“I’m by no means happier than once I’m writing.”
~ Ed Hood, as spoken to Martin Williamson from the passenger seat, riding alongside a level course on the Excursion de France.

Pricey Readers – Our cherished colleague and buddy Ed Hood suffered a significant stroke in February.  We don’t be expecting Ed will make it again into our bunch, so we’ve began a GoFundMe web page to lend a hand Ed along with his long run.  Learn the whole put up right here – and please imagine donating.

** Click on this hyperlink to donate to the GoFundMe web page to lend a hand Ed **

We’ll be posting a number of Ed’s paintings from the previous 16 years, as a result of nice story-telling by no means will get outdated.

TDF’16 Roadside: Ed Hood made his once a year talk over with to the Excursion de France and day two for Ed used to be a undeniable mountain day; riders off the entrance and riders off the again and PEZ buddy Dan McLay used to be within the latter crew. From the Excursion Village Ed takes within the two primary climbs of the day and all of the pleasure that includes them.

‘What a Distinction a Day Makes,’ the Esther Phillips track is going; the day prior to this we have been sitting with Dan McLay within the great cool Fortuneo-Essential Thought resort asking about the ones 4 best ten placings within the first two weeks of le Excursion and his potentialities at the Champs Elysees.

As of late that powerful, sq. shouldered body of his isn’t the asset it’s when scuffling with out dash finishes – no longer a few kilometers from baking sizzling best of the primary Cat. Col de los angeles Forclaz, 13 Okay @ 7.9% – and at the side of two of his domestiques, Breen and Fonseca they’re stone closing. And there’s nonetheless the overall horror climb to Finhaut-Emosson after this one. Jersey open the waist, out of the saddle Dan battles the grade, it seems to be savage. We really feel his ache however all we will be able to do is roar encouragement earlier than we leap into our automobile, sign up for the convoy and pressure off the mountain.

First up this beast used to be Lutsenko (Astana) however no longer by way of a lot, an IAM and Tommy V are in sizzling pursuit with maillot a poids Majka (Tinkoff) proper there too and the person who had that horror crash within the Giro, Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha), Costa (Lampre-Merida), Pozzovivo (AG2R-Los angeles Mondiale) and some other IAM – Pantano?

Then they arrive in ones, all had was hoping this used to be their day – nevertheless it isn’t.

Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) is solely off the tempo, he used to be up the street with Lutsenko however has clearly run out of fuel.

Pauwels (Measurement Information), Losado (Katusha), Alaphilippe (Etixx – Fast-Step). . .

It’s an extended as far back as the Sky pushed peloton the place Geraint Thomas is on level.

Froome is taking a look at his stem – as same old, barring crisis this Excursion is gained, it’s been for days.

Sagan, remarkably continues to be with them however beginning to slide again. Is that Tejay on his personal, method out the again?

Quantity 99, sure sir – he’ll be driving for Porte from right here on in.

Then it’s the ‘males all over the place the mountain’ of people lore, ones, threes, little teams; Barguil’s been at the deck and Matthews is HURTING.

Direct Energie’s Antoine Duchesne isn’t taking part in nowadays both.

A Bora punctures, wheel alternate, he’s so wasted he can hardly ever get again at the motorbike, it’s our amigo, Shane Archbold Cross Shane!

After which it used to be Dan and his amis. All we will be able to do is hope he makes it earlier than the minimize.

We’d be told later that Zakarin gained, Froome did what he had to – as did Yates and it’s over for Tejay.

One of the crucial phases would possibly had been somewhat ‘sluggish’ for TV nevertheless it’s been one fascinating Excursion de France albeit there’s been little question about who would win for the reason that second Froome pulled at the yellow jersey.

My pick out, Nairo? Let’s alternate the topic…

I needed to drag Callum out of the beginning house this morning, the combo of Excursion de France stars and tanned, leggy exposure lady used to be simply an excessive amount of for him. My mentor and biking prophet, Viktor tells me that I spend an excessive amount of of my time on le Excursion within the village, consuming cookies and consuming espresso. And I will have to confess that Callum and I did to find ourselves on the controls of a espresso gadget within the village – however no longer earlier than we’d performed the necessary, ‘pester the mechanics’ drill.

First revelation, Adam Yates used to be on a colossal 32 teeth sprocket; with an Ultegra digital rear mech – you want the prolonged curler cage at the Ultegra mech to deal with the massive cogs. In the meantime, over at Movistar our amigo and head mechanic – Thomas, ex of Euskaltel informed us that Quintana and Valverde have been on their same old 11 to 29 set ups. We additionally couldn’t lend a hand however realize that numerous the Movistar riders are on twin pivot entrance brakes – most often they’re simplest suited to the rear because of their excessive preventing energy.

As Thomas checked his riders tyre pressures the UCI man quietly checked the Canyons for hid motors.

Much less excited about cogs, brakes and motors used to be closing yr’s winner at Pra Loup, Simon Geschke – a facial fuzz like that wishes taking a look after.

We stuck up with our large Amigo, Jean Michel Monin, he’s a former 1996 global and Olympic group pursuit champion who for the closing 15 years has been the person in control of the motorbikes at the race – however this yr his riding a ViP automobile.

We requested in regards to the Ventoux incident with Froome and he reckons it used to be all the way down to a mix of cases:

* The wind made it too unhealthy to experience the overall six Okay to the summit.

* The wind additionally made it very tough to get vehicles to uplift and produce down the mountain the limitations which have been already in position, additional up the mountain due to this fact the group simplest controlled to barrier 600 meters down from the brand new end line.

* The ‘public’ at the mountain have been the similar ones who common l’Alpe d’Huez – and there used to be A LOT of alcohol fed on.

A lot of these components blended to offer a collection of cases which brought about the issues – nevertheless it’s surely accomplished no hurt to Froome’s potentialities.

As I struggled to get us at the street, ‘Mickey’ Schar pulled as much as communicate to a tender lady fan; it used to be exhausting to not be inspired by way of how great he used to be to her – an actual professional.

As of late used to be in all probability probably the most image put up card best parcours, ever?

With even ‘thanks’ playing cards positioned alongside the best way…

From genteel, neatly manicured Bern alongside clean tar throughout valley flooring the place each and every chalet out does the following for where you’d maximum love to reside.

There have been two 3rd Cat. climbs alongside the best way which weren’t too savage nevertheless it’s the 3rd week, there are numerous drained legs and a few guys programs react badly, the day after a relaxation day. The descent off the second, the Col de Mosses – the place there used to be a phenomenal outdated Corvette Stingray on the best – used to be lengthy and technical; perfect for buying again on – if you’re taking the dangers.

At the valley ground we felt a ordinary power on our necks; and the automobile stopped of its personal accord – we needed to promise the Darkish Lord to put up his image. However The Pressure is now with us…

Then we have been at the Forclaz and we’ve informed you about that already.

Froome firmly in fee, Yates will have to be fascinated with that 2nd step at the podium however the greatest deal?

Dan beats the minimize @ 41:16.

Mountain take a look at day after today, we’ll be there!

However what about the ones French enthusiasts, don’t they wish to get extra up to the moment?

ciao, ciao.

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