Paris-Brest-Paris 2023…Day 2/3 and the finish

Tommaso peeled himself off the floor in the canteen at Carhaix which had been his bed for 5 hours, and on exiting the control, we carefully stepped over a multitude of randonneurs who had billeted themselves in a similar manner.

Doc had spent the night in a comfortable Air BnB. Although he had slept in a proper bed, showered (again), and been provided with an ample breakfast, he was putting himself at great risk from ‘Soft Randonneur Syndrome’, commonly known as ‘SRS’. This is a condition where the long distance cyclist finds it almost impossible to sleep on a floor, in a ditch or even a comfy bus shelter….an unthinkable situation for one of this arcane calling.

Tommaso and The Wattmeister had the edge. They ached all over, which saved them focussing on just one particular niggle, and had slept just enough in such discomfort that riding the bike again was an attractive option…..poor Doc.

From Carhaix, the trio found a comfortable rhythm along the D769 to Huelgoat. Climbing steadily in the darkness, surrounded by the lights of other participants was a spiritual experience. Doc was having a hard time after his comfortable night…so Tommaso and The Wattmeister gave him a vicarious experience with tales of randonneurs snoring, farting and talking in their sleep to buoy his flagging spirits

Onwards and upwards, the migration of cyclists ascended to the highest point of the ride at Roc Trevezel. In truth, an easy soporific type of climb. The plateau near the summit populated by camper vans and motorhomes either spectating or offering food and drink to the riders. There followed a scintillating descent to lovely Sizun and the opportunity to grab a coffee/croissant snack before the push into Brest about 40 kms distant.

We descended Le Queff and sped into Landerneau sitting astride the L’Elorn river in a Mediterranean fashion. The halfway point beckoned, but Brest is a lumpy city and we had many hills to negotiate. Doc had almost recovered from his sybaritic night’s sleep…thank God…we really feared for his wellbeing, and was back suffering like the rest of us.

The control at Lycée Kerichen in Brest was situated at the bottom of a humongous hill. We fortified ourselves in different ways. Doc and Tommaso chose to eat proper food in the canteen, while The Wattmeister opted to ferret out the last of his illegally imported pork scratchings and have a kip on the dewy grass adjacent to the bikepark. After twenty minutes or so of fitful sleep, dreaming that he was sleeping in a pond full of frog spawn, a soaking wet Wattmeister greeted his refreshed comrades and we winched ourselves up the massive hill out of town.

It was plain to see who had made the correct choice at Brest. While Doc and Tommaso had sensibly refuelled and made use of the toilets, their mood could not in any way be compared to The Wattmeister’s superior disposition. Grumpy, hungry, in need of a shit, and still drying out from his sleep, The Wattmeister was raring to go…..HOME!

The new route from Brest to Carhaix looked and proved to be a tough amendment. We crossed Pont Albert Louppe which spans the L’Elorn estuary looking mighty fine and calm in the morning light. Thanks to Brest council for the toilettes publiques on the south side of the bridge.

The next 45kms or so incorporated a mix of beautiful towns and villages and lots of hills before another secret control at Pleyben, a very attractive village about halfway to Carhaix. It was early afternoon, our progress was slowed by the heat and the sensible choice to ride well within our limited ability. We were faced with an eternal, feverish climb up to Plonvenez-Faou before finally entering the commune of Carhaix-Plougeur, a very tough stage of the ride in hot and unshaded conditions.

Somehow we had become detached from Tommaso, but anyone who has ridden with him will know that his navigational skills are unique….he could get lost in a telephone kiosk….we had no fear that somehow, some day, some way he would arrive safely at Carhaix. And so he did.

In the meantime Doc and The Wattmeister failed to locate the Macdonalds just 200m from the control, but did manage to empty a local delicatessen of most of its unsold food. Reunited, we pressed on to Loudeac. The feeling in the camp was positive as we rode parallel to the pan flat Nantes-Brest canal, perversely climbing every hill in this picturesque part of Brittany. The first 45 kms from Carhaix contained 700m of ascent, just what we were hoping for after the stage from Brest. Another lovely semi-control at Gouarec provided us with sustenance and we continued to head upwards.

