Today was Stage 8 of the Tour de France, the first of two flat stages, taking us from Saint-Méen-le-Grand in Brittany to Laval Espace Mayenne in the Pays de la Loire region. The route covered 171.4 km and, while labeled “flat,” still packed in around 1,700 meters of elevation gain — a reminder that in cycling, “flat” is always relative.
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A Promising Start, a Heavy Heart
There was no early morning transfer today — a small blessing. We rolled out of the hotel and would be riding straight to our next one. The weather was forecasted to be beautiful: cool to start, then sunny and warm. A perfect cycling day. A cyclist’s dream, really.
My knee was feeling better, but my cold had worsened. I wasn’t in a chipper mood, but I figured that would change once I got on the bike. It usually does — it’s my happy place. But today, it didn’t.
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Riding Through Brittany’s Heartland
We began in Saint-Méen-le-Grand, a small Breton town with deep cycling roots — the birthplace of five-time Tour winner Louison Bobet. From there, we rolled through the Ille-et-Vilaine countryside, past tidy farms, stone villages, and quiet roads lined with hedgerows. The terrain was gentle, with long stretches of open road and a few mild climbs — the kind I could do all day.
But I chose to ride alone for most of it. My mood grew darker as the day progressed. I put in an earbud and turned on music, hoping it would lift me. It helped a little, but I was still struggling. I could feel gurgling in my lungs, felt feverish, and couldn’t shake the sense that I was getting really sick.
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A Day in Recovery Mode
I rode by myself throughout the entire 167 km ride, spending most of the time in a recovery state. The day ticked by quickly — a stark contrast to the previous stages. Even though I was riding solo, I somehow managed to arrive at every food stop just as the fastest group was leaving. Either I wasn’t far behind, or they were taking their time.
By lunch, I had ridden about 100 km and had 68 to go. The lunch was fantastic — and finally, a fresh green salad on the menu. The first one I’ve seen in eight days. Jessica looked at me with concern, wanting to help, but there was nothing to do. I was better on my own. I could ride at any pace I wanted.
I even tried singing along to some of my favorite songs to lift my spirits. Nothing worked.
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A Misstep in the Final Stretch
By food stop four, I knew I needed something to change. I waited for the last group to arrive and decided to ride with them. But it was the wrong choice. Riding in a group felt worse than being alone. I had chosen poorly.
I finished the ride gutted, feeling the worst I’ve ever felt on a bike. I spoke with the doctor, who suggested I spend time in the shower breathing in the moist air. I took a nap before dinner and, surprisingly, felt a bit better.
Dinner wasn’t a buffet tonight, and there were no seconds. I tried to eat as much as I could, but it wasn’t enough. I’ll need to figure out a way to eat more tomorrow.
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Looking Ahead
Tomorrow is another flat stage, but I know better than to expect it to be easy. I’m hoping for a better night’s sleep, a stronger morning, and maybe — just maybe — a shift in mood. Because even on the flat days, this journey is anything but smooth.
Laval, Mayenne... the Day 8 endpoint
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