Boomers on Bicycles

Andy Schleck tour leader (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski)

The Tour de France hit day 12 today, and things are heating up. Literally. The Tour rode in 100 degree temperatures on the route yesterday and  today. Yesterdays stage was won by Sergio Paulinho of team Radio Shack. It was Paulinho’s first stage win in a Tour de France. Wednesday was also Bastille Day in France, but the the lone French rider in the breakaway just couldn’t quite keep up.

The ride yesterday featured a flat start that then went into the mountains. The last climb was a 5.3% grade, a catergory 2 climb. There were no serious disruptions today, as the peloton played it safe and let the breakaways stay out in front. There was no need for the peloton to catch anyone, as the standing weren’t likely to change unless there was a time consuming crash involving a lot of riders. There wasn’t, and the ride today, though hard fought at the end, was relatively uneventful.

Tuedays stage may have had something to with it, as it was a brutal day in the mountains, with the last climb being a long beyond category (HC) climb. The climb up was very difficult, and the descent was perilous as well.

Today’s stage 11 was won by HTC-Columbia’s Mark Cavendish, giving him 13 overall stage wins during his many Tours. Mark Renshaw, HTC-Columbia, Cavendish’s lead-out man, was disqualified from the tour. He had to bump Julian Dean out of the way as Dean leaned in on him, and then seemingly impeded Tyler Farrar as they headed for the line. Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin’s comment on that was that it seemed a bit harsh, but perhaps was a warning to the rest of the riders to play nice. Saxobank’s Andy Schleck retains the yellow jersey as tour leader.

If you have been following the Tour, and wonder what it’s like to ride up a mountain, you’re likely not alone. Your immediate area may not have anything to test your climbing ability. Look around and find something relatively close by that has some decent climbs. Anywhere in the mountains, if you have them, could do just fine. Foothill areas ofter offer some decent climbs as well.

The easiest place to test your climbing legs is on any of the routes that have mostly uphill all the way, with a couple of not so steep sections and a couple of downhills after the top of some of the climbs.

Get your road bike ready, or rent one from your local bike shop. Head up to your chosen spot, then start looking for a place to park.

You will need enough water for the day. One bottle will not suffice. You will need something to eat along the way, just like the pros on the Tour. Sunscreen is a very good thing to slather on, as there is little or no shade along the way. Take an extra tube or two and a patch kit, along with a pump. Take your cell phone with you.

When you begin your ride, take it easy. Take a buddy or two with you to share the load. Riding it by yourself will put you in the same frame of mind as the lone breakaway rider on any stage of the tour. You really will be on your own. Ride at a steady pace, hydrating constantly along the way.

To really get the feel of what the boys on the Tour do, when you are a few hundred meters from the top of any climb, get off the saddle and start dancing on the pedals to pull yourself over the top. At the  last climb take a breath and enjoy the top.

What goes up must come down. Catch your breath, drink, and eat something. Take 10-15 minutes to catch your breath, then start riding. Any longer than 15 minutes and your legs may begin to cramp. The way back is probably a steady downhill with some climbs thrown in. Maybe there are even a couple of pretty good curves to negotiate.With luck, the  traffic will be  light. If you get into trouble, flag someone down. It’s a long walk back.

You may pick up a pretty good head of steam on some of the sections as you head back. Go only as fast as you are willing to fall. Road rash out there could be really, really ugly.

When you get back to your car, drink, and eat a bit more. You have just had a little bit of the experience of what some of the climbs on the Tour are. You and your buddies deserve a pat on the back. There’s no podium here, so that will have to do.

Stay tuned, as there are more mountains to climb, both on the Tour, and in your own back yard. Remember to get out there and ride.

Stage 3 winner Thor Hushovd

The Tour launched on Saturday with a prologue in Holland, then moved into Belgium for Stage 1. It was a bit of a crash fest. Stage 2, Monday in Belgium, was ridden in the rain, with everything drying out in the later part of the stage. It was another crash fest, so much so that the peloton, having been bested by Sylvain Chavenal, who also took the yellow jersey for the next stage, rode en-masse across the finish line, in apparent protest of the route, the conditions, or both. This has been done only once before in the history of the Tour, and that time, in 1967, was in respect for a rider who died on the course. Paul Sherwin and Phil Liggett, who along with Bob Role are the voices of the tour, pointed out that the route was known for a year, the teams had scouted out and probably ridden most of the route, and it was, after all, a bike race. Fabian Cancellera, who was wearing the yellow jersey at the time, clearly was in control of the peloton and it was he who apparently lead the peloton to cross the finish as a group. It was an interesting day on the Tour.

Today’s Stage 3 also had a batch of crashes, one of which took out Frank Schleck, who along with his brother Andy, rides for Saxobank. He took a hard spill on the cobblestones, and broke his collar bone. It is a definite blow to the team. Other riders crashed on the cobblestones as well. One stretch of the cobbles is part of the same section that is ridden in the Paris-Roubaix race. Inherent in any road race are crashes, and one of the dangers of being in the peloton is being involved in one. When riders go down in front, those following have to scramble to stay upright. Sometimes it just doesn’t work. The Tour is now in France for the rest of the race.

As of now, Fabian Cancellara is back in yellow as the Tour leader. Lance Armstrong, stung by a flat tire as he chased the lead group down, dropped to 18th, with Alberto Contrador in 9th place. So far, the Tour has been very interesting to watch and follow. Tomorrow’s stage 4 starts in Cambrai and finishes in Reims, home to many of the great champagne houses. It is a relatively short stage and should prove to be a fast paced ride. The entire tour will consume 2, 235 miles before it is over.

The pageantry, the team strategies, the individual efforts and challenges always make the tour a great spectacle to watch. Stay tuned.