The Rugby

What a night! I watched the Rugby on a big screen in the village. I was the only Rosbeef amongst 150 locals ( I did have a friend from Belfast who offered moral support)
150 at the start of the match, about half a dozen 5 minutes from the end.
I stood for the national anthem and they gave me a round of applause which was nice.

New tarmac on The Madelaine

Wahey! after years and years of waiting the 9km link road from just out side Malaucene, over The Madelaine to Bedoin now has a nice layer of blacktop.
Some of the lads yesterday had a slight problem getting past the machinery but it will be ready in a few days. Brilliant!

Now then is this in preperation for next years tour?

2008 summer update

Hello! As you can see this is the first post since June. There are a few reasons for this so here is an update.Well to say we have been busy is an understament! The race win seem like a million years ago and that was the end of my competitive season.

• 
  July 7th - La Marmotte, I didn't ride this year as we had a group of 12 up at The Alpe. Great success, everyone finished in times ranging from 8h20m to over 11 hours.
• 
  July 13th - Tom Simpson Memorial day on Mont Ventoux. A fantastic day. We helped decorate the memorial with flags for the ceremony. After a group ride up from Bedoin, Joanne (Tom's daughter) made a speech and thanked everyone for the help in raising the money for the new steps and making it a great happy day.
• 
  July 17th - A quiet week for Le Tour so me and a friend Peter drove to Briancon, cycled up the Lautaret to The Col du Galibier to watch the stage in perfect weather.
• 
  July 29th - took 6 members of Lancashire Road Club on a 200km jaunt through the Barronnies hills and got dropped on the last col (gutted!)
• 
  August! - Lots of friends and family here, hence too much red wine consumed.
• 
  September 8th and 9th - Gorge de la Nesque Time Trial and Les Routes du Ventoux Cyclosportive. Unfortunatley no trophies this year to put in the Veloventoux trophy cabinet.
• 
  September 15th -23rd - The Veloventoux Raid Alpine! 7 of us rode from Albertville to Nice via The Cormet de Roseland, Col de la Madelaine, Col de Telegraphe, Col du Galibier, Col d'Izoard (twice!) Col de Vars, Col de la Bonnette/ Restefond, Col de Cayolle, Col de Champs. Yes it's safe to say I'm knackered!
• 
  October 3rd - 4 members of my UK club Clayton Velo here for a wind down week.
  

So thats about it for now, hopefully I'll have some time to post now that the season is drawing to a close. By the way, the October weather here is awesome, 22 degrees today and not a cloud in the sky!!!!