Foix - Loudenville le Louron: part 1
There really couldn’t have been a bigger contrast with yesterday - today was miserable!
The rain started not too far out from Foix and rapidly became monsoon-like. With the onset of rain temperatures plummeted, which added to the discomfort especially on the descents. The boys were soaked through and frozen to the core, having to make numerous stops for hot drinks and soon the bus resembled a mobile swimming pool.
Progress became so slow that it began to look unlikely that it would be possible to finish the stage in one day. Just when it looked as though the best solution would be to stop two thirds of the way and then to complete the last two climbs the next day (a scheduled rest day), the rain became lighter, although it wasn’t always easy to tell as it was so wet above the cloudline. There was a boost for the lads when Colin and Paul appeared half way up the Col de Mente with their families and bemused onlookers must have thought that the Tour had come early with our mini rent-a-crowd cheering the cyclists on.
Although time was now against the riders they made the descision to press on and finish it if they possibly could so they set off up the Port de Bales. The cloud was freezing and wet. Visibility dropped to about 20m, but they soldiered on to the top - and more to the point to the bottom, but by now it was nearly half nine at night and a puncture signalled defeat.
With one last climb to go, cold and weary the team van limped into Luchon for the night and left the Col de Peyresourde for the next day.