Grand Cru Ride for Parkinson's UK – Pauillac to La Livinière: 4eme Étape: Villaudric to Carcassonne

 The peaceful Canal du Midi

The Cité de Carcassonne – one of France's iconic views 

Sometimes best constructed plans don't quite work out – take today's stage from Villaudric (AC Fronton) to Castelnaudary. I thought we were booked into the Villa Fleuri for tonight. However, on arrival, it turned out that our reservation was for last night. Perhaps it was my mistake or possibly theirs but impossible to know as I made the reservation over the phone. Naturally they were full tonight as is every other hotel in Castelaudary as this weekend there is a big boules competition. 

It turned out that the nearest town to Castelnaudary where we could be certain of getting rooms was Carcassonne – some 35 to 40 kilometres further east. It had to be done and fortunately there was a good following wind.....      

The good news is that our ride to Cru La Livinière is now considerably shorter than we had planed, so we look forward to our final stage to Ostal Cazes at the foot of La Livinière.  

Our fundraising total continues to climb – now at £4,513.75 with gift aid. You can donate here. Many thanks – every donation from £1 upwards can play its part towards big improvements in the treatment of Parkinson's. 

2016 Tour de France – sprint in Montpellier, Ventoux awaits

Michael Matthews won his first Tour de France stage yesterday beating Peter Sagan and Evald Boasson Hagen in the sprint. However, this was another success Green jersey raid by Sagan who picked up maximum points at the intermediate sprint and took over the Green Jersey from Mark Cavendish. Sagan has 242 points to Cavendish's 204. 

 

No change overall as the peloton had another quiet day after the initial climb out of Andorra. 

Stage 11: Carcassonne to Montpellier 

 

I expect a big bunch sprint in Montpellier, which has a flat and wide finish. Another win for Cav or Marcel Kittel or a first win in this edition for André Griepel? I fancy the GC contenders will continue to rest up for tomorrow's stage finish on the top of Ventoux.

2014 Tour de France: First stage in Pyrénées

Stage 16: 237.5 kms from Carcassonne to Bagnères-de-Luchon

Today is the longest stage in this year's Tour – 237.5km. It's a savage introduction to three tough mountain stages in the Pyrénées. Of the five categorised climbs – two are significant: Col de Portet d'Aspet (Cat 2) and the final Port de Balès (HC). It was on the descent from the Portet d'Aspet that Fabio Casartelli had his fatal crash in the 1995 Tour. 

Although this stage isn't a mountain top finish, it is straight down to Bagnères-de-Luchon from the top of the Port de Balès, so virtually no chance of making up any time lost on the climb. The Port de Balès has recently started to be popular in the Tour. It made its first appearance in the 2007 edition, after the road had been resurfaced then in 2010 and 2012. The famous chaingate incident occurred in 2010 when Andy Schleck slipped his chain when attacking Alberto Contador, who was criticised by some for not waiting for Schleck. Had they been riding together it might have been reasonable for Alberto to wait but as Andy had put in an attack I can't see why Contador should have been expected to wait for Schleck to sort out his chain. In the event Andy Schleck won the 2010 Tour because of Contador's drugs offence. 

Fortunately the forecast is good for the next two days with the possibility of showers on Thursday afternoon. 

Will Vincenzo Nibali show any weakness today – I doubt it. Instead it looks to be a battle for 2nd and 3rd places. 

See video preview of Stage 16 here.

 

Cap d'Agde: attraction and revulsion

 

The setting sun on the harbour

I have long tried to avoid the French coastline – Atlantic or Mediterranean – in July and August. However, this year we needed to go to Cap d'Agde to pick up a friend, so it seemed sensible to spend a a few days there. Certainly the comings and goings in the harbour are interesting to watch as the light can be lovely at times, especially as the sun sets.

However, trying to get in or out of the place by car can be hellish with jams in all directions. On arriving on Saturday we ran into a  series of jams and similarly today there was a jam on the way out. The only consolation being that the jam to get near to Agde and Cap d'Adge stretched for miles up towards Bessan.  I suspect that to avoid the jams you need to travel between midnight and 4am. Once inside the Cap I suspect the trick is just to stay put and making sure you arrive with plenty of interesting bottles to broach.

Nez à queue...

Some fortified place we past on the way to Sauternes this afternoon...