Day 4 - The Bus and the Tour

Bonjour Gilles! Our dedicated bus driver. He seems very jolly. Laughs? Continously.
An early start and we are driving to Sault. We let Gilles know our route and that he should secure us a spot at a campsite in Dignes. We shouldnt be long. Gilles laughs again. He doesnt think we will get there until late. Its a very long way, he claims. Rubbish. Not the last time a frenchie will try and misguide us I am sure.

We are in the zone. Cobby has had some EPO or something. He is on fire and will not get off the front. Note to self......urine tests necessary next year. We are starting to see more and more cyclists as we get closer to the tour. This is inspirational stuff. One little fat fella tries to do another job on us and swings past us before a reasonable descent. The red mist falls again and it is on. Does he not know this is about nationl pride? Poido mutters on about one of his tests against the french in 1983 and goes off like a man possessed.

Before long we are getting closer to our destination. Cobby suggests a right hand turn to join the route rather than to work around it. This is too good to miss. We agree. Vites. Allez. The temperature is rising. We are drafting behind a tractor doing about 45kmph and Cobby wants to overtake him. Madman. If he was a fuckin sheepdog I would shoot him.

We are starting to flag. How much further is it? We are passing folk who have set up camp in the middle of nowhere. How much further? We get the news. It cant be right. Another 50km. Shit. We are running out of food and drink and there are signs the Tour Cavalcade may be appearing behind us pretty son.

Interlude: about 2 hours before the racers take the course a massive convoy of sponsored vehicles clear the course and cause a stir. Giant bottles of water. Ladies in lycra. Loud duff duff music. A spectacle to behold and so good at stirring the roadside fans into a frenzy of delight. Oh la la.

Hang on. The Wallabies are playing the Yarpies in Perth. STOP. We take a break. It is sweltering. We are in a little busy cafe and Poido has SMS updates coming in from his family in Sydney. Beer and jambon please. The Aussies win. Nice. Wouldnt like to see Poido unhappy.

Quick! Here comes the cavalcade. We know we have a big hill to come before Digne. It wil be fine. Head down and bum up. The crowds are getting bigger. This is incredible. We are on the course and we are being applauded. Almost famous. Allez Cadel. The less accomplished members of the team get all feisty and want to take off to the applause. Easy. Take it easy. Soak up the splendour. We reach the hill and go easy. We have a couple dressed as kangaroos running beside us. Surely we arent going that slow are we? Cobby wants to win. Half wheeling has become his forte today. Easy tiger.

Over the top and the crowds are getting bigger and bigger. We fly into town doing a healthy 60kmph and run all of the way to 1km short of the finish before the police guide us off the course. Wonderful. Wonderful. Where is the bus, I am buggered and hot!

Here come the riders....