Wild horses at the (highest) summit...Pailheres

Overnight stop in Albi, which is a beautiful town, didn't see much of it unfortunately, crew and rider looked forward to a well earned good night sleep but thwarted by Hotel Campanile's failed air con system, after a day in the sun and mid 30 deg's we suffered a sauna like experience until sun rise, it was pleasant just to get back outside in fresh but warm  air!.

Early start for Stage 8 which was long and flat until the town of Quillan after which the start of a very long climb through the gorge and up to the foot of the Hors Categorie ('beyond' category for non-cyclists) Col de Pailheres, a long steep climb along sun scorched roads, following the river which remained a temptation!

Start of a long climb...

The ascent just before the small town of Rouze was a leg breaker, possibly over 15%, can't remember exactly, other than the suffering! The final long kilometres to the summit are daubed with the names of the pro-cyclists that were here a few days ago, I guess they went along at a much greater pace but still the satisfaction of riding the same climb, and with more suffering! After one hour plus of leg breaking ascent the last 100 metres of road was blocked by wild horses content with the interruptions from one or two cars and a growing number of cyclists, possibly trying to catch the Tour, it seems that in the Pyrenee's and contrary to popular understanding that cyclists may well own the roads but they don't neccessarily own the summits!

The descent was incredible, the Ride 21 support car followed the bike for 18km, touching speeds of 83km/h through open roads and tree lined valleys, before heading into Ax les Thermes for the final Cat 1 climb to Ax Domaines, late in the day, drained of energy and ready for home, ok hotel, ok, not sure we can call it that, it seemed that the efforts and funding from the hotel owner went into the small swimming pool before the actual hotel, we didn't even have time to test the water! Our accomodation throughout has, and will continue to be basic, but derelict was definitely below our minimum expectation, you live, learn and survive!

Don't ask, it's still raw!

Overnight stop in Saint-Girons before an early start for Stage 9, a tough route through the Pyrenees with four Category 1 climbs, rider and crew exhausted at the thought, well, exhausted anyway.

Big push tomorrow before our only rest day, free from riding and crewing, but a long drive to the Saint Gildas des Bois in the North West for Stage 10.

Ride 21 crew and rider, fund raising and supporting the UK charity Action Medical Research....

www.action.org.uk/tourdefrance

Twitter @chrisarmishaw

'Run if you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must'


ps hello to the family we chatted to at the top of the Col de Pailheres, that was one huge RV you managed to drive up there, it was bigger than the RV we had in the US last year for RAAM!!!

ps2 we persevere with the Garmin and iPhone for 'live tracking' but the two combined have proved less than reliable, compatible or friendly, the family above witnessed our ascent of the Pailheres which ended in what can only be descrined as an impetuous 'Froome like' hill top sprint finish, the miles are logged but difficult to maintain through live track, either the network drops out, or one gadget drops out!