Laura and Floyd's Trip to Europe

Pyranees
We took an overnight train from Paris to Ax-Les Thermes which was about 8-10k from the finish of the 14th stage of the Tour de France. There was a gondala from the base of the mountain to the top where the finish was. So we rode up the gondala and then stationed ourselves about 1k from the finish. We met a few guys on the train, Erik from Philadelphia and Garret and Kyle from Bakersfield, so we hung out with them for the day. It was in the 90's and there was very little shade so we felt like we were melting. But it was a lot of fun because there were so many different people from all different countries hanging out in the Pyranees mountains waiting from a bunch of guys torturing themselves on their bicycles.

Stage Description


Stage Results
1. Georg Totschnig (Austria) GST 220.5km in 5h43’43" (38.491km/h) 2. Lance Armstrong (USA) DSC - at 56" 3. Ivan Basso (Italy) CSC - at 58" 4. Jan Ullrich (Germany) TMO - at 1’16" 5. Levi Leipheimer (USA) GST - at 1’31" 6. Floyd Landis (USA) GST - at 1’31" 7. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) IBA - at 1’47" 8. Mickael Rasmussen (Denmark) RAB- at 1’47" 9. Andreas Kloden (Germany) TMO - at 2’06" 10. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain) EUS - at 2’20"

	We arrived at the train station at 6:45 am. Luckily we were able to get up quickly because the train conductor only gives you about 5 min warning. I guess we were supposed to set our own alarm.
	Floyd, Kyle and Erik eating some baquettes and pastries for breakfast.
	A look down the mountain from the gondala.
	Floyd and Garrett in the gondala.
	The motor homes of people who had camped overnight.
	Floyd in the Pyranees
	The spot we staked out.
	Laura trying to find some shade.
	Maybe an umbrella will offer a little shade.
	Finally the caravan arrives. It is like a parade, they throw out goodies and play music. The caravan arrives about an hour before the first riders.
	Floyd got sprayed with water by one of the trucks in the caravan.
	Some more waiting.

	The mountains that they are riding over while we wait for them on the next mountain.
	Lance Armstrong!!
	Jan Ullrich
	Levi Leipheimer
	Andreas Kloden
	Jan Ullrich cooling down.
	Floyd Landis cooling down.
	Here's the awards ceremony where they crown the victor. Just kidding. But we did get to pretend.

	The day is over, we went back to town grabbed some pizza and then caught the train back to Paris. We almost went to a stand that we thought was selling chicken, but then the sign said Pigeon so we left.