Day 7. Fancy Dress Day

Fame at last, my blog is blocked in China. Good judge those commie bstrds.

Last of the mega days. 850km under the belt. Over the huge Port de Pailheres at the start (19km at 9%) and viciously cold at the top - Ventoux type cold.

Then survived blow out on descent. Tyre cut right through but stayed upright. Then more by orienteering skills the Huge one and I led over the second Col. To be fair I think the peloton stopped for coffee when we got lost (which we hadn't, but still got fined for. They had).

Left in a group for last climb, the Col de Jau, and somehow the old boy and I, having kept our powder dry for seven days, gave it all up on this last 10k and staggered over at the front. Radek came third and got the polka dot jersey (don't ask, well ask Fred).

However this meant I avoided smelly shirt (there is only one), ritual humiliation, a 'fine' (alcohol), and having to defend it. So on balance good news. Not here for the glory anyway (is this right? Ed).

We can finally sense the Mediterranean. Very different from the feel back in the west. Less goats, and the cows more manky.

Fancy dress day today. Shoe in as ugly sisters. Got away with wearing mesh stockings as arm warmers. Top tip - they work. Bottled actually starting in the gold lame.

For the true cyclists reading this we should do it, or something similar. Great fun. Having everything organised, and full support, is new and great experience (bit like being Michel).