The final stage of my final Grand Tour, ever
8 September, 2013
11:01 pm
73.3 km Flat | Sunday 8th September, 2013 | Route Ridden The stunning Roman aqueduct in Segovia and my alternative to today’s official start in
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Blog Archive
The Tour of Spain gets insane
7 September, 2013
9:46 pm
147.2 km High Mountains | Saturday 7th September, 2013 | Ridden route The top of the infamous Angliru, the climb wasn’t as horrific as I’d
The rain in Spain definitely doesn’t stay mainly in the plain
6 September, 2013
8:18 pm
182.1 km Medium Mountains | Friday 6th September, 2013 | Ridden route After leaving Oviedo and nearing the top of the Alto del Naranco climb
A stunning ride from Burgos to Peña Cabarga on a route that surpasses anywhere I’ve ever cycled before
5 September, 2013
8:30 pm
193.6 km High Mountains | Thursday 5th September, 2013 | Ridden route The top of Alto Estacas de Trueba and the beginning of the most
From busy highways and autovias to peaceful mountain roads and villages
4 September, 2013
8:14 pm
192.7 km Flat | Wednesday 4th September, 2013 | Ridden route Although today was a flat stage there were still a couple of climbs and
Today I rediscovered cycling for the joy of cycling
2 September, 2013
7:48 pm
140.8 km High Mountains | Monday 2nd September, 2013 | Ridden route Not long after leaving the municipality of Broto, on the the gentle Puerto
Without doubt the longest day I’ve ever had on a bicycle, and quite possibly the hardest
1 September, 2013
11:47 pm
245.1 km High Mountains | Sunday 1st September, 2013 | Ridden route On the Puerto de la Bonaigua climb, not steep but long and into
Despite some unavoidable detours around tunnels and a bit of improvised rerouting, a great day cycling in Andorra
31 August, 2013
9:03 pm
146.9 km High Mountains | Saturday 31st August, 2013 | Ridden route The fourth and final climb of the day, the devilishly steep Collada de
And stage 13 was going so well…
30 August, 2013
8:05 pm
169.0 km Medium Mountains | Friday 30th August, 2013 | Ridden route Either I plotted the wrong route or the Vuelta is being raced on
Without doubt the most comfortable and enjoyable day’s riding in Spain so far
29 August, 2013
7:44 pm
157.7 km Flat | Thursday 29th August, 2013 | Ridden route Passing La Torre de Fontaubella on another great stretch of road, the T-322, on
A time trial in Tarazona to start the second week of my Vuelta
28 August, 2013
6:22 pm
38.4 km Time Trial | Wednesday 28th August, 2013 | Ridden route Despite the festival of El Cipotegato being in full flow I managed to
First big mountain day with two testing climbs up Monachi and Hazallanas to close out the first week
26 August, 2013
10:38 pm
179.3 km High Mountains | Monday 26th August, 2013 | Ridden route Towards the top of the Alto de Monachil climb with the summit finish
Blinded by the bite, well, technically yesterday’s bee sting
25 August, 2013
8:24 pm
172.6 km Medium Mountains | Sunday 25th August, 2013 | Ridden route The final push to the top of Alto de los Frailes at the
Cycling Nirvana on the C-3331 from Venta de Galis to Jimena de la Frontera
24 August, 2013
7:37 pm
172.6 km Medium Mountains | Saturday 24th August, 2013 | Ridden route On the climb up to Alto de Peñas Blancas and today’s summit finish
Sometimes discretion is the better part of valour and today was one of those occasions
23 August, 2013
6:34 pm
180.7 km Flat | Friday 23rd August, 2013 | Ridden route Another day on the shadeless N-630, this time all the way to Seville
And today we will be taking the N-630 all the way to Cáceres
22 August, 2013
6:39 pm
180.3 km Flat | Thursday 22nd August, 2013 | Ridden route Riding past Embalse de Alcántara, or Alcántara Reservoir, closing in on the end of
I expected Spain to be warm but today’s ride to Lago de Sanabria was hotter than hell
21 August, 2013
7:42 pm
182.4 km Medium Mountains | Wednesday 21st August, 2013 | Ridden route Halfway to Lago de Sanabria at the top of the first climb of
It may have been at a snails pace but I made it up the Mirador de Ézaro climb
20 August, 2013
7:18 pm
195.9 km Medium Mountains | Tuesday 20th August, 2013 | Ridden route The start of the short but steep Mirador de Ézaro climb and I
Considering today’s convoluted route I think we navigated it pretty well
19 August, 2013
8:15 pm
172.0 km Flat | Monday 19th August, 2013 | Ridden route At the top of Mirador de Lobeira and I wonder if the graffiti will
For Bob: Deeply Loved Sadly Missed
18 August, 2013
8:35 pm
182.6 km Medium Mountains | Sunday 18th August, 2013 | Ridden route At the top of Monte da Groba, the summit finish that marked the
We’re in Spain to ride La Vuelta starting with a short time trial to settle Kay’s nerves
17 August, 2013
3:14 pm
