Tuesday 24th July 2018 - Stage 17 - Bagnères-de-Luchon - Saint-Lary-Soulan

Another day, another stage.

Breakfast was randomly changed without notice to 7:37am with an 8:32am departure. Breakfast was served in the hotel restaurant with a plate with an omelette, bread & meats along with orange juice, croissants, coffee and assorted other biscuit type foods including some chocolate coated pastries. After last night's food overload, this was plenty.

With roads closed due to the tour proper, we had to drive around the mountain to the start line. While it was a short stage, it contained plenty of climbing. We were on the road at 9:39am and literally straight into the first climb. 

After just under an hour, I reached the top of the first climb. My Garmin bike computer went blank soon after the start and all the way up as it went into battery save mode yesterday due to the long ride and I didn't want to fiddle with it while riding. It showed the first climb was 13.5km long.

From there, a short downhill lead to a short climb on brand new, perfectly smooth bitumen which was great to ride on. The course then descended through various villages with narrow, and in places, rough roads. Arrow markings were a little sparse but I managed to stay on course. 

Another climb followed which lead to the feed stop. Once fed and watered, I carried on so as not to get cold. Thunder storms were also predicted and were brewing.

The next descent had plenty of vehicle and cycle traffic in places which slowed progress. From there, the final climb of the day started. The course is advertised as to Saint-Lary-Soulan and this is where I followed the direction arrows to and met the bike van and driver. After a long wait and no one else arriving, it was apparent they had gone somewhere else.

 

After a few phone calls and messages, it turns out we needed to take a turn that was unmarked when I passed it a few kilometres back down the hill. Jumping in the van, we located the others. I then jumped back on my bike to complete the climb, passing through a short tunnel, to the finish at the top of the Col du Portet at just under 7,500ft above sea level and then rode back down to the waiting riders and vans.

All was not lost though as the other riders were pummelled by hail from a thunder storm while I barely got a drop of rain on me.

My total riding for the day was 4hrs 27m for 77.5km with 3,150m of climbing (about 9 Te Mata Peaks.)

 

 

Once in the vans, it was a reasonable drive to the hotel in Tarbes where we arrived about 6pm and all have single rooms with wi-fi and air conditioning.

Dinner was at a pizza place down the road from the hotel but the message was lost in translation so we ended up with a set menu of salad, salmon and pasta and ice cream.

Breakfast has been set for 6:30am in the morning.

A video is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6kexXUWE5A