Tour de France - Etape 4 (Dax to Nogaro - 181km, 1600m)

Vive La France!!!

So after 3 days cycling in and around the Basque region, today was the first full stage in France - visions of rolling countryside, fields and quaint villages were the expectation...

Plus there was the small matter of a slightly shorter route (181km) and a little less climbing.

The villages did not disappoint - many of them are getting ready already for the actual professionals in 7 days time, so huge cheers of allez, allez, allez are common along with cow bells!

Weather was far hotter than forecast which mean that despite passing through winding roads that split vineyards in the Bordeaux region - it was just water in the bidons

Sunflowers were in full bloom

The finish today was in Nogaro; the professionals will do 2 laps of the circuit, but today there was motor racing so we had to watch - impressive place though!

No need for any selfies today as they are pretty much the same as every other day - a very hot and bothered man battling giant bike rides and hills.

One final warning for anyone desperately waiting for evening updates, that tomorrow (Wed 28th) could be a late one...very late - 3 mountains, nearly 4000m of climbing....I have lights on my bike and may well need them.

Griff