However, once we had crested the elevated interior at Silfiac, there was some respite in the drop down to Pontivy where a square had been requisitioned for PBP, and a party was in full swing. We devoured free crisps and nuts for their salt content, and whacked down a coffee or two for the caffeine, and no doubt we would have injected with EPO if it was on offer…the kindliness of the volunteers gave us a boost and we negotiated the charming lanes to Loudeac in a chipper state of mind.

Once again we were treated to a triumphant reception at Loudeac. After a swift card stamp, and a whiff of the hog roast, Captain Tom was on hand to escort us back to Aquarev campsite to be embraced by the care of the NL randonneurs team. We made good use of the facilities and departed for a sleep stop in Quedillac, 60kms away, 853kms into the ride, and 330kms for that day’s work.

Our experiences differed at Quedillac. The Wattmeister was offered a bed in a warm compound…”what am I supposed to do with that?…” he thought, whilst eyeing up the floorspace adjacent to it. Tom, Doc and Tommaso were posted in a drafty shed, formerly set aside for livestock before their final journey.

It has to be said that there was an element of that as we mounted our bikes at 05.30a.m and headed for the next control at Tineniac. The Wattmeister stopped for a pee and was cast aside like a broken twig by his erstwhile teammates. Regrouping at Tinteniac, Doc needed some mechanical assistance and a neck brace before continuing to Fougeres. Tommaso had a bad patch. Not once had he complained about the injuries sustained on the first night, but now he was muted and suffering with stomach issues. Eschewing the services of our esteemed medical consultant, Tommaso deemed that a strong coffee would fix everything…but it was a long road into Fougeres for the mighty Italian.

Arriving at 10.30 a.m with empty stomachs, we availed ourselves of practically everything on the menu, and the food did not disappoint. Before we left, it seemed only civilised to allow the digestive system some time to process prodigious amount of food we had consumed, so we took a power nap in the shade with numerous others of similar mindset.

Fougeres to Villaines can be a fast ride after the initial climb out to Mont Romain, but once again the mercury had spiralled up to an uncomfortable level, so we dallied and dawdled to Gorron where Doc bought an orthopedic neck brace and we were treated to water and cokes by roadside well-wishers.

Somewhere on the long road from Gorron to Villaines our merry band fragmented. The Wattmeister spied Tommaso and Doc examining the recycling bins in a dechetterie just before Ambrieres…they deny it…before stopping for a nap outside the toilet block where Bubbles met Jane in 2019.

Now alone, The Wattmeister followed the D33 under a blazing sun, stopping at various stalls for vital fluids. After the right turn at Charchigné, he spotted Doc in the distance, and by the enormous marquee at Le Ribay, he was once again reunited with Doc and Tommaso. The big climb up and over to Hardanges stood between us and the control at Villaines. Somehow, we split up. The Wattmeister chose to stop for a proper refuel at Loupfougeres, yet another village who had dedicated the past few days to this event.

Consuming a hot dog with mustard, a bowl of vegetable soup and a piece of flan simultaneously whilst explaining the action over the preceding 1000km in schoolboy French to a wide-eyed audience elicited much praise, or was it sympathy. Anyway it was a good call. The welcome in Villaines was once again stupendously generous. A swift turnaround, including a shower put The Wattmeister about 40 minutes in front of his companions, time which was used for yet another power nap.

Around 18.45, off we went to Mortagne-au-Perche. Once again the group split for reasons now forgotten. However, Doc and The Wattmeister had made an unspoken pact to exorcise the ghost of LEL 2022 and stay together until the end…also, Doc needed a companion with medical knowledge, and The Wattmeister needed someone with mechanical knowledge…a mismatch made in heaven.

