Stage 17, Pau - Castelsarrasin, 188 km, 17th July 2007

This morning started late for a couple of reasons : the complacency that has somewhat set in that now that we think we are on the way home (as the Pyrenees are recede across the horizon), and also the fact we had an hours drive to Pau for the start.

The route was actually very pretty through beautiful and rolling rural areas….problem is that the rolling aspect meant hills and we had to drag ourselves over a number of Cat 4 and 3 climbs that the legs complained about….especially after yesterdays epic.

The sun was back out with intent too, and as the day wore on the heat rose until about 3pm we must have hit a peak of about 35 degrees. Fluid replacement once again became a primary concern and the parked camper-van and Emma became a lovely sight as we rounded corners at the agreed meeting spots. Food was consumed and lots of Coke drunk.

We should have been sponsored by Coca Cola on this trip, a verging-on-ice cold can after 50 miles of hot cycling is nectar indeed. All that cold liquid, sugar and caffeine seems to do the trick (and Accelerade can get a bit hard to take after the 50 millionth litre).

There were lots of sunflower fields on the route today and the pictures here give some impression of what those golden hillsides look like, always impressive.

All completed the stage, a fairly pleasant ride in pretty hot conditions. So we have one more ‘proper’ stage of the tour left tomorrow, then the time trial. The smell of the fine cuisine from the bistros on the Champs Elysees becomes stronger by the day. The end is in sight.