Marika's Tour de France

Stage 11 - Vatan to Saint Fargeau (192km)

Stats: 194.74km 8hr 36min
Averages Speed: 21.77kmh Max Speed 55.68kmh

June 17th, 2009

If we were happy about yesterday’s stage we were even happier about today's. Two less kilometers, only two category four climbs and what appeared to be less climbing in general. We were pretty confidant we had this one in the bag.

We left at eight. The ride was very similar to the day before. Undulating and through the country side. We went through fields and then through forests. We spread out while we where in the countryside but had to regroup as we went through the towns. The towns we passed through early morning seemed to be the most exciting about cycling. There were many sculptures of bikes and signs indicating the tour passing through the towns.





We had our first break at 65k’s and were pretty happy about that. We pulled up in the car park of a country club and snacked on nutella sandwiches, mars bars and lollies. Again, not feeling too much like getting back on the bike we loitered around a bit and requested use of the clubs facilities in what I would call my French and the French would call indefinable.

Back on the bike and through more countryside we rode on all setting our own pace. Again I rode towards lunch always hoping that lunch will be called earlier than it was. We passed through a major town at 105km. We decided to ride on to the next town to so that we’d have less to do after lunch.



The next town was a small quaint town and we found a lovely patch of grass on someone’s front lawn to devour our lunch. We were all in pretty good spirits because we had less than 80k’s to go which felt like a walk in the park. And we were about to get a mars bar.

The tiny town which appeared to consist only of a restaurant, bar and post office was like a ghost town as everyone was on siesta, apart from a random dog who was desperate for some food. A few moments later the silence was shattered by the hum of a harley and the dogs owner turned up. Nance and I seized the opportunity to use the toilet in her house. I wouldn’t say she was overly happy about it and this could explain the limited reception when Nance tried to hand her a koala and a card but we were still very grateful.

The rest of the day passed by peacefully and uneventfully. The roads were rough and damaged and we couldn’t believe that tour would be riding on this. Most of the towns were already well underway with their repairs but the country roads didn’t seem to be getting the same amount of attention.







With just over 30k’s to go we stopped besides a cemetery in the middle of nowhere for some food. We were pretty happy with ourselves and our progress for the day. Only five stages beforehand we were pulling up stumps at 9.30, and now here we were enjoying an afternoon snack in the afternoon. For this reason we lingered for about half an hour before we got back on the bikes.

Maybe it was the cooling down, maybe my leg wasn’t used to this much work but just after the break it started hurting again. I was self conscious of complaining about my leg so tried to suck it up and keep going. The last twenty k’s of the day became very undulating and the boys widened their gap while I sulked quietly at the back. When they’d reached the amount of k’s required for the day they pulled up and waited for me to join them. I was so happy to reach them because I was done for the day. I’d been studying the speedo for the last five kilometers willing it to tick away so much faster than what it had been.

It’s fair to say Damian’s suggestion of riding a few more k’s to put in the bank was not received warmly from myself but I don’t like showing weakness so I kept going. After 500m I did suggest heavily that maybe that was enough for the day.
After an extra 2.5km and what appeared to be more and more uphill we did call it a day.

There is nothing better than finishing a stage and knowing that there is a rest day the next day. Coming a close second is pulling your squished feet out of your cycling shoes, taking you socks off and admiring your feet which now look like newborn twins.

We threw the bikes on the roof, (we being the men,) chucked some thongs on and attempted to minimize the stench in the car by getting changed. Well the guys did, I was happy to sit with my stink lines in the back. We headed to our hotel in Tonnerre that was an hour away. By the time we’d found it and unloaded the bikes, showered and changed it was 10.00 and we flew out of the hotel looking for the only open place in town that would serve us a huge meal followed by multiple crepes.