TDF 2022 – Countdown

Tour de France LogoThose of you following me on Strava may already have seen that I’m “tapering” this week.

I actually have no idea how to do that properly, but as it’s hot and the outlook is the same for next week in France, I’m also getting adapted to the heat.

Today and tomorrow, I will enjoy watching the pros’ Tour de France stages passing close to and even through Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, where we have booked our apartment.

Both these days are going to be tough, like most of the stages I’ve planned for myself.

Although most of them are quite short, the altimeter gain in each is scary 😎

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Update: Been There, Done That

Just a quick note to inform you (who?) that the “Col Collector” page has been updated with (new) Tour de France 2021 climbs and some previously forgotten Austrian climbs.

The latter were cycled during my Marmotte Gran Fondo Hochkönig in 2017…

As a bonus, I’m attaching a nice 2021 Tour de France shot by Paula ❤️ and one by the photographer from Photo Breton

TDF 2021 - Stage 11 (Marmotte) - 31
Passing the Pantani monument on the Galibier during the Marmotte
Also during the Marmotte, my 🔟th ascend of the Alpe 🥳

Tour de France 2021 – Recap

Tour de France LogoAs promised, I will conclude the reporting on my Tour de France 2021 with a recap.

I cycled 14 out of 15 available days and have my own stupidity to blame for having a “rest day”.

While I guess this Tour de France once again showed I’m (still) capable of pushing myself through – and over – my limits, there’s no denying that I will have to take it down a notch.

How much will also depend on my capability to keep enduring the back pain on every climb.

Sure, taking in the mostly overwhelming landscapes, the feeling of tininess when looking around and the stunning views are great “distractors”.

But I keep increasing the number of short breaks to ease the pain, which eventually do not help very much any more either.

On the upside, these enable me to take in more of the views and make pictures too 😂

Anyway, lets get to the recap…

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Tour de France 2021 – Stage 11 (Marmotte)

Marmotte or Bust

Yes, I did use that title before. Thank you for so closely following / reading my blog 😂

However, at the time I spoke about my plans to do two of them, Sestriere (La Marmotta) and the classic Marmotte Granfondo Alpes during that Tour de France of 2017.

Both were a bust, whereas I didn’t even start the classic, due to the (general) weather conditions and had a flat with no spare tube(s) during the La Marmotta.

This year, being located at an even better spot to start it, I finally did ride Marmotte Granfondo Alpes, but with a twist…

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Tour de France 2021 – Other Areas (Part 3)

Tour de France LogoExploring the climbs and passes for my Tour de France 2021, I’ve started with those in and close to our base camp, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

In my two previous posts, I’ve covered the possibilities a bit further away, not requiring a car transfer before getting on my bike.

Today’s post concentrates on climbs which do need a car transfer.

Well, all except one…

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