to Hochsauerland 2023.
Last week – 27th of May to 3rd of June – we spent a week in one of Germany’s cycling mecca’s of “midrange hills”, the Hochsauerland.
The Hochsauerland hills will bring you up to 800 meters and it has one of the best websites to plan your trips: Bike Arena Sauerland.
Once again, Medebach was our base camp and this time we even stayed in the same apartment as last year.
I did look at the site to see if there were any new interesting routes, but I was struck by a cervical herniated disc injury a week before we left.
That type of injuries are – like the lumbar ones – not new to me, since my car accident back in 2002.
Tour de France 2023
Bagnères-de-Bigorre
Our base camp for the Tour de France 2023 will be in the “Baths of Bigorre”.
As interesting as the history of the city might be, I’ll just provide you with a link to Wikipedia to read about it 😎
Of particular interest for me is the section “Climate” which is very encouraging:
It is however intensely exposed to north by north-west disturbances that collide with the terrain. This barrier effect is felt up to the foothills so that springs, autumns, and winters are cool and rainy while summers are often hot and particularly stormy.
We’ll see how that plays out…
WW108
Wouter Weylandt (Sint-Denijs-Westrem, September 27, 1984 – Mezzanego, May 9, 2011)
Wouter first was a member of UCI ProTeam Quick-Step–Davitamon and later of Leopard Trek.
His first major win was the 17th stage of the 2008 Vuelta a España.
He also won the 3rd stage of the 2010 Giro d’Italia and died in a crash during the 3rd (!) stage of the 2011 Giro d’Italia.
Gian Mattia D’Alberto – LaPresse 10 05 2011 Livorno sport
Giro d’Italia 4th stage finish. In the photo: team Leopard Trek and – 3rd from the right – Tyler Farrar, Wouter’s buddy.
