Will Frischkorn's Tour de France diary, stage 12
We’re officially more than half way through! Unfortunately it was a day kicked off with less than great news in the start area. We were parked right beside the Saunier-Duval bus (the most impressive tonka-toy-ish beast that instills jealousy in every other team … though not any longer …) and got a first hand view as the press, then the fans, and then the police swarmed. News traveled fast. The team left just as quickly. And that was that. After a few quick words to press and a couple of comments on the start and in the neutral, we were back to what we’re here to do, race our bikes. And race we did …
Today was yet another absolute scorcher from the gun. Move after move would get 100 meters, then slowly lose it as the peloton crept back for the catch. 35k in, a duo took off and there was just enough of a road block created on the front to let them get the initial gap needed. This often happens when everybody is cooked and wants a group to go. A couple of guys get the gap and everybody else at the front fans out, trying to “close the door” on either side of the field that the attacks normally get launched from. Sometimes this isn’t so subtle … The duo got a quick gap, and despite a couple more quick launches and chase efforts they had the initial distance needed and were gone for the long haul.
Most had expected today to be one for the break, and the initial attacks and length of time it took for something to succeed reflected this. Groups were big, and even with eight or nine up the road, others would launch massive bursts trying to jump across in case that was the one that made it all day. Eventually though everybody simply neutralized each other, a duo went clear, and a bunch kick became the new plan. With not many shots left for the sprinters to have their day, their teams quickly took control. With winds largely at our backs, but continually threatening to blow things apart with a turn in the road, it made for nervous racing. Then with 25k to go we took a right, wind dead arrears and it was a smoking 65+kph run in to the line. Cavendish once again made the rest look silly, and that was that.
On a complete non-race related note, why, WHY do so many hotels in France not understand the shower concept of a shower curtain. It’s simple. It’s cheap. It makes both the life of the shower-er and those cleaning up the following day that much easier. It prevents the mold that as a result of the constant spray ends up infiltrating every French bathroom. Seems like it’d be a no-brainer. For some reason however it isn’t. I’ve developed a design for a portable travel shower curtain … anybody interested in going into business together? The market may be small, but they’d be truly appreciative.
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