Quite a different day to yesterday. Low cloud and bordering on cold. It is at this point that the day started to go awry. The start of the climb was 500 metres from here but the Etape du Tour was on that day and the rode up to Col de l'Abisque was closed for that ride. The Etape is the Alpine Classic ( the hardest one day ride on Victoria) on steroids. The course is the hardest day of Le Tour set aside for thousands of recreational cyclists. The we're riding t...

Our breakfast room. Much better breakfast than Friday. You can see Andy on his iPad checking the footy scores. There is a footy tipping competition running. At the time of writing it is being lead by the French bus driver, who speaks little English and knows nothing about Aussie Rules. Because games are being played over a week-end we were still getting updates late into the afternoon French time. Was continually hearing of the Saints fight against the Lions ...

Breakfast was so much better than yesterday. Private room and great supply of improved foods. Andy Buxton is running a book on the AFL. The room is full of iPads and all are focussed on getting AFL live scores.

Today's challenge. The Col d'Aubisque (1,709 m.; Occitan: Còth d'Aubisca) is a mountain pass in the Pyrenees 30 km south of Tarbes and Pau in the department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64), in the Aquitaine region of France.[1] The pass is on the northern slopes of the Pic de Ger (2,613m.) and connects Laruns, in the valley of the Gave d'Ossau, via Eaux-Bonnes (west) to Argelès-Gazost, in the valley of the Gave de Pau, via the Col du Soulor (east). The roa...

Col du Tourmalet (2,115 m / 6,939 ft) is the highest road in the central Pyrenees in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in France. Sainte-Marie-de-Campan is at the foot on the eastern side and the ski station La Mongie two-thirds of the way up. Luz-Saint-Sauveur is at the bottom of the western side. The Col du Tourmalet is one of the most famous climbs on the Tour de France. It has been included more than any other pass, starting in 1910, when the Pyrenees were...