Tuesday 10th July 2018 - Stage 5 - Lorient - Quimper

It was another fine and sunny morning. We had a simple continental breakfast at the chateau before heading off to the start line. We were on the road cycling just after 8:30am with a mild 20 degree temperature.

With plenty of climbing scheduled for the day, the bunch started with a moderate pace. Up one climb I stopped and took the photo below while waiting for the other riders.

Nearing the first feed stop, a rider punctured and we waited by the beach while it was repaired. It turned out the feed stop was literally just around the next corner, about 500m away.

Scenery was again farm land with small villages. Some were very busy and others ghostly quiet. Some roads were tree lined and others completely tree covered which made it dark.

We passed the women's group who had about 70 or so other riders with them all over the road. It was relatively simple to work our way through and past them up a small rise.

Once we reached the hills proper, the bunch split and, for better or worse, I ended up in the front group. After the second feed stop, we started in two groups and some in the front group decided to lift the pace.

The course meandered around and took in every rise and hill possible. There were some sharp climbs, long climbs and long sharp climbs among others. With the temperature peaking at 30 degrees, it was hot work.

Roger the van driver, who turns out is a former world track cycling champion and Belgian national road champion, along with the tour organiser, joined us in the closing kilometres. He set a cracking pace until I suggested to him we did not want to race. After a few minutes of lull, one rider attacked and it was a race to the finish. On the next hill climb, Roger was dropped along with others. After the end of the stage, Roger vowed he would not ride again in the hills as he is too heavy.

At about the 205km mark, we passed the course marking vans so had to guess the last few kilometres to the finish line.

After 7hrs 50m of riding, 3,083m of climbing and 215.6km per Strava, the first of us reached the finish line. After some feeding, we headed off to the hotel which is another chateau.

 

Dinner was at 7:30pm in the chateau restaurant and was a set menu so service was prompt. The food was good although portions small.

Breakfast is set for 6:30am again tomorrow with the aim to be riding by just after 8:30am for what is supposedly an easier stage than today.

A video can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtmtHiY-Txs