Break Away! Stage 13: Muret to Rodez...Friday 10th July 2015

Maybe not Les Garcons Sur La Plage's finest moment (and their best stuff is right up there) but it is apt...

Strightforward, right? Ummm...up to a point....

Bits of naughtiness loaded at the end of the day. Bon!

After struggling out of the transfer coach we eventually set-off a tad later than was ideal but today's scenery promised much. Shame about the photos...

Them's flowers. Wot likes le soleil.

They're French. Top blokes all the same!

Fancy cycling 40 miles in filp-flops? Dave didn't either...bet he'll never leave anything behind again.

Who's not loving this? Apart from you people, obvs.

Taken about 30 secs before I lost patience with group cobblers: Tractor, let's go!

Andy and myself shared the miles until lunch- some of this was was difficult even on the flat thanks to rising heat and a 3/4 head-wind...just keep concentrating and it'll be ok. At lunch, OAP Chris was dumb enough to want to cycle with us. Good job too...three eejits are better than deux!

Before the next climb we (sensibly) stopped for a break. Collector's item: I lead them up and over it...was easy to be honest!

I had enough to lead our dumb-ass trio up and over this climb (read: it wasn't long or steep) but after that it was a slog, although we took great turns. Helps morale too. This formula continued until the final few drags where Le Tour guru, Phil, had joined us. Without realising it, the pace up the climbs raised by only about 1 to 1.5 mph which is enough to drop me on the steeper stuff. At the third climb Andy was feeling it a bit but was still ahead of me.

Somebody not appreciating my massive stage win, then...I wonder why, hah-hah!

Being the good eggs wot they are, they duly waited for Capt. Slow who then bombed on past them whilst mimicking the action of smoking a Panatella. I was able to keep motoring for the great descent and then the horrible drag up to Rodez: all I wanted to do was beat them up there. Job. Done. You. Losers, hah-hah! Turns out at least two of them were suffering up that climb too...sweet! After the finish I was right back on to the massage table- I'm a believer...

Fair amount of salt deposited.

This was a tough stage for pretty much everyone (aren't they all?) but dinner was buzzing...even allowing for the anticipated lack of usable wiffy. Always with the First World Problems, right?

Please click here for MY SOLO WIN STATS NOT THAT I GO ON ABOUT IT. MUCH!