It was a pleasantly warm evening as we rode through Alencon, briefly stopping at yet another roadside oasis run by a local family. We dozed off for ten minutes in their deckchairs, despite the applause for passing cyclists and the hubbub of playing children. As darkness fell, we joined another cavalcade of red lights, this time belonging to Club AC Loudeac, one of whom was in obvious distress and was being pushed along by teammates. We fell in line for quite a while.

It has ALWAYS been chilly in the Perche region at night, but this evening was totally different. The temperature was 25 degrees celsius. We took a nap in the village of Pervencheres, where another party was in full swing, and on awakening, duly allowed ourselves to be escorted by another peloton to the Mortagne-au -Perche control.

Tommaso and Captain Tom were already sleeping here, but due to the warmth of the night and the fact that we had been topping up with power naps, Doc and TW decided to tackle the muted hills of the Perche in the darkness. One after the other they popped up on Garmin ClimbPro, eventually we descended to Senonches, enjoyed a couple of bowls of soup and cycled off to Dreux, the final control before the finish.

Now there was a sense of just wanting this to be over. We had plenty of time and energy, but Doc was suffering with his neck, and although The Wattmeister was itching to tie his helmet to his seatpost and put it on TikTok, the charms of Rambouillet beckoned. We pressed on ahead of our pals, briefly featuring in a documentary on wonky long distance cyclists which was being filmed on the D936.

10kms to go, then 5 kms to go, and after what seemed hours, we turned into the grounds of the chateau to an overwhelming reception of friends and relatives, townspeople, riders who had already finished, volunteers and pets. It was crazy emotional, but after polite recognition to all concerned, what we really needed at 09.30 a.m was a drink.

Tom and Tommaso arrived soon after.

And a sleep….

…..and loads of pizzas

Photos courtesy of Tommaso Sicuro

Paris-Brest-Paris 2023…Day 1, Consolidation

We had made brisk progress overnight to Fougeres, and needed to build on this solid foundation with a no-nonsense break off the bike at Lycée Jean Guéhenno, famous for his secret journal of French life under German occupation, and the site of our second official control at 293kms.

However there were queues of riders for the loos and the canteen so we sought a Tabac on the edge of town for a caffeine hit, a piece of cake and a some quality chat with raconteur/randonneur Tom Jackson who was riding his ninth PBP! A hilly exit from Fougeres took us past a Macdonalds and on to a new route for 2023 to the next control at Tinteniac.

The dead straight rolling contours of the D812 may not be the most scenic road in France, but we progressed swiftly to the hilltop village of St. Aubin-du-Cormier before being transported to Hedé-Bazouges via the altogether more soft and soothing conduit of the D106. A large group had coalesced on The Wattmeister’s steady rear wheel which stirred within him a pleasant sense of custody and protection. We had all been on the go for around 15 hours and a subdued serenity had descended on the ride…or maybe it was just weariness.

The tranquility was smashed on the unswerving D637 into Tinteniac. Like cattle stampeding to a waterhole in a drought, the randonneurs bolted to the control for their breakfast. It was 10.30 a.m. Like all the controls, we were cheered into the bike park by spectators lining the entrance.

Doc was ravenous and persuaded The Wattmeister to agree to a prolonged stop. The canteen and its marvellous team of volunteers provided a delicious brunch and within 40 minutes we were back on our bikes and headed towards Loudeac at 435kms. Whilst we were resting, the sun had grown in strength, and the procession of cyclists climbing up to Becherel along a wide and unshaded road gave an indication of what we would have to endure later on that afternoon.

We traced the familiar route of previous editions along the undulating D220 passing Medreac’s dominating Eglise Saint-Pierre, via Quedillac arriving in the bustling centre of St. Meen-le-Grand. It was a good time and place to stop for a couple of shandies, but sadly no pork scratchings.

We had to ride more conservatively and take on more fluids in the heat. Joining the column of riders on the pretty D76 up to and skirting the Foret de Hardouinais, Doc had other ideas and settled into a furious pace in order to record his fastest ever 400 km ride. The Wattmeister struggled to hold the flying physician’s wheel until finally, his shift was finished and we could resume our lethargic progress.

