Damian's Blog - Day 3

The locals in St Jean Pied du Port were on fine form last night, and the party that went on outside our hotel lasted long into the night - we now know how Nick Faldo's European team must have felt last week in Valhalla

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We wake to a chilly and overcast morning, so we get the opportunity to bring out the must have tour accessory - the lycra leg and arm warmers very kindly donated by our sponsors Nike. My first sight of the troops in their get out brings back flashbacks of Fame, and I half expect Leroy to appear stage left to steal the show.
Well, if you can't beat them.. what a feeling..

Stage 2 sees our first major climb, up Col d'Iraty a variable 20 km climb totalling 1350m which starts with a 5 km climb on a 11% gradient. Strewth. I cycle alongside my room-mate and skiing guru Warren Smith and the initial ascent hits us like a tidal wave. Every switchback up the Col brings increased agony as the road climbs up, up and away. I'm going so slowly that it's like cycling through quicksand, and I'm struggling not to topple over given the lack of progress. It's not a pretty sight. We finally get to our fantastic support team at 1000m, and demolish as many energy drinks and bars in an attempt to keep our strength up for the final climb. No amount of training could have prepared us for this assault on the senses, and the views all around us are spectacular, but we don't get much chance to look at anything apart from our front tyres and the road.

A shell shocked group recover from the first big climb

One of the ways I have been mixing up my training for this trip has been doing some spinning classes at my local gym. Given most of the instructors are frustrated entertainers/hospital radio DJ's who thrive on audience participation and Americano style shouting, this is not always my first option. Indeed, there is a particularly annoying female 'spinner' in the class who encourages these instructors by whooping and screaming her way through the sessions, much to my and other people's extreme annoyance. Imagine my horror then when, half way up the 100 minute climb, I let out a self propelling shriek that wouldn't have been out of place in last week's Ryder Cup. I have been reduced to an anti cyclist, thank heavens no one was in ear shot. Mea culpa.

Having regathered a shred of dignity, we enjoy a roadside lunch and the afternoon ride is gentle by comparison, another 45 km's to our overnight stop in the small village of Gurmencon. Spirits are high when we get to our hotel in good time to rest up, and enjoy the efforts of our resident tour masseuses, Jen, Ali and Graham. They will definitely have their work cut out over the next few days as the cumulative hours in the saddle take their toll. Just as many people predicted, our backs, necks, glutes and legs are aching big time, so we'll save the Irene Cara revival for another time.

Stage 3 starts in earnest tomorrow, where we will ride for 133 km's and climb a total of 3300 metres, including ascending the Col d'Aubisque, one of the legendary climbs of the Tour de France. Gosh.

To support Damian and his two charities, please visit www.justgiving.com/dhopley