Today should be an easier day, hopefully catching Le Tour on the first Category 1 climb of the day on the Cote d’Engins. I left about 8:15am and had a hearty breakfast in a Bounlangerie in Moirans.

Access to reliable WiFi to update / upload my blog was a problem in the hotel and also in the Boulangerie. However the Champion Supermarket was in a champion location and allowed me to complete my admin after completing my shopping.

At 10am I headed out to the Cote d’Engins. The Google route took me out to a great tarmac’d cycle path alongside the River Isere, although the river was obscured for most of the time.

The route eventually brought me out on the TdF route about 2 miles from the foot of the climb. The road was lined with expectant fans waiting for ‘le caravan publicite’ to pass by. And it came with in minutes; I could not have timed it better.

I bet that they didn’t get much work done at DHL today, still it was good for team-building.

After seeing all the sponsors vehicles and getting a few freebies (how many hats do you really need ?), I started to cycle along the route but was soon asked to walk by ‘le gendarmerie’. This was all quite slow, so when I heard a group of cyclists behind, I quickly tagged along. It turned out that they were part of an international tour group led by a pink shirted leader at the front. They were a mixture of ages on a variety of manual and power assisted bikes. Infiltrating this group allowed me to access the climb and cycle up fir about 1.5 miles before the gendarmerie asked them to walk as well, just before their BBQ stop. In the old days you could cycle on closed roads, but now it seems that only those who pay can do it. While walking with my bike I got talking to Shona who was on a 7 day TdF trip from New Zealand – the lengths some people go to.

Having stopped earlier than planned, I found a shadey spot and started on my camembert and baguette.

The organiser’s cars, VIPs and team vehicles soon stated to arrive and the peleton was not far behind. Surprisingly, despite being @30km into the stage, there were already some splits.

After lunch and watching the TdF pass I continued up the climb – 5 miles to summit – it was  hard work especially as it was 30 degrees. Ironically, virtually the only person I overtook was a ‘large’ guy on an electric bike. After 10 flattish miles along the top and then 8 miles descending when I didn’t have to touch the pedals (wth fantastic views over Greboble) I ended up in Seyssinet. Strava later informed me that I had completed my fastest 5 mile split ever on the descent in 11:43. To think that the pro’s do it at least twice as quick is staggering.

I contined to the River Isere and turned left on a tarmac’d cycle path back to Moirans.

Just when I thought I was nearly back at the hotel Google sent me through 2km of stony overgrown track. I’m hoping that’ll be the end of it now, as my rear tyre (like my patience) is wearing thin.

Getting back for @6:30pm (after 54 miles and @1,000m of elevation) allowed me time for a quick shower and change before enjoying a great (and much needed) 3-course meal with a litre of water. I had become dehydrated.

Having done everything I had set out to do, it had been a great day. Time to reflect than worry too much about tomorrow !