Compared to other parts of the route, this was a noticeably quiet section, with few villages and fewer spectators, but it won prizes for its scenic beauty as we wended our way to Loudeac. We peeled off just before the control to rendezvous with volunteers from the Randonneurs Netherlands association who had arranged a bag drop support centre at Camping Aquarev.

The warm welcome from Pim and his team almost matched the heat of the day. It was a sweltering debilitating heat, draining us of power and energy. Without too much debate, we decided to linger longer in the shade of the campsite. A revitalizing shower and change of kit helped to discard the cloak of fatigue which had accumulated over the past 430kms. Abundant food and drink replaced the lost calories and fluid, and an unconscious nap in the shade charged our cognizant capabilities…whilst electricity from the campsite charged our phones, power banks and GPS units

Road Captain Tom had arrived a couple of hours before us and was asleep in his tent. It must have been so hot in that tent that he could almost be called Roast Captain Tom.

Soon we were joined by Tommaso Siccuro, the fourth member of MHP, who, because of the qualifying system had to start 45 minutes behind us in group P. Tommaso incurred some nasty cuts and soft tissue damage after an altercation with some road furniture. Doc examined him, and then asked The Wattmeister, (a noted internet medical consultant), for a second and third opinion. The Wattmeister is always ready to give an opinion, free of charge, just like the NHS.

The result was to extend no sympathy to Tommaso, lest he use the diagnoses of his two doctors to abandon the ride. And so, after a couple of hours rest, Doc, Tommaso and The Wattmeister continued to the control at Loudeac and then on to Carhaix…..leaving Captain Tom to slow cook in foil.

College Lycée St. Joseph has been home to the Loudeac control since at least 2003. The riders are assured of a tumultuous welcome from the crowd. There is an intoxicating energy in the air, but, Loudeac control is like Hotel California….it’s hard to leave. Our trio managed to get in and out in 7 minutes. It was still toasty as we tackled the tough hills of Grace-Uzel and Merleac, where the townspeople had erected a huge marquee with ravitaillissement and an encouraging word or two for the participants.

We hooked up with a peloton of German riders making unhurried progress through the hills to St. Martin-des-Pres, another village which traditionally makes a special effort to enjoy the PBP party, before descending to Corlay, and taking a slight detour to the prepossessing village of Canihuel, home to a new secret control, a device to prevent riders opting for the faster main road course.

Despite slowing down due to the heat, and taking more stops than anticipated, we had made super progress and arrived in Carhaix at 515kms before 10 p.m for a ‘proper’ sleep stop. Doc had had the foresight to book a luxurious Air B’nB for himself in the town. Unfortunately it was necessary to queue for the beds at Carhaix control, so Tommaso plonked himself on the floor and The Wattmeister constructed a makeshift bed of four chairs.

Just before we crashed out in our spartan surroundings, Roast Captain Tom arrived, looking remarkably undercooked, and announced he was pressing on through the night to Brest. Unbelievably, that’s the last thing I remember for about 5 hours before shaking Tommaso awake in order to meet up with Doc at 5 a.m on the posh side of town.

Paris-Brest-Paris 2023…the first night

As group M shuffled down the tree-lined Allée de l’Inspection towards the Chateau de Rambouillet, formerly the summer residence of the Presidents of the French Republic, PBP officials checked our bike lights and reflective jackets. Looping back up the Allée de Soupirs, swathed in a throng of nervous energy, the start of PBP was just minutes away.

At 7 p.m on Sunday 20th August it was still roasting hot. The preceding and following groups of riders were massing with their bikes in the grounds of the Chateau. The heat bounced off the stony chemin blanc as we left the shade of the cypress trees to await our fate on the road.

The burly master of ceremonies expended much energy in buoying our spirits before launching us through the wrought iron gates which marked the beginning of our 1215kms journey. After a few small efforts, the MHP ‘M’ group trio found a large group of riders marshalled by a handful of Italians in which to while away the next 100 kilometres. We switched to cruise control whilst remaining ever vigilant to the demands of riding in a large group.

