Tour de France - Etape 6 (Tarbes to Cauterets-Cambasque - 165km, 3,800m)

Sequels or second things are rarely belter (think Jaws movies, difficult second albums etc.), but my dedicated followers I proudly give you:

Mountains: The Road to Hell Part II

Bigger, better, steeper...climb if you dare...

This stage is going to be a classic during Le Tour and I feel really lucky to have been able to complete it.

So today the mountains got serious...

Col d'Aspin (5.6km @ 4.8%)

Col du Tourmalet (17.1km @ 7.7%)

Cauterets-Cambasque (16km @ 5.4%)

I've never climbed for over 17km before - not even in a car, so it was a first...the climb took nearly 2 hours and the views were........missing; as the mist had closed in.

This meant a pretty steady descent - not quite reaching the 75kmph from the other day.

When you dropped back into the tree line the views were amazing

Body is holding up okay, although one of my hands is starting to get numb from all the vibrations, gear changes and braking - need to keep an eye on it.

The reward for this conquering of mountains?

A 05:30 breakfast and then a 2 hour coach transfer to the start of stage 7 - the only saving grace is the the organisers say it is "flat" - we know already what that really means....

Griff