26.2 km Time Trial | Saturday 17th August, 2013 | Ridden route Vilanova de Arousa where it all begins for this year’s Vuelta
An early Monday morning rush hour ride into Paris
15 July, 2013
10:25 pm
73.3 km Flat | Monday 15th July, 2013 * | Ridden route At the Palace of Versailles en route to Paris
Just when you think things can’t get any better along comes a day like today
13 July, 2013
9:10 pm
130.8 km High Mountains | Saturday 13th July, 2013 | Ridden route Nearing the top of the Semnoz climb, the final climb of this year’s
A touch of deja vu on an epic Alpine stage
12 July, 2013
8:48 pm
196.7 km High Mountains | Friday 12th July, 2013 | Ridden route At the top of the Col du Glandon climbed from the slightly easier
Alpe-d’Huez, Alpe-d’Huez, so good I rode it twice
11 July, 2013
7:36 pm
168.5 km High Mountains | Thursday 11th July, 2013 | Ridden route On the Alpe-d’Huez climb, second time around, with Bourg-d’Oisans below
Three words to describe today’s TT course – terrific, tough and technical
10 July, 2013
1:36 pm
30.7 km Time Trial | Wednesday 10th July, 2013 | Ridden route Nearing the top of Côte de Réallon, the second climb on today’s tough
Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap via the stunning Gorges de la Méouge
9 July, 2013
8:22 pm
169.7 km Medium Mountains | Tuesday 9th July, 2013 | Ridden route On the Col de Manse climb out of Gap – actually this should
From blazing sun to almighty thunderstorm on the legendary Mont Ventoux
7 July, 2013
11:04 pm
249.5 km High Mountains | Sunday 7th July, 2013 | Ridden route On Mont Ventoux with a kilometre to go and the memorial to Tom
After two flat featureless days today’s rolling ride to Lyon was really enjoyable
6 July, 2013
6:59 pm
187.4 km Medium Mountains | Saturday 6th July, 2013 | Ridden route Just outside Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule at the official KM 0 point
Last chance for a no rush recovery ride before I hit the mountains and I took it
5 July, 2013
6:36 pm
175.2 km Flat | Friday 5th July, 2013 | Ridden route Back to warmer weather and bar the ride into Paris enjoying the last flat
A non-stop ride from Fougères to Tours and I expect I’ll pay the price tomorrow
4 July, 2013
9:30 pm
216.3 km Flat | Thursday 4th July, 2013 | Ridden route With the exception of it being flat today, at any point I could have
Mont-Saint-Michel is a sight for sore eyes if only because it means no more cycling west
3 July, 2013
5:28 pm
31.3 km Time Trial | Wednesday 3rd July, 2013 | Ridden route Mont-Saint-Michel in the distance and this was about as close as I got
After a day of rest and recuperation a rapid ride to St. Malo
2 July, 2013
7:27 pm
196.9 km Flat | Tuesday 2nd July, 2013 | Ridden route From the Med to La Manche – in Calcale nearing the end of a
A short but tough final day in the Pyrénées featuring no fewer than five passes
30 June, 2013
10:01 pm
164.7 km High Mountains | Sunday 30th June, 2013 | Ridden route At the top of the Col de Peyresourde, the third of five very
Into the high mountains and a stunning ride up to Col de Pailhères
29 June, 2013
9:41 pm
197.9 km High Mountains | Saturday 29th June, 2013 | Ridden route On the Col de Pailhères climb, possibly one of the prettiest passes I’ve
I can cope with the cold and wet but three days of head and cross winds is becoming quite dispiriting
28 June, 2013
9:25 pm
203.9 km Medium Mountains | Friday 28th June, 2013 | Ridden route Approaching the top of the appropriately named Col des 13 Vents
If I thought I was getting a recovery ride today then a ferocious headwind soon put paid to that
27 June, 2013
8:16 pm
176.9 km Flat | Thursday 27th June, 2013 | Ridden route Approaching Les Baux-de-Provence and Col de la Vayède, the only climb of the day
Even an early mechanical couldn’t put a damper on a ride like today
26 June, 2013
9:28 pm
225.1 km Flat | Wednesday 26th June, 2013 | Ridden route Today’s stage was long, hot and lumpy but the time just seemed to fly
After 3 tough days in Corsica the Nice time trial was a welcome relief
25 June, 2013
7:14 pm
23.8 km Time Trial | Tuesday 25th June, 2013 | Ridden route Riding along the beachfront in Nice on the Promenade des Anglais
Today I have ridden quite possibly one of the best cycling routes in the world
24 June, 2013
7:59 pm
145.4 km Medium Mountains | Monday 24th June, 2013 | Ridden route Golfe di Liscia after descending Col de San Bastiano, the first climb of
Considering today is the Tour’s first Sunday the run across the middle of Corsica was surprisingly tough
23 June, 2013
6:05 pm
157.4 km Medium Mountains | Sunday 23rd June, 2013 | Ridden route At the pointe de la Parata in Ajaccio at the end of a
The driver may have changed for Corsica but the outcome is much the same – unless it’s me?