After 60 kms, around Chateauneuf-en-Thymerais, reflective jackets were donned and water bottles filled at one of the many impromptu roadside stalls as the sun set on the beautifully surfaced D140 which led us to Senonches and the hilly Perche region of Normandy.

Our group split up just as the main group fell apart on the inclines approaching Mortagne. Road Captain Tom set off on his favoured terrain, while The Wattmeister and Doc tapped out a steady rhythm on the tarmac illuminated by a moving fusillade of dynamo and battery lights. The surrounding woods deadened the sound of our pedal strokes, and we had the sensation of cycling through a dark, never-ending tunnel.

A quick 11 minute turnaround at the non-control of Mortagne 120 kms, saw us back on the road just before midnight. The Perche was noticably warmer than in previous editions. We barreled along the D16 ensconced in a speedy group. Suddenly, two riders went down hard in front and to our left…we were lucky to miss them, but continued unscathed, now very wide awake.

The new route led us through a very quiet and subdued Alencon before rejoining the old route at melodic Sougé-le-Ganelon, leading us over the hills of the Alpes Mancelles to our first control at bustling Villaines-la-Juhel …203km down at 02.50 a.m.

Locking into an unspoken synergy, we had made terrific progress without expending too much energy. In Villaines control, we were led to our dining table by two charming youngsters, who spoke excellent English and carried our trays of food, as if it were the most normal thing to do at 3 a.m.

Back into the night air, The Wattmeister took time to re-find his legs and while Doc waited patiently. We climbed slowly from Hardanges to Le Ribay but picked up speed through Lassay-les-Chateaux and Ambrieres-les- Vallées before hooking up with a fast group in the dawn light taking us all the way to Fougeres at 293 kms arriving at 07.17 a.m.

PBP preliminaries part 2

The day of le grand départ has arrived. It is a beautiful morning in the ersatz campsite which has sprung up in the expansive grounds of the Chateau de Rambouillet.

Road captain Tom, medical maestro Dan and route finder extraordinaire Tommaso, have arrived. After a banquet at one of Rambouillet’s top restaurants, they have adjourned to their respective 5 star hotels leaving The Wattmeister to guard their filthy laundry from the hordes of dirty underwear fetishists who roam these parts.

Our departure time is at 19.00, so we will ride through the first night and whole of the next day before grabbing a proper sleep. Hopefully we will push deep into Britanny on this leg, covering 510 kms at least. Extreme heat has been forecast for the next few days, so we are in for a roasting and a toasting

The remainder of today should be spent chilling, hydrating and staying in the shade. But no doubt, we will dismantle and rebuild our bikes whilst packing and repacking our kit under a boiling sun.

Paris-Brest-Paris preliminaries

Alas my 98 year old father broke his femur 5 weeks ago and as I type this, he remains in Whipps Cross hospital. My filial duties have been suspended with his blessing for the duration of PBP.

Recent ‘training’ has been limited to cycling to my mum in Barkingside and slow commutes to the hospital, which is enveloped by a smidgen of cycle infrastructure.

On Thursday, within 12 hours, we were transported from the madness of the A406 to the idyllic, lush hinterland of hills and dales around Desvres, residing on a dog-friendly farm with facilities for 8 campervans.

On Friday, we pressed on to our destination, and the start of PBP, at Rambouillet via Rouen and Mantes-la-Jolies. The rain lashed down violently in the vicinity of Abbeville-sur-Mer….The Wattmeisterin declared the precipitation as a “plensbui”…dutch for a shower. As I pulled blindly off the péage for our safety and that of our fellow motorists, I wondered if I had packed a rain jacket.

We arrived at the long term parking of the Chateau de Rambouillet around 3.30 p.m in sweltering, suffocating heat. The organisers and volunteers have done a wonderful job of lining up the cars and camper vans adjacent to the shady Avenue de la Ferme.

The temporary campsite is imbued with a nervy but chilled atmosphere as randonneurs cycle and walk uphill to La Bergerie to collect their registration documents, PBP jerseys and other paraphernalia. The smart centre of town is populated by cyclists wandering around like locusts, emptying the supermarket shelves of their wares.

