Time trial day — but not your typical one.
Most time trials I’ve watched or ridden during my LeLoop
adventures in France have been flat, fast, and honestly… a bit boring. I used
to treat them as rest days. But not today.
⸻
The Day Begins: Eat, Coach, Ride, Repeat
We kicked off with a two-hour coach transfer — par for the course
on this kind of trip. The old cycling mantra “eat, sleep, ride, repeat” has
evolved into something more like:
eat → coach for 2 hours → ride → coach again → sleep → repeat.
Our journey across the Tour route has taken us through the north
of France, along the west coast, into the Pyrenees, and soon, the Alps.
⸻
The 2025
Tour de France: A True French Tour
This year’s Tour is special — it’s the first in five years to be
held entirely within France. That’s notable, as many editions include stages in
neighboring countries like Belgium, Spain, or Italy.
Route Highlights:
Start: Lille Métropole (Hauts-de-France)
Finish: Paris, with a final stage around Montmartre
Route Flow:
- North (Lille, Normandy)
- West (Brittany, Pays de la Loire)
- Southwest (Occitanie, Pyrenees)
- Southeast (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Alps)
- Central-East (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)
- Ending in Paris
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Stage 13: Loudenvielle to Peyragudes
We started today’s ride in Loudenvielle, a
peaceful lakeside town. The first few kilometers were flat, but soon the road
tilted upward — and stayed that way.
The climb was steady, with gradients ranging from 7% to 12%. I
kept my heart rate in Zone 2 — for me, that’s like a brisk walk. Manageable,
but still a workout.
It was a beautiful climb — peaceful at my pace, but for the pros,
this will be a brutal test. The final kilometer ramps up to 16% on
the Altiport runway. But we made a right-hand turn and climbed for 3 more kilometers
instead — a far more manageable ascent, but only because we weren’t allowed on
that side of the mountain. It’s an actual runway, after all, and not open to
the public.
⸻
Lunch at the Summit
At the top, we were treated to a simple but satisfying lunch:
soft, fresh bread with ham, cheese, lettuce, and mayo — kind of like a French
Subway sandwich, but better. Dessert was a chocolate éclair, but I traded mine
for potato chips and a peach. I’ve been eating so many sweets lately that my
body is starting to protest. I need the sugar for the rides, but I’m definitely
craving something salty and real.
⸻
What’s Next?
Tomorrow is Stage 14, one of the biggest days
of the Tour. Only Stage 18 is tougher. I’m excited — and a little nervous. But that’s
what makes this adventure so unforgettable.
x
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