M.R.M
Well-Known Member
That's what she said. 😉
Tour de France 2025 (CONTAINS SPOILERS!)
- Thread starter Col1n
- Start date
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Tourmalet was started from the base so yeah, I had fresher legs for that. Still think the way Superbagneres ramps are made it harder. For me as a lardy ass anyway.
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N0bodyOfTheGoat
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Hampshire, UK
Is it not the place where Mr T met MC Hammer?🤔
Lanterne Rogue
Well-Known Member
Tourmalet is actually a type of orange preserve or spread.
Basically it's the second person derivative of marmalade, innit?
Basically it's the second person derivative of marmalade, innit?
No Ta Doctor
Senior Member
White jersey is also pretty much the podium battle for third - unless you have a lot of faith in Roglic's resurrection yesterday
MasterDabber
Ãœber Member
- Location
- Surrey and the Lot in France
When I did it I took the Voie Laurent Fignon........ and I've copied a brief description
"On entering Barèges the road kicks again, reminding you once more that the Tourmalet means business but it’s at mid distance when choices have to be made. Remain on the D918 and a beautiful set of switchbacks await, however if you’re feeling a little more adventurous then it’s time to head right and onto the Voie Laurent Fignon, the old Tourmalet road that is now only open to cyclists. With faded road markings from the Tour de France this road has a certain energy that can still be felt from the race and, in my opinion, it’s the only road to take on the way up gifting you magnificent views of the main road below and the distant valley.
As you join the main road once again you now have just 4 kilometres to go."
Well worth doing. It was absolutely beautiful and, as the article says..... very atmospheric.
"On entering Barèges the road kicks again, reminding you once more that the Tourmalet means business but it’s at mid distance when choices have to be made. Remain on the D918 and a beautiful set of switchbacks await, however if you’re feeling a little more adventurous then it’s time to head right and onto the Voie Laurent Fignon, the old Tourmalet road that is now only open to cyclists. With faded road markings from the Tour de France this road has a certain energy that can still be felt from the race and, in my opinion, it’s the only road to take on the way up gifting you magnificent views of the main road below and the distant valley.
As you join the main road once again you now have just 4 kilometres to go."
Well worth doing. It was absolutely beautiful and, as the article says..... very atmospheric.
No Ta Doctor
Senior Member
Do I need grammar to eat toast now?
They never taught it to us, they thought it was innate or something. Now I would've innate my toast but my jam is a f@cking passed participle or something.
No Ta Doctor
Senior Member
Regarding the Tourmalet name: I have prayed for help from (posted a message to) the great Lukas Knöfler (him of the [ˈsaɪ.klɪst] pronunciation videos). He's not a local hero, but he likes cycling, linguistics and etymology, so he's a brother in arms, and he wouldn't take money for nothing like a private investigation like this.
No Ta Doctor
Senior Member
It's just been pointed out to me that the French wikipedia page has a better explanation (supporting the Gascon name)
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_du_Tourmalet
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_du_Tourmalet
mididoctors
Ãœber Member
That's a fun idea .
No Ta Doctor
Senior Member
Tourmalet sweepstake today:
First mention of Eugène Christophe's broken forks, repair and subsequent punishment
First mention of Alphonse Steinès telegram to Desgrange after getting lost in the snow: "Crossed Tourmalet stop. Very good road stop. Perfectly feasible"
Bonus points for any mention of Octave Lapize shouting "Assassins!" (the remark was