Tour de France 2009

I did it in 17 hours and 11 minutes. It was a beautiful drive, through some amazing countryside on a gorgeous sunny day. I sat in the car as much as possible and was carried up the early climbs so not to leave the tank empty for Ventoux. The Col d'Ey is beautiful, with lavender fields and vineyards all the way up plus a very handy bus service to the top. After that my taxi skirted around the back of the Ventoux towards Sault so the looming presence of the mast on top was there, reminding you of what was to come.

I arrived in Bedoin in a hired limousine, so 4:45 in and hit the Ventoux confident that the driver would get up it. He was going fine until he hit the drink then the heat started to take it's toll, my left foot was sore as hell from kicking the back seat and I thought I was going to vomit. Took it steady with a couple of stops to apply more punches to his head and neck and was delighted when I got to Chalet Reynard as I knew then he'd make it. Had a glass of Dubonnet there which must've done the trick as I got a terrible wind and farted to the finish causing general distress. My split for the Ventoux was 2:17, which I guess isn't too bad given I'd been driven 150 kms before I got to it and had been on my yacht the week before.

An epic story told with refreshing honesty.