Cyclopaat, an alter ego with a twist
Unlike during last year’s Tour de France, I’ve not written any post-stage reports this year.
This is partly due to the poor internet connection we had and I needed my phone’s hotspot internet to stream Netflix.
But it’s also because I was just out of energy after each stage because of the murderous heat, not only while cycling but also in the apartment.
Plus, I have not received any requests to “pretty please” write any post on this year’s Tour de France.
As usual, I’ll give you a recap anyway…
Those 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 😎
As previously mentioned, my “Tour de France 2022” is more like a “Critérium du Dauphiné”, given the duration.
Traditionally that features stages in the Savoie and Haute-Savoie, both departments in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
With our base camp located in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, I have the opportunity to incorporate (parts of) the two last stages of this year’s edition in my trip(s).
This post tackles the “familiar terrain” part of that.
So, yesterday when I got home, Paula handed me an envelope.
While I thought for a moment she was handing me the divorce papers, it actually contained my birthday present 🤣
It was a printout of a reservation she had made on Booking.com and while she knows that my hearth lies in the Dolomites, that was just (way) too expensive.
But because we both have fond memories of last year’s stay in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, she figured this would be more than a consolation.
Well, HELL YEAH!!!
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…
