Rick suggested we go see how the Pro's compare to us.......erm, a bit faster?
With Stage 4 coming from Carlisle to Blackpool it seemed too good an opportunity to miss.
Lets go to see them do a big climb we decided. Location : The Shap.
What a rubbish day in terms of weather. Pouring down all day long ( almost ).
We arrived at the Shap a couple of hours before the Tour was expected. Parked up on the side of the road Ric tried to make a cup of coffee with the traffic trying its best to put out the flame on his camping stove.
A wander to the actual finish of the climb found us having a go on the Watt Bikes for a laugh. Ride 500m was all we were asked to do, and the bike will measure your power. Here are the standings after we had done them.
To put these readings into perspective, we were quite pooped after the minute it took us, yet Bradley Wiggins puts more or less the same power out for the whole of one of his time trial sessions. Makes us feel quite feeble!!!
And so onto the actual race. Stood by the roadside back at the car we where as close to the action as we could get. This is the leading group.
Actually a bit too close as Cavendish almost ran over our feet
Sorry, Cav, but it is a great pic!
Once the entire field had gone we then shot off to try to get to the finish thinking we had plenty of time. Not really. Parking up in a multi storey car park we then briscally walked to the finish line in what was now fairly nice weather whilst the Peloton was probably cycling along roads very well known to us as they pass through Hambleton ( were I live ) and over The Shard Bridge.
The crowd was huge and we couldn't get anywhere near the finish line.
The sprint section was soooo fast that we almost missed them come hurtling towards the line.
Don't forget to support our bike ride of Lands End to John O Groats - 960miles in 8 days starting 6th April 2013 - yikes!
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