139 miles 2,689 metres of ascent at an average moving speed of 14.9 mph.
This was a Long day, with 5 climbs. Today’s route took us through Lorgues and the Lorgues’ cycle club joined us for the ride. They came to Nice by truck and rode all the way to Marseille with with the Tour de Force riders.
Approximately halfway to Marseille the cyclists entered their pretty village where the host club had prepared an excellent cyclist friendly lunch outside the Police station and Town Hall.
The Mayor spoke a few words of welcome on arrival. Later that night a considerable number of Lorgues riders stayed on for dinner and then they presented the William Wates Memorial Trust with a cheque for 300 euros.
Andrew Wates – the most senior member of the Wates family rode part of the route too and this was a formidable feat as he is no spring chicken (written by someone who is also no spring chicken but nevertheless quite a bit younger).
The route provided fantastic views with quaint Provence villages. Nick and Matt found a wayside water fountain which Nick found very useful for useful for helmet cleaning and cooling.
I was worried all day thinking about the boys and Matt's knee and especially so when I didn't get my early evening phone call from them. I half expected a call saying that he couldn't carry on so it was a relief really when the phone rang at 9-30.
They hadn't finished their day's riding until 7pm and consequently had to go straight into dinner followed by a 2 hour briefing session. It had been a 'bad' day in Nick's words, 250km over 4 smallish mountains/massive hills. They were shattered, hadn't had time to do their washing and to cap it all they have to be up at 5-30am tomorrow for the next day's ride which is 100miles has only one mountain/massive hill so it should be a shorter day.
But.........I was so pleased to hear that Matt's knee is slightly better if any thing - it must be all my healing thoughts I'm sending starting to work!
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