Hi All and thanks for all your support and messages, it really is helping us along and it great to hear from you all.So, backtracking a bit, we had a well-earned rest day in La Grave on Saturday which was absolutely fantastic. There was a huge BBQ by the river featuring the guitar-playing of Adrian Moat as well as sponsored haircuts and other silliness and the three of us had a much needed massage in the same hotel where Lance Armstrong stayed when he won the Tour de France. I stupidly went out for a biere or two on Sat night (and as a result rode at the back on Sunday) but Ant and Giles had a great nights sleep except for all three of us needing the bathroom at 4am and having to form an orderly queue.
Anyway, we needed the rest/sleep because today (Sunday) was a HUGE day, we rode for 12 hours straight which saw us travel 172km from La Grave in France to Vinadio – a small mountain village in Italy (where we are now, unable to make ourselves understood as is completely Italian speaking, we’re starving and no food is forthcoming as yet). It threatened to rain the whole day and so was cold but really spectacular scenery above the tree-line again as we negotiated Col du Lauteret, Col D’Izoard, Col de Bars and Col de Larche with the wind against us for some of that time. The highlight for me was probably the 25 mile descent from the top of Larche tucking into a peloton for switchbacks all the way. Ant took a wrong turn and so did an extra 6 miles today blaming Giles for not stopping for him when he went for a pee.
Today was also the day that the guest riders turned up (including Ed Fayers from Blink, freelance DOP Barry Wallace, Stuart Robinson from Tomboy Films to name but a few) so a really tough first day for them.
We have officially become machines. We eat our own bodyweight in carbs in the morning, ride, eat our own bodyweight in carbs again at lunch, more riding, then we eat again, sleep get up and eat our own bodyweight and ride.
We’re pretty wasted at the moment but all in really good spirits. Tomorrow we’re tackling Col de la Bonnette, the highest pass in Europe - better get some sleep.
Thanks again for all the support, Ben Ant and Giles xxx
