After the excitement of seeing the tour on the Port de Bales, we decided to head to Luchon to see the start of the next stage. So we started with a nice fast blast along the valley.
Going to the start gave us all a chance to see the riders up close as they sign in, get a good look at the team cars and the riders spare bikes. It was really crowded and a fantastic atmosphere.
After the tour set off, we sought out a nice cafe for lunch and watch the tour disappear up the road. Somewhere around here with the big crowds the tools were split with 4 following the tour and heading up the Peyresourde. The other four, (your correspondent included) enjoyed a really good lunch., intending to follow the others.
Around now the four remaining tools minds turned to Spain and the possible option of a loop thru Spain. So the Col de Portillon it was. A 10 k climb with some very steep pinches. the top of the Col was the border with Spain. A truly fantastic descent followed, with flowing curves, a nice consistent grade and a smooth surface.
Reaching the bottom we found a wide road, a flat valley and a distinct change to the architecture. Welcome to Spain !! We turned left heading down the valley and back towards france.
Before we recrossed the border we thought we had better try a spanish coffee and finding a suitable cafe we tried out our poor spanish, (probably worse than our french), fortunately our host was understanding and we got our required caffiene hit. Refreshed we headed home back into france and back to our lodgings, finding the other tools and swapping stories of our respectives days endeavours
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