Will Frischkorn's Tour de France diary, stage 10
That was one of the hardest days I've ever had on a bike. Just straight up suffering from 20 minutes in until crossing the line. I'm back on the bus now, 45 minutes yet 'til the hotel, where thankfully we get to enjoy our rest day (and Tour-special Chipotle burritos!!!) tomorrow.
(The founder of Chipotle and one of their head chefs came over a few days ago and have sourced local ingredients for a special Tour burrito. I spoke with them this morning before the start, joking that it would be bathed in a bechamel or beurre blanc, but sounds like it's going to be pretty similar to those at home, with slightly different beans — and I can't wait!) [Editor's note: This is apparently different from the special burrito that Patrick O'Grady wrote about last week]
Even in the neutral I knew the legs were heavy today, but at this point that's fairly universal. The gun goes off and something clicks — despite the fact that you're worked, and if it were a day off you'd never top 20kph, when you pass K0 and it's time to race the body somehow agrees and gets going. My role, and that of most of the guys, was to stick with Christian mid-pack, make things easy for him and deliver him safely to the bottom of the Tourmalet. Then 24 guys snuck up the road.
At first it wasn't a worry but eventually the directors decided it was just a bit too much and four of us along with a crew of Milram guys ended up on the front. The gap was already 1:30 and the chase effort ahead was daunting. We set to it and after some serious pain the gap finally started to move in our favor. Then a bit more, and finally a bit of attacking up front helped us reel in the bulk of the break with only a small group still ahead. At this point I looked at the Garmin, an hour and a half into the race and it was showing 1800kjs. And then we hit the hills.
The first was just a little bump, but, fatigued from chasing, it stung. A lot. Then the long gradual run in to the Tourmalet. One of the most stunning climbs anywhere I unfortunately wasn't able to enjoy more than one or two passing glances on the way down. I was in the cave for the whole way up, and then again heading up Hautacam at the end. Just a straight up unpleasant day by any counts. The one nice pick me up came when the directors relayed on the radio that Christian had a killer ride up front and is still in third, with a bit of shuffling around him.
The craziest part of the day by far however was coming down off the finish hill. When we hit the top we had warm clothes and a bit of food waiting. After a quick hit of calories and quickly bundling up we headed back down 15k to the team parking. Unreal! The crowds that made the entire climb almost unbearably loud were all moving the same direction and it was complete mayhem; thousands of people on foot, bicycle, motorbikes, and a few cars sneaking in as well. Every few corners there would be cops signaling to slow down and yelling "accident!!" and sure enough there would be a few people smashed together off in a ditch. it looked like one of the Milram guys got tangled up in one, but mainly just spectators. None the less, scary ... and with the mind already pretty numb it was that much harder. Amazing though to see how many people were out turning the day into one huge party. Makes all the suffering that much easier for sure.
Now to enjoy that much-needed day of recovery ... Half way there!!
Will
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