Stage 15, Foix - Loudenvielle - Le Louron, 196 km, Sat 14th July

Ok...this is getting pretty serious now. It is hot....damn hot, the temperature as I write this in Oloron St Marie (near Pau) is approaching 40 degrees.

Firstly I am pleased to report that the full-tour contenders completed the stage, Kyle also completed (still with injuries) and Matt completed the Hor Categorie Port du Bales - considered the hardest climb in this years Tour. Guest rider Micheal Barry also completed what is easily the hardest days cycling he's ever done.

I can also report that it took us a rather astonishing 12 hours (10 hours riding), leaving Foix at 7.30am and finishing just over the Col de Peyresourde at 7.30 pm. And did I say it was hot ? Wow......the Col de Portet d'Aspet was like a furnace which came as a little bit of a shock to Michael who had just flown over from Ireland for the stage. From rainy Ireland to a 35 degree Pyrenean climb isn't good for the health. But he made it.

Cyclosport gave this stage 10/10 for difficulty and it basically meant that it involved climb after climb. The extra dimension was that the climbs gradually got harder, the Col de Port, followed by the Port D'Aspet, followed by the Col de Mente, followed by the new and fearsom HC Port de Bales followed by the Cold de Peyresourde.

The glaring midday sun meant that fluid intake quadrupled, but Emma did a stirling job of meeting us in remote locations with the van so we could re-fuel. I think Amy actually sat in the water trough on the Portet d'Aspet.....the cooling effect considerable.

We bumped into a bunch of chaps who had been on the Tour of Ireland with Amy and I. Back then we discussed the fact they were doing the Etape and we were doing the Tour...and lo and behold we meet again in the Pyrenees. Hope you read this, best of luck to you all.

Talking of the etape (organised race/ride across the blue riband stage of the tour de France each year), there will be some suffering on Monday, that's for sure. I have trained all year for letour2007 and am not unfit and still found it hard. I think that route will become a serious challenge for many riders out there...let's hope it cools down. Seriously, I hope all you guys make it...."COURAGE !"

The grind up Peyresourde signalled the end of another 200km's of cycling and over 4500 metres of 'up'. We piled in the van and headed for the Autoroute to take us to Oloron, near Pau, for a well deserved official rest day (same as Pros will have). I am not sure that we could take another successive mountain day...we need to recover physically and mentally. Stage 16 still looms over this challenge like an Ogre...ready to bite us hard if we aren't careful. Difficulty rating getting up to 'Brutal'.

Great comments ........keep them coming. Particularly strong on the last post, lightening strike Ipods and Jaeger bombs !