Our first mountain stage at the Tour!

No internet access for a few days - made it to Paris, spent a somewhat inordinate amount of money for a van limo cab to get ourselves and our bike cases from Paris Gare du Nord to our hotel (but it was worth it not to have to lug those cases through the Paris Metro, would have had to switch lines several times). Joined our tour group, long bus ride yesterday out to Aix-les-Bains, and today our first Tour de France stage that we rode to.

The bus took us to the town of Cluses, at the foot of the final climb of the day's stage up the Col de la Colombiere (then a descent to the finish). Lots of traffic, Ed and I didn't really have our climbing legs yet, so after about 13 km and just past the village of Le Reposoir we stopped to stake out our spot to watch. More freebies from the Caravan - including a Francais des Jeux lanyard (one of the French teams) with a rider's name on it - I got Bradley McGee (one of my favourite riders, too bad he's injured and not here). Also we got matching Champion (grocery chain) polka dot hats, an LCL yellow bag, more candy, and Bart and Lisa Simpson masks (yes, you read correctly - promoting the opening of "Simpsons - Le Film").

Gerdemann and Fofonov were together when they went by us, followed by a few riders separately, then a pack including Cadel Evans (yay!) and Hincapie was at the back of that pack then. Then some other assorted riders before the main peloton/grupetto about 15 minutes back I think - Boonen in the green jersey was at the front, I was so absorbed trying to get photos of him and Cancellara in the yellow jersey that I missed Robbie McEwen going by.

Then the end , and had to ride through tons of pedestrians then through all the traffic trying to get back down the mountain. I think my riding skills in traffic have much improved even from just today!

Tomorrow we think we're going to try to watch after the feedzone, after riding a bit first.