Fortunately, I’m on another diet

Tour de France, Stage 14. Annemasse – Morzine les Portes du Soleil 151.8 kms, 4280m ascent.

Stage 13 was a strange affair. The break was not allowed much of a time gap, and yet Pogacar’s team did not seem keen to chase down the sole survivor of said break, the magnificent Michal Kwiatkowski.

A last ditch attempt by Pogacar to wrest the yellow jersey from Vingegaard’s narrow shoulders in the final few hundred metres of the Grand Colombier, fell short of expectations. The tactics are a real puzzle, but we move on to the Alps proper with a stage comprising six climbs, 4200m of ascent and the punishing climb of the Joux Plane before dropping down to the finish at Morzine.

If this stage becomes a GC battle, and if Tom Pidcock (16/1) is with the lead group at the top of the Joux Plane, then anyone who witnessed his descent from the Galibier in 2022 will understand why he must be the selection today.

Trying to guess what will happen today is a rompecabeza, literally a brain-breaker. I would have confidently predicted two races today, one between the breakaway group, and one between the GC contenders. However, tactics in this Tour have differed greatly from those of yesteryear. Despite this, I am sure that there will be an attempt to get up the road by some doughty riders, and I hope they stay away.

In which case, my two selections are Mohoric (100/1) and Burgaudeau (300/1), two riders who have been very active in recent stages. If Mohoric crests the final climb near the front of a group, then his descending skills will make him an elusive quarry.

Tour de France, Stage 13, Bastille Day, Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne to Grand Colombier 139 km 2400m ascent

The wanton violence of stage 12 is over. The oldest man triumphed from a breakaway which took the longest time and the most effort to engineer. This was no fluke victory from Ion Izaguirre, he had to contend with a multitude of vicious skirmishes on the road to Beaujolais, and with clinical precision he executed the coup de grace on the Col de la Croix Rosier.

There will be some awfully tired legs in the peloton today. The climb up the Grand Colombier is as true as test as there is in the world of Le Tour. The vital statistics of 17kms in length with an average gradient of 7% belie the fact that there are a couple of ‘easy’ sections, which mean that that there are several very steep prolonged passages well in excess of 12% gradient. It is a magnificent climb which The Wattmeister has experienced in real life.

https://storyteller.fit/story/1275

There will definitely be a General Classification battle today. Whether it is for the stage win is another question. Tadej Pogacar won here in 2020 and he is a firm favourite. However, if a group is allowed to get away, then we are looking for French riders to be active on Bastille Day, and others who have been hiding in full sight who will not have the attention of the GC leaders.

On this flimsy basis, I am going to suggest two Frenchmen, Clement Berthet (250/1) who rode very strongly on the Puy de Dome and Romain Bardet (120/1) whose sense of occasion is only rivalled by Thibault Pinot. I would also like to propose two wild cards, Mikel Landa (150/1), currently wearing his Cloak of Invisibilty, and Rigoberto Uran (170/1), who had been showing decent form prior to the Tour. I cannot believe he has come to France to take a back seat. He has had a good result on the Grand Colombier in the past, and like Ion Izaguirre, he is knocking on a bit.

The fireworks should start at around 15.30 p.m BST

Tour de France, Stage 12. Roanne – Bellville en Beaujolais 168.8kms 3168m ascent

Only twelve months ago, by chance The Wattmeister was in Roanne and the surrounding area with his bicycle. The terrain rolls above the Rhone valley in waves of testing hillocks.

Today’s feisty offering is the precursor to three extremely tough days in the high mountains. There will be a large breakaway, the strongest and canniest of whom will almost certainly get to the finish for the win after tackling a trio of 5km climbs at around 6.5% gradient. These climbs come into play with 70 kms to go and will whittle down the group, before what looks like a launchpad attack hill at 1.7km and 5% gradient with 13 kms left to race.

