Le Tour Days 14 & 15 - The Massif Central

Yesterday was a sprinter's finale, and Peter Sagan came through once again. It was really close - although he was hanging near the front, he almost started his assault a little late. Still, after days of pushing himself through the Alps and keeping up with the climbers, he managed to once again get a win on the Tour. He's an amazing sprinter with a heavy-duty body that can pull through the high peaks and still be ready to race again the next day. Bravo for Peter Sagan. 

Today's Stage 14 to Mende is hilly once again, with a steep climb to a small plateau at the end. We're entering the Massif Central on this 186 km stage, and it's an up and down profile now. We're also back to the climbers being prominent. 

The big obstacle today is the final peak as the riders pull into Mende. The Cote de la Croix Neuve has a nice steep section (in black) that will challenge already-tired legs, with a short, flat plateau at the top for the finish. It could be an all-out battle for the lead riders as they crest the climb and enter that short flat. 

Sunday's ride features three major peaks, the last of which
is a Cat 1 mountain, the Pic de Nore. Here's another
opportunity for Peter Sagan if he can keep up with the
climbers on the up part, he might well win on
the downward run. 

Sunday's ride is Day 15 of Le Tour and it starts early. The 181.5 km stage features three category peaks on the way from Millau to Carcassonne, and that third climb, the Category 1 Pic de Nore may turn into a head-to-head (or bike-to-bike) battle. Look for high speeds on the final downhill and a real tussle near the finish line. 

The lawn roller we want to rent can be filled with water
from the hose which will give it the weight needed to
compress the soil. If we can get this done, it will do
a lot for DH's peace of mind. 

Monday will be a well-deserved rest day and on Tuesday, we'll end nestled in the beginning of the Pyrenees. The western mountains between Spain and France are always so exciting, so next week will be AWESOME! In the meantime, DH and I will be working hard on the yard on Sunday. We need lots of black dirt and grass seed, and need to arrange the rental of a lawn roller. These large rollers are used to compress the earth. Fortunately they make 'fill with water' instead of solid steel ones now, and I think one will fit into Minion. The only question is will one be available to rent? 

Have a wonderful weekend. I plan on being back here on Monday to review what happened over the weekend in Le Tour and to look ahead to the ride into Paris next Sunday. Then another Tour will be in the books, and what a ride it has turned out to be thus far! Be healthy and happy, I'll be back on Monday.