22 June, 2013
7:32 pm
211.7 km Flat | Saturday 22nd June, 2013 | Ridden route Porto-Vecchio Marina and the starting point of my Tour de France ride
Italy broke my bike but it didn’t break me, next up France and Le Tour
2 June, 2013
11:20 pm
159.3 km Flat | Sunday 2nd June, 2013 | Ridden route Arriving in Brescia and the end of my 3,235 km 2013 Giro d’Italia ride
On a day like today it’s what’s in your head that counts, not your legs
1 June, 2013
11:40 pm
203.2 km High Mountains | Saturday 1st June, 2013 | Ridden route Nearing the end of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo climb, the final climb
This time road closed means road closed
31 May, 2013
7:07 pm
137.7 km High Mountains | Friday 31st May, 2013 | Cancelled Bitterly disappointed that I had to cancel today’s stage due to road closures and
It comes to something when you consider a 12 mile ride up a mountain a rest day
30 May, 2013
5:15 pm
19.4 km Time Trial | Thursday 30th May, 2013 | Ridden route The Mori to Polsa mountain time trial wasn’t as bad as it looked
How on earth did I end up back here and which way to Venice now?
29 May, 2013
8:44 pm
219.2 km Flat | Wednesday 29th May, 2013 | Ridden route Heading into Valeggio sul Mincio with a little over half of my ride to
Mont Cenis bares its teeth while Andrate is the sting in the tail
28 May, 2013
11:03 pm
238.7 km Medium Mountains | Tuesday 28th May, 2013 | Ridden route The start of the day and after a short climb out of Valloire
There’s snow stopping me today, I’m heading to the Galibier!
26 May, 2013
9:19 pm
152.6 km High Mountains | Sunday 26th May, 2013 | Ridden route At the top of the Col du Mont Cenis climb, clear skies and
One eye closed and the other one on the road
25 May, 2013
9:45 pm
167.2 km High Mountains | Saturday 25th May, 2013 | Ridden route The final few kilometres of the day and it was good to have
Busseto to Cherasco: A day of three halves
24 May, 2013
8:56 pm
250.5 km Flat | Friday 24th May, 2013 | Ridden route After 3 hours of very wet and windy conditions in the morning, the afternoon
After yesterday’s pain and suffering what a difference a day makes
23 May, 2013
5:12 pm
107 km Flat | Thursday 23rd May, 2013 | Ridden route After yesterday’s difficult day on Sella Campigotto, the ride today was a much more
When your first 80 kms are downhill and you pedal all the way then you were probably facing a headwind
22 May, 2013
7:49 pm
180.2 km Medium Mountains | Wednesday 22nd May, 2013 | Ridden route At the top of Sella di Razzo, not far from the 1,790m high
Some days get forgotten and some days are best forgotten but today was one to remember
21 May, 2013
8:27 pm
168.4 km High Mountains | Tuesday 21st May, 2013 | Ridden route The final kilometre to Altopiano del Montasio, the first high mountain day of
The road to Firenze and some welcome peace and quiet after the Med and the Adriatic
19 May, 2013
10:56 pm
167.7 km Medium Mountains | Sunday 19th May, 2013 | Ridden route At the top of Passo della Consuma, about half way to Firenze and
If Carlsberg did Grand Tours then every day would be like this one
18 May, 2013
10:53 pm
56.5 km Time Trial | Saturday 18th May, 2013 | Ridden route My finish line for today’s time trial to Saltara
I love it when a tough looking day fails to meet your expectations
17 May, 2013
10:50 pm
170.9 km Medium Mountains | Friday 17th May, 2013 | Ridden route Deep in wine country on a very hot and hilly day
My Garmin Edge has lost its edge and I’m losing my patience with it
16 May, 2013
10:47 pm
172.3 km Flat | Thursday 16th May, 2013 | Ridden route At the start line for today’s stage from Mola di Bari to Margherita di
Life outside the peloton: Detours, closed roads, missed turnings and motorways
15 May, 2013
9:04 pm
194.8 km Flat | Wednesday 15th May, 2013 | Ridden route After a day of navigational problems, some expected, some unexpected, we finally made it
150 miles in a day with a leg busting climb up the Croce Ferrata to finish
14 May, 2013
10:30 pm
244.7 km Medium Mountains | Tuesday 14th May, 2013 | Ridden route Last view of the Med before heading inland, just after leaving Campora San
A testing ride to Marina di Ascea, and I’m not talking about the cycling
13 May, 2013
10:21 pm
206 km Medium Mountains | Monday 13th May, 2013 | Ridden route Top of San Mauro Cliento, the Giro’s first significant climb
A boat trip and a short but hilly time trial on the beautiful island of Ischia
12 May, 2013
9:57 pm
17.7 km Time Trial | Sunday 12th May, 2013 | Ridden route In stark contrast to yesterday I was really looking forward to riding today’s
My 2013 Giro kicks off with a 138.5 km ride from San Felice Circeo to Napoli
11 May, 2013
5:53 pm
138.5 km Flat | Saturday 11th May, 2013 | Route Ridden A week ago today the 96th edition of the Giro d’Italia got under way