Stage 9 - A Quiet Time
Saint-Étienne to Brioude
Tony's decision to rest on stage 9 is a sensible one to preserve himself for the mountainous stages to come. The 170km route is another hilly one with three categorised climbs, including the Category 1, Mur d'Aurec-Sur-Soire. This climb averages 11% over 3.2km and at times reaches a gradient of 19% - not for the faint hearted.
My usual two quite interesting facts:
Tony's decision to rest on stage 9 is a sensible one to preserve himself for the mountainous stages to come. The 170km route is another hilly one with three categorised climbs, including the Category 1, Mur d'Aurec-Sur-Soire. This climb averages 11% over 3.2km and at times reaches a gradient of 19% - not for the faint hearted.
My usual two quite interesting facts:
- Brioude is the birthplace of Romain Bardet, Le Tour's best chance of a home grown winner since Bernard Hinault in 1985. His ability as a climber will hold him in good stead for this year's Tour.
- The route passes through La Chaise-Dieu, literally the House of God, which refers to the Benedictine Abbey founded on the site in 1043. The Abbey hosts an annual festival of sacred music, Le Festival de Musique de La Chaise-Dieu. The Abbey also houses a famous fresco of the Danse Macabre.
Drink of the day - in keeping with a theme of recovery I'm going with fresh cherry juice from the Loire valley, long thought to aid sleep and help aching joints!
Song of the day - Take it Easy by the Eagles. Never a truer word said! Look after yourself Tony
Comments
Lighten up while you still can" xx