Identifying the participants in advance is an impossible task. There are so many permutations. This stage will have been targeted months ago by a raft of riders as THE breakaway stage of the Tour.

I see a few GC wannabes trying to slip into this, maybe Pidcock, Martinez or Bernal from Ineos, Ben O’Connor, Gaudu or Madouas from FDJ. Then there are the guys riding already well in the Tour, Schultz, Neilands, Tejada, Pedrero, Lutsenko, Jorgensen, Johannessen and so on. Finally, we have the riders who so far have been invisible but love this kind of affair. Konrad, Sagan (yes, him!), Soren Andersen, Gorka Izaguirre, Nans Peters, Quentin Pacher….have I missed anyone?

The start will be a riveting spectacle as demand for places in the break will outstrip supply. Expect an all out war in the fight to be part of the group. The casualties will be heavy, many hopeful hearts will be broken.

Eschewing the more fancied contestants, I will be supporting Clement Berthet (170/1), Quentin Pacher (500/1) and Harold Tejada (500/1) to make the cut today. It is going to be a thrilling episode.

Tour de France, Stage 11, Clermont Ferrand -Moulins 179.8 kms 1860m ascent

No sooner had Pello Bilbao (250/1) crossed the line in Issoire than the begging letters started popping through the letterbox. The handwriting closely resembled that of The Wattmeisterin…who knew she read these daily updates?

The riders had a tough outing today. There was a ferocious battle to get into the break and then a wild chase by some big names to rejoin a fragmented peloton. And it never relented until the final 20 kms, with a thrilling dogfight amongst the strongest of the escapees.

Wednesday’s stage has a couple of testing hills in the first 60kms which could be the springboard for another break. However, it does look like a day for the climbing sprinters like Philipsen, Pedersen, Van Aert and Coquard.

But let us imagine that the breakaway is allowed some leeway after today’s shenanigans. There are a number of interesting possibilities in the ranks who can both sprint and climb if they are allowed free rein by their teams.

Jasper Stuyven (130/1) won the bunch sprint today in front of Tobas Johanssen (200/1) and Alex Aranburu (360/1). All three riders are capable in both cycling disciplines. Bettiol (150/1), has been trying hard to get away, and Rasmus Tiller(360/1), who finished eighth over similar terrain in Limoges are two more chances. I expect another eyeballs out battle in the first 60 kms to establish a group, but only time will tell. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are huge GC days, so it is possible that the big teams will try to save their manpower and we could be in for a surprise winner.

If any of these big-priced selections do manage to win, this time The Wattmeister will be on the look-out for a begging letter in Times New Roman font, although The Wattmeisterin does tend to struggle with the workings of the mercurial HP printer.

Tour de France, Stage 10. Vulcania – Issoire 167.2 kms 3200m ascent

Sunday’s finale on the Puy de Dome lived up to expectations despite the absence of fans on the lonely, precipitous road to the summit.

The race continues today after a well deserved rest day…not for the riders…but for The Wattmeister’s sofa which has developed a distinct dip after nine solid days of heavy duty lounging around. Food debris can be found under all the cushions, back in the day before the cashless economy it used to be loose change.

Today’s stage is another lumpy affair on hot, heavy roads culminating in a downhill finish. The course is suited to Wout Van Aert, Mathieu Van Der Poel and other big name puncheurs. However, as my regular reader will know, The Wattmeister likes to tip up outsiders, that’s why he has downsized to a (small) shed for the foreseeable future.

Without further ado, here are today’s recommendations. Matis Louvel 400/1, Gorka Izaguirre 600/1, Michael Woods 300/1, Quentin Pacher 500/1, Anthony Perez 1000/1, Castroviejo 350/1 and Pello Bilbao 250/1.

The break will be allowed a lot of leeway and will stay clear. It is just possible that an outsider for the GC might nip into the group to spice things up. In the meantime, enjoy the spectacle.

Tour de France, Stage 9. St.Léonard-de-Noblat to Puy de Dome 182.4 kms

Stages 7 and 8 were emotionally draining what with Cav’s near miss on Friday into Bordeaux and Saturday’s abandon. The Tour keeps on delivering.

