Through the Pyrenees
It’s catch up time!
Our first blog brought us as far as stage 6 of the 2025 tour, with our cyclists pedalling into Brittany. That now feels like a lifetime ago! Stage 7 was notable for the DOUBLE ascent of the Mur de Bretagne – the real sting in the tail of that stage. One week into the tour, this is when we first heard musings about the rest day, which was still 3 more stages away. Lots of riding still to be done before they got a break.
Stage 8 was a fast and fun ride through typical French countryside and an early finish, giving us time to catch up on the pro race which started today! We were also lucky enough to hear from Stewart: not only is he one of our brilliant staff members on tour – but he also helps to run the excellent Community Cycleworks charity: one of the charities supported by the William Wates Memorial Trust. It was a great opportunity to hear more about the real impact of the funds raised by our riders, helping to turn young, disadvantaged lives around. When we’re in a bubble of cycling fun (and sometimes pain), these reminders of why we’re here help us to regain perspective and purpose. Thanks Stewart!
Stage 9 saw a return of the wet weather and cooler temperatures. Spirits remained high with great tunes at the feedstop (and some nice moves – you know who you are) and the introduction to the tour of Icelandic Happy Marriage Cake, in honour of our 2 Icelandic riders Bjarni and Magnus (who assure us that this is how cyclists refuel in Iceland). Think flapjack, with a layer of rhubarb jam in the middle – by all means, try this one at home. This dish was conjured up by our Tour Manager extraordinaire, Sarah – (who has an art for pulling rabbits out of hats). Oh! And we also passed through Chateauroux, renamed Cavendish City in honour of Cav’s 3 wins there, giving a certain Manx feel to this day (see photos).
In a typical year, the rest days fall on Mondays, but this year there was an extra stage before the first rest day and the tour organisers thought it would be really fun to make it a super-long one to make sure the riders have REALLY earned their day of rest! Stage 10 brought us into the Massif Central – an area often over-looked but one graced with glorious and fascinating scenery (green and volcanic) as well as beautifully smooth and empty roads that are a dream for cyclists. Yes – the weather was sometimes ‘inclement’ but we veered from full sunshine to fog so thick you could only see as far as the nearest cow in the field beside the road (leading to “more costume changes than a pantomime”). We’re starting to master the art of packing our day-bags in readiness for all eventualities.
Following a long, post-tartiflette (awesome) evening transfer to Toulouse, we finally got our first rest day – spent sleeping, resting, eating, bike tinkering, and doing laundry.
In Toulouse we said goodbye to the wonderful First Half Loopers who have been the most incredible company over this first half of the tour. They brought a wealth of experience, humour, camaraderie and joix de vivre to the peloton and we’re very sorry to see them go. For the next 24 hours we were just the core group of Grand Loopers on tour and stage 11 was a lovely sunshine stage through fast agricultural countryside but a final calf-popping sting in the tail for the pro sprinters, who won’t be lucky enough to be treated to the surprise pizza feedstop that we had (bad luck).
We were joined by a new influx of eager, fresh-faced riders, here to ride the Second Half Loop and Pyrenees Loop. Mountains – here we come!
Stage 12 was the first of the 3 Pyrenean stages: “a tale of two chainrings”: a beautiful morning depart through Auch and pretty flat for the first 100km to the first of 3 big climbs: Soulor, Borderes and stunning-but-challenging Hautacam. These are quiet, beautiful backroads with fabulous views. A stunning (long) day of riding – a punchy start for those new arrivals on tour!
Stage 13 is the Time Trial topped and tailed with coach transfers but a ‘mere’ 11km long. Only catch is, they were 11km uphill with a fun finish at the Alitport (of 007 infamy) with planes taking off downhill while we had lunch. We arrived by coach to Pau with plenty of time for laundry, R&R and to welcome the Mountains Week Loopers to the tour. More fresh legs – just in time for the much-anticipated ‘big one’: stage 14.
On paper, as in life, this was always going to hurt. 4 humungous categorised climbs, described as “Tourmalet for breakfast, Aspin for lunch, Peyresourde for tea and SuperBagneres for dinner!”. Again, the weather was highly variable but most were lucky enough to see the incredible views from the top of Tourmalet. Once more, judicious packing of day bags made the constant costume changes necessary, possible.
Today we were joined by the first of our Charity Visitors on Tour – young Jamal and his mentor Tom from Palace for Life. Jamal set his mind to riding the Tourmalet which he did in great style: 19km, average 7.4% gradient. It requires tenacity, ambition, mental strength and determination – all qualities Jamal exhibited as he summited this enormous climb. Massive congratulations and respect Jamal! He also spoke to our group at dinner: “I’ve come a really long way (in the last 2 years) – I’m doing things I never thought I’d do. I didn’t see myself scaling a mountain, but that’s something I’ve done today” … to which, he received a huge round of applause! 👏
Trustee Jonny Wates and his wife Juliana were there to cheer all our riders on and show their appreciation and admiration for their herculean efforts. As with Rick and Andrew before them, we’re always delighted to have members of the Wates family with us on tour, talking to our riders about the work of the Trust and supporting them. Thank you!
Even for our fastest riders, this was a very very long day in the saddle: over 10 hours. Our final riders were starting the final brutal climb up Superbagneres around dinner time, and descending in the dark, finishing well after 10pm. Nobody said this was going to be easy!
For the Pyrenees Loopers, this was their final stage and I don’t think any of them left anything in the tank! Massive respect for you all – chapeau! We said our goodbyes and set out for the final stage before our 2nd (final) rest day. Stage 15 – mostly fairly easy going, with a final 40km to the hotel a whooping downhill, but a most-definitely lumpy section in the middle that removed any remaining energy from legs. But we’re done! Rest day in Montpellier to re-group – the arrival of Middle Mountains and Alps Loopers – the last influx of new riders for the 2025 Tour. We’re still a long way from Paris!
Vive Le Tour!
