• Home
• Blog
• About
• Contact

Home > Blog > Alpe d'Huez a Dream come true

Alpe d'Huez a Dream come true

<< Thoughts on drug cheatsHello and Goodbye World Heading to the Tour de France >> A dream come true. For almost as long as I have followed the tour, I have wanted to be on Alpe d’Huez to watch a stage of the Tour de France and today I did it. Not only did I do it but I think today might just have been the defining moment of the tour. I am definitely still praying for Cadel to come back in the time trail but he has done so much work I fear he will be too tired.

We decided to do it properly and left where we were staying, L’Isle sur la Sorgue in Provonce, a little after 4pm and headed for the Alpes. It was 300km away and on a good day would take a little over 3.5 hours. However, I knew that it would be busy getting onto the mountain, so we allowed for 6 hours, so we could also stop and get some dinner on the way.

The speed limit on the motorways is 130km and what’s more, the roads make you feel like you are doing less than 100. It is had to explain how good the motorway system is in France. You pay tolls, but you really don’t mind, since even in heavy traffic, you easily flow at the speed limit. Arriving at l’Bourg-d’Osians, at the base of the Mt, there were people everywhere. After a quick toilet stop (we weren’t sure we would get another one for 24hours) we started up the mountain. My plan was to be about 4km up it near where the zig zag’s start, but all spots were taken, so we kept heading up. The party on the mountain was well and truly in full swing by the time we were there. After going past the 4km to go sign (to the top, around 9km up the mountain), we were sent to the right up the other end of the top loop road. About 2km up this we found a great spot on the side of the road and bunked down for the night. I found it a little difficult to settle down as I was so excited about the next day.

After a little sleep in we headed back down the road to the course and found a great little spot 10m before the 4km to go mark that was elevated and looking down on the road. Finding out what was going on was pretty easy, as across the road was the Alpe d’Huez Moto Club selling drinks with TV showing the race in french. Next to that was a scooter (yes, a scooter) with a little satellite dish showing the race in German and up the road a bit was a massive camper with an English coverage.

The partying all day was amazing. Across from us was this big group from Luxemburg who were supporters of the Schelek brothers, one of which, Frank had recently taking the yellow jersey from Cadel a few days earlier. The overall atmosphere was electrifying. Everybody there for the most amazing thing to come. I am not sure of exact numbers on the mountain that day, but there would have to have been over 500,000. By the time the race came past I was bursting with excitement. The only flag I could get my hands on was a mates All Blacks one so I had that around my neck like a cape. I also wore my green Nike Alpe d’Huez t-shirt that I got in Nimes. Getting myself ready on the inside of the bend in between some parked cars I waited. Sastra from CSC, and the Schelek brothers team mate, had attacked at the bottom of the climb and was the first to come past. As he passed, I took a step back as he was so close I got scared. When Cadel came past leading the main group I stayed were I was and yelled my support for him. I got really close to him trying to get him to hear me over the CSC supporters on the other side of the road. In fact I was so close that I really yelled in his ear. It was so amazing, for me anyway, not sure for Cadel.

I continued to cheer as the rest of the riders went past, calling out names as I recognised different riders. Julian Dean and Robbie McEwen went past together at the front of the Autobus (this is a group cyclists, usually sprinters, that aren’t good climbers. They ride as a group and make sure that they don’t miss the cut off time).

After everyone had past we headed back up to the van and managed to slip into the line of official vehicles so we were off the mountain quite quickly.

I spent most of the drive home talking and reflecting on one of the best days of my life. Even now writing about it is bring a tear to my eye. I have been to lots of live sporting events over the years but the atmosphere and energy on that Mt for something that passed and was over so quickly is something that I will never forget.

<< Blog index  < Thoughts on drug cheats | Hello and Goodbye World Heading to the Tour de France >

Send to a friend
post a comment