Today see the return of the iconic climb up to the Puy de Dome in the Massif Central. This is a stage that all the contenders would like to win. It has a prestige that will ensure the victor’s name is written into the folklore of the Tour de France.

Therefore the choice for today is simple, Vingegaard or Pogacar. I favour Pogacar, who is the more complete racer and who has worked out how to combat his rival’s team tactics.

But there is not much value in tipping Pog. So let us assume that a large break will get clear after the intermediate sprint at 30kms. The terrain is lumpy and conditions will be heavy…sounds like The Wattmeister’s porridge. Will Jumbo work hard to pull a break back, knowing that Pogacar will take a tow and save his teammates? Might there be a game of bluff played out over the 160 kms which precede the Puy de Dome? And who might benefit from this state of affairs?

A Frenchman would love to win. Pinot, Madouas, Gaudu. KOM jersey contenders will be looking for the 20 points. Riders like Gall, Ciccone (who has shipped a lot of time and will not be chased down), Guerreiro, and maybe Meintjes will slip into a break. There are many possibilities, which is why it is almost always best to see what happens in the early stages as the break forms.

But that is no fun for my regular reader. Therefore I choose some riders outside of Pog and Vingo who I think are riding well.

Firstly, Adam Yates at 140/1 he is a massive price despite being in the service of Pogacar. The boy is riding out of his skin(suit). Secondly, Madouas at 240/1. He is the French national champion and he would never have to pay for a drink in France if he won today. Thirdly, Matis Louvel. I know he looks like a no-hoper, but this chap has been riding incredibly well, can sprint and climb and is 1000/1.

It is going to be a blockbuster, enjoy!

Tour de France Stage 6, Tarbes-Cauterets/Cambasques 144 kms 3800m ascent

Stage 5 was a blockbuster. The Pogacar/Vingegaard script was torn to shreds and scattered like confetti into the ravines surrounding the Marie Blanque by Jai Hindley. What a masterstroke to steal his way into the day’s breakaway and find such strong support from teammate Buchmann, Felix Gall and Wout van Aert.

How ruthlessly did Vingegaard expose Pogacar’s lack of top level race fitness on the final climb? The excitement was tangible. And we have only had 5 stages! It is impossible to guess what happens next. Pogacar will surely regroup and fight his way back. They both have the formidable task of usurping Hindley, the 2022 Giro winner, from the yellow jersey.

There were plenty of heroic rides on stage 5. Van Aert gave everything for himself and then for his leader. Omar Fraile went very deep for his Ineos team leaders, Felix Gall crested the Soudet like a champion, eliciting high praise from Jonathan Vaughters, guest commentator on Eurosport.

Unfortunately, the likes of Uran, Jorgensen, Ciccone, Martinez, Haig and Madouas were disadvantaged by Hindley’s presence in the breakaway group as it forced the main contenders to chase hard on the Marie Blanque, and what a spectacle this pursuit provided.

The early kilometres of stage 6 must surely be hard fought once again. A break looks sure to get away, only this time, it will be Hindley’s team Bora-Hansgrohe who assume responsibility for patrolling the peloton.

I expect to see Felix Gall chase the 20 KOM points on offer at the summit of the Tourmalet along with Nelson Powless. Ciccone sits in 3rd place GC overall and will not be given much leeway. Van Aert is a law unto himself and could be involved in a break. There is a sweeping, fast and long descent off the Tourmalet where we could witness a re-grouping of some sort before the final relatively benign climb up to Cauterets. I don’t believe it is tough enough for Vingegaard and Hindley to inflict more damage on Pogacar, in fact the reverse might be true. Vingegaard has struck the first blow, but he does not have that look of invincibility that Pogacar has previously displayed.

A very tough one to call, there are many possibilities. Buchmann finished 3rd at Cauterets in 2015, Gall has brought his aggression and climbing form from the Tour de Suisse to this race and he is my choice to triumph over Martinez and Powless.