Stage 19 Time Trial Bordeaux to Pauillac

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Today we rode into the world famous vineyards of the Médoc. Cruising on a bike through this land of wine brings all your wine tasting memories to the forefront: Margaux, St-Julien, Pauillac, etc. After the ride we arrived at a restaurant that put us in a great position on the race course to see the stars of the 2010 Tour burn up the terrain in this exciting final time trial. The TT  provided a great photo opportunity as each rider passes one by one. Alberto Contador still in the Yellow Jersey and looks like he will win the 2010 Tour de France. I got a chance to show him my bike as he passed by.

            

Stage 18 Salies de Bearn to Bordeaux

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In the morning we rode into the Graves and Sauterne region. Then back to the hotel for wine tasting and a lunch.  To Bordeaux center to watch the sprint finish. After Cavendish won his 4th stage, we went to a great place Jeanne picked out for dinner in the city of Bordeaux.

BORDEAUX Les Sources de Caudalie

After 8 days of riding I finially meet up with Jeanne (Dean's wife), also waiting for us is Joanie (Jeanne's sister) and Liliana (Hillel's wife). The three of them has been tourning the wine country in Bordeaux!! The hotel is unreal http://www.sources-caudalie.com 

Then dinner with the group over looking Bordeaux.

Stage 17 Pau – Col du Tourmalet 7/22

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Early morning ride from Lourdes to watch start in Pau, hung outside Radio Shack Team bus, before start.

Craig went home today.

Rest day Ride Tourmalet 90+km

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Today we challenged some of the race course the racers will tackle tomorrow.

Again, we are in the heart of the best Pyrenean climbs. From the hotel we started our ride to

the famous Col du Tourmalet ranked 5 stars. If there is one climb to represent the Pyrenees, it

is the Col du Tourmalet, near the Pic du Midi tower at 2877m. It’s was a long climb steep and

difficult, but so much FUN. The weather constantly changed over the ride, from rain to fog then sun and sleet. Just another EPIC day in the Pyrenees. When the sleet came, Charly and I (Dean) hammered back to the Hotel.

And met Vinnie from our cycling team in New York.

Stage 16 Bagnères de Luchon to Pau

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The Tour rode the most difficult Pyrenees’ cols today tackling 4 famous passes including the monstrous Cols du Tourmalet and d’Aubisque on their way to Pau. We begin our ride from our hotel in Lourdes, up the valley to Argeles-Gazost at base of Col d’Aubisque. Climbed the Col de Soulor and spectacular Col d’Aubisque on the race course. Col du Soulor and Col d’Aubisque (2 climbs in 1) Lenght 29,1km, Altitude 1709m, Height gain 1365m, Average gradiant 5.2%, Max Gradient 10%. Hillel viewed the Tour from the Col de Soulor and got some great pictures.

Craig, our guide Charly and I (Dean) made our way back down the Aubisque to the 1K to sign, where we found just a great place to watch the Tour on the climb.
 

Lance goes by in the wining break.

Contador goes by in the second group.

The descent down from the Col d’Aubisque is long and we all got separated, but made our way back.

All in all it was an EPIC day of climbing and viewing with over 80km of riding.

Stage 15 Pamiers Bagnères-de-Luchon 187.5 km

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Hotel Imperial – Today we met Hillel and the group had a light lunch before the ride in Lourdes region. The ride was very a scenic loop in the surroundings of our hotel. As the Tour de France is made is way over some Pyrenean cols, we watched the action on television in a trailer before we went up one of the nearby cols.

Stage 14 Revel Ax 3 Domaines 184.5 km

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Today we rode for a couple of hours by the hotel in Albi, then lunch in town. Came back to the Hotel to watch the end of Stage 14.

Stage 13 - Rodez Revel 196 km

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Today we rode tomorrow's stage 14, from Mirepoix to Port de Pailheres over 100K. We climbed 52K today, the last 16K was in a fog with a light mist. Very hard stage good luck to the peleton.

Alexander Vinokourov gets his stage win today by attacking on the last climb of the day.

Stage 12 - Bourg-de-Péage to Mende

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Our first day of riding with Steve, Gregory, Stephen, Craig and I. We hit the back roads by Albi, with rolling roads and a nice climb up to Cordes. Then a dip in the pool, before we went to town for a late lunch, followed by watching the last 15K of the race on TV.

Alexander Vinokourov was off the front on the final climb of the day, the Côte de la Croix-Neuve, and going for the stage win, when his teammate Contador followed an attack by Rodriguez out of the yellow-jersey group. Schleck tried to follow them, but just didn't have it today. The two of them past Vino and Rodriguez edged out Contador for the stage win. Contador gained 10 seconds on Andy Schleck who is still in the lead.

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Stage 11 - Sisteron Bourg-lès-Valence 184.5 km

Cavendish wins his 3rd stage!

Arrived at hotel,with Steve and Chad, dinner, big ride tomorrow.

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From the airport

Yum Yum....Jeanne thank you for the Balthazar sandwiches, what a treat. We are at Newark and have a 1.5hr delay. This leaves us one hour to catch the transfer flight from Paris to the mountains. Bon voyage.

Travel Day - Trip Begins!!!

Leaving From Newark Airport on Air France at 7:05 pm, arriving in Toulouse.  Then we will be transported to our first hotel, the Relais Chateaux La Réserve in Albi.
http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/search-book/hotel-restaurant/reservealbi

Just saw Arthur and Joanie before I left, Arthur said be carefully, no worries, I always go as FAST as I can.

Stage 10 - Chambéry Gap 179 km

Happy Bastille Day!
Sergio Paulinho  from TEAM RADIOSHACK wins stage 10. No major changes to the GC.

Stage 9 - Morzine-Avoriaz Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne 204.5 km

Sandy Casar wins the stage, as one of four survivors of an 11-man break.

Cadel Evans cracks as Andy Schleck takes over the yellow jersey, as he and Contador shake off all the GC contenders on the climb to the Madeleine. Are all the other GC contenders riding for 3rd place, is what's on every ones mind after today's stage.

Leaving Tomorrow! We have to pack tonight.

Stage 8 - Station des Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz 189 km

Major changes first day in the Alps..Cadel Evans takes the Yellow Jersey,  Andy Schleck is just 20-seconds back and takes stage win.  Lance Armstrong involved in crashes during stage eight, his Tour de France hopes are over.

Stage 7 - Tournus to Station des Rousses 165.5 km

The Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel is back in Yellow and wins his second stage today. Watch out for Cadel Evans who moves up into second place today, of all the GC riders he has the edge.

Met up today at Rotations bike shop for a short ride, did several strong efforts to keep the legs ready, just itching to be there already. Pictured here with my friend Paul before we head out for the ride, Paul's prediction for today's stage win was Quick Step rider Sylvain Chavanel and he was right, as you can see by his jersey of the day. Nice pick Paul.

Stage 6 - Montargis to Gueugnon 227.5 km

Cavendish wins 2 in a row!

It's the last weekend before the trip, I (Dean) stoped by Roseann and Jeff's place today to see their salt water pool. They wished me good luck for the trip.

Stage 5 - Épernay Montargis 187.5 km

Sprint favorite Mark Cavendish finally wins today, the fifth stage of the Tour de France. With no real changes to the GC.

Stage 4 Cambrai to Reims, 153.5 KM (95 mi)

Alessandro Petacchi sprinted to his second victory of the 2010 Tour de France on Wednesday in an exciting conclusion to an otherwise-leisurely stage.

Stage Results:

• 1. Alessandro Petacchi Lampre – Farnese in 3h 34′ 55″
• 2. Julian Dean Garmin – Transitions at 00:00
• 3. Hagen Boasson Edvald Sky Pro Cycling at 00:00
• 4. Robbie Mc Ewen Katusha Team at s.t.

General Classification:

• 1. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank in 18h 28′ 55″
• 2. Geraint Thomas Sky Pro Cycling at 00:23
• 3. Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team at 00:39
• 4. Ryder Hesjedal Garmin – Transitions at 00:46
• 5. Sylvain Chavanel Quick Step at 01:015. Robert Hunter Garmin – Transitions at s.t.

Stage 3 Wanze to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, 213 KM (132 mi)

Lance Armstrong's chances at Tour de France victory, took a step back today. He was in a good position as the race hit the cobbles, but a crash split the group and then a flat at the worst time. Thor Hushovd was the winner today as part of an elite group which encluded Cancellara, who reclaimed the Yellow jersey. Armstrong eventually lost 2:08 to the likes of Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck, 1:15 to Bradley Wiggins and Denis Menchov, and 55 seconds to Alberto Contador.

Stage

1. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo)

2. Geraint Thomas (Sky)

3. Cadel Evans (BMC)

4. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin–Transitions) at s.t.

5. Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) at s.t.

Overall standings

1. Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank)

2. Geraint Thomas (Sky Pro Cycling) at 00:23

3. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) at 00:39

4. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin – Transitions) at 00:46

5. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) at 01:01

Stage 2 Bruxelles to Spa, 201 KM (125 mi)

A series of crashes on the slippery descent of the Col du Stockeu saw nearly every top GC rider on the deck, including Alberto Contador, Lance Armstrong, Fränk and Andy Schleck, Cadel Evans, Bradley Wiggins and Christian Vande Velde. Dozens of other riders were spotted in varying states of disarray.

French rider, Sylvain Chavanel, from Belgian team Quick Step had a near perfect day , taking the stage win, the yellow jersey and all in the team’s home country.

Stage 1 Rotterdam to Bruxelles, 223.5 KM (139 mi)

Zeeland Coast

Alessandro Petacchi wins stage 1 of the 2010 Tour de France, dodging at least three crashes in the final three kilometers that took pre-race favorites Mark Cavendish, Tyler Farrar and Oscar Freire out of the mix.


Today Craig and Dean did a 125K ride from Southampton to Montauk and back, they are ready for their trip.

July 3: Rotterdam to Rotterdam, 8.9 KM (5.5 mi)

And The Tour begins, with the prologue and Fabian Cancellara is in Yellow.
Stage Results:
1. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank in 10′ 00″
2. Tony Martin Team HTC-Columbia at 00:10
3. David Millar Garmin-Transitions at 00:20
4. Lance Armstrong Team RadioShack at 00:22
5. Geraint Thomas Sky Pro Cycling at 00:23
6. Alberto Contador Astana at 00:27


Dean and Craig raced last night in the Hamptons and did an easy 80K ride today.

Signed up for 2010

Leaving July 14th From New York