Part 4 – A rough guide to cycling the route of the Tour de France

Ultra endurance events don’t need to be high budget. Some teams have enormous budgets and can afford mobile homes and the like. But the experience can be had for a fraction of the cost by roughing it in the back of a transit van.

In 2007 I rode the entire route 1 day ahead of the professionals and thought I would put together an overview of my trip and provide some pointers for others tempted to tackle a stage or the whole route. This is part 4 of a series of articles documenting my story. To read Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Cycling the Tour de France Prologue

My training was finished and I was ready! Well as ready as I ever was going to be following 3 weeks of effort. My Mother had agreed to join me and drive a support van. She arrived in London and we loaded up the transit van than would be our home for the next 3 weeks.

I didn’t take alot of gear or tools. My lack of cycling experience meant that i wouldn’t have known what to do with tools even if I had owned them. The basic kit list was a bike pump, spare tyre and tubes.

On Friday 6th July 2007 with the bike and geared stowed in the back of the van we set off to central London to ride the prologue and watch the Grand Depart. Parking in central London is a nightmare so we left the van in the car park at Batersea Park. My mother got a bus into town and I cycled along the river. I was so nervous. My stomach filled with butterfly’s feeling like an imposter who was going to be unmasked at any moment.

I arrived at Parliament square and went through the barriers they had erected and had my first taste of the huge logistical operation that goes on behind the scenes of the Tour. There were hundred’s of people erecting signs, barriers, TV vans, cables everywhere. It was a hive of activity.

The official start was at the top end of Whitehall so I rode up to the sign turned round and I began. The Prologue is a short stage of just 8km. For the pro riders it is a tough test, riding as individuals, alone against the clock. For me it was a lovely ride through some beautiful parts of central London.

The nerves I had felt earlier disappeared and I enjoyed the lovely summer afternoon and took in the sights. I didn’t rush and just took in the atmosphere. Much of the course had already been closed off to traffic and I had a taste of what the pro experience as I rode between the barriers imagining the 1000’s of people who would be there tomorrow to watch the Prologue for real.

The course meandered it’s way past many of London’s landmark sights including Parliament square, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park finishing on The Mall. The Mall looked amazing with Union Jack flags draped everywhere. What a buzz I felt. Really proud to be British.

Watching the Tour de France Grand Depart

I finished. I had a huge sense of relief. That just maybe this was possible. My mother and I met at Trafalgar square and were joined by a couple of other friends of mine to watch the Grand Depart. This is a formal presentation of the pro teams and all their riders. Trafalgar square was packed with people and big screens to watch the riders close up. Each team was introduced and the riders rode down a ramp and did a small circle in front of the crowd.

After the presentations we left Trafalgar square and went fro dinner at a nearby restaurant. After a fabulous meal with loads of banter by my friends about the likely disaster that was going to unfold we were just paying the bill when I had the most terrible thought. “What time did they lock the park gates”. I had a complete panic. I wanted to start the stage early the next morning and if we couldn’t get the van out where would we sleep and how could I get off early.

I jumped on my bike and rode like a madman the 3-4 km back to the van. To my eternal relief the gates were still open and we could rescue the van.

Each Tour de France stage is made up of 2 parts. There is the neutralised section which varies in distance between a few Km and about 20km. This is the route the riders follow to get to the actual start point of the stage. Then there is the actual stage and it is this distance between stage start and finish that is the distance measurement that you see listed.

I had decided NOT to ride the neutralised sections of the stage. This was for 2 reasons. The first being and most obvious “I didn’t need to add any additional distance to my challenge!” the second is that navigating through cities is difficult at the best of times and without the route signs that accompany the course it would be very difficult to follow. Meaning I could potentially waste lots of unnecessary time and effort.

We arrived at Greenwich which was the official start of the stage and found a car park to put the van and get some sleep. We made a funny pair my mother is 68 but still very fit and active. Me a novice cyclist with no knowledge about the Tour.

I had bought the Dummies guide to the Tour de France and as we prepared for bed I read out sections of the book to her. neither of us had a clue what it was gong to be like. I had never seen the tour, not even on TV whilst she had once while on holiday in Marseille seen the peloton ride under a bridge!

Our sleeping arrangements were bizarre to say the least. I slept in the back of the van with the bike, food and all the gear. It’s a bog standard van with no windows and the front section is panelled off from the rear. She finds the back claustrophobic so slept across the front seats in full view of passing people!

I did have a small camping light so after she had “shut me in” to the back I settled down to read the official tour program. This became my bible as it showed a profile for each stage including the distance and height to climb on each mountain.

Finally to nervous to read. I switched out the light and let my thoughts drift. I was really, really nervous. My mind turning over and over about the first stage and the hills to come. My mothers alarm was set for 5.30 and I finally drifted off to sleep.

This story continues tomorrow as I ride my first tour de France stage from London to Canterbury and I meet some other riders to share the adventure with.

CrazyJourney community comments on endurance riding

After crashing @ mile 50, being backed in2 @ 70, hitting emo-wall @ 80, grit teeth & forced last 20 & felt gr8. Bloody but gr8! ricalivestrong.blogspot.com

1st long distance bike ride? good or bad? Both for me! Lots of pain for me, but the feeling of accomplishment was worth it.
twitter.com/quad4_2000

1st LD ride was 75 mile charity ride. Felt great, lots of adrenaline to help me finish strong!
cyclinginhell.blogspot.com

Was too good, ass-breaking, but awesome! twitter.com/morfinrider

Mine great !! myspace.com/coloradobuff

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