Le Tour '11 - Stage 18 - On the Col d'Izoard

Le Tour 2011. Plans were as follows...Chuck and co. would fly into France the second week, watch the race in the Pyrenees, and then follow it daily until the Alpine stages. The family and I, on the other hand, would get off to a later start, as the girls still had school during the second week of the Tour. Our plans were to travel south to Italy for a few days of touring and relaxing, then rendezvous with Chuck and co. in Vars, a small ski-town in the Alps. Therefore, my first stage was actually Stage 18 on the final week of the Tour.

The family and I (along with Chuck and co, not in the photo) were fully decked-out in our George Hincapie BMC U.S. Championship jerseys in our effort to show support for George, Cadel, BMC, and all U.S. riders. Here we are waiting for the race about 1.5 km from the start of the second major climb of the day on the Col d'Izoard. What you can't tell readily from this photo is that if we stepped backwards just a few feet behind us, we would have fallen right off the side of this mountain.

As we had a couple of hours to kill before the race would arrive, Chuck and I hiked a few more KMs up the mountain to the area called the desert. Check out this view. Unfortunately, photos still can't do it justice. You can see the winding course lined with campers into the distance.

Here is Andy Schleck, shortly after he launched his stage winning attack. At this point in the race, he still had a long, long way to go, as this was just the beginning of the Izoard climb. He would later have to ascend the Galibier to seal his win.

Venga! Venga! Venga! Here comes part of the chase group - digging deep!!!

American Tom Danielson riding strong and securing his top 10 GC placing.

The grupetto being led by Cancellera, as it went by just inches from where we were standing. Personal "that was cool" moment for me. Gilbert is buried in the middle of this pack and as he rode by, I shouted "Allez Pheeleeepe!" He then turned to his left and flashed me a quick smile.

Here is Chuck along the wall doing his best Graham Watson impersonation. You can also see Cavendish in his green jersey struggling to make the time cut.

Chuck gets his half second of fame, as he makes the TV footage. Here he is photographing Basso, Contador, and Voeckler chasing.

Bis später.