Tour de France

3 March 2007

Autoroute 64 runs through the north side of the Pyrenees connecting Toulouse and Bayonne.

Many autoroutes in France have tolls. A-64 is an example of an excellent route that includes as a bonus two cultural sites.

As the sun was just setting over the majestic Pyrenees we decided to stop for the night – at the site commemorating the most gruelling portion of the Tour de France, the steep gut wrenching climbs and fearful descents of these ancient mountains.



Next morning “le maillot jaune” (the symbolic yellow T-shirt awarded to the winner of each segment of the Tour) was still celebrating his win of the Pyrenees segment.
The Pyrenees segment was added to the Tour de France in 1910 and in effect it was this act that made it world famous, the epitome of road racing on bicycles.

In 1913 Eugène Christophe was second at the summit of the Pyrenees segment when part of the frame of the bike broke. During that era, NO outside assistance was permitted. Christpohe picked up his broken bike (they then weighed about 45 pounds – 20 kilos) and ran with it for 14 kms. to the nearest town where he took over the local blacksmith’s forge and repaired the bike.
When he was able to re-enter the race he had lost 4 hours and the race. But he has become part of the legend of the Tour, as has a very famous Belgian – Eddy Merckx. The normal practice on the flats is for the racers to remain blocked together in a group, using the rider in front to break the wind and alternating the lead periodically to rest each other, and then winning or losing the race in the final sprint. In the mountains where there is less air resistance and individual stamina plays a much greater role, particularly uphill, they tend to ride more alone. In 1969, Merckx was in a strong lead on the Pyrenees but he continued to accelerate with 140 km to go; he had broken through the pain barrier. After that race and his victory he would become known as “The Cannibal” because he literally ate up his competition, leaving them in the dust. He went on to win an unprecedented 4 consecutive Tour de France in a row.

The Tour remains the epitome of road racing almost 100 years after its inception – it is still a sports focal point throughout Europe followed faithfully through the many days of its running. Having listened on the radio to the Tour de France as a young girl, Marie-Claire has now been inspired to start training for the 2008 Tour, to create another legend – the first woman over 60 to win the Tour, and has picked out her bike. Hopefullly she will have better luck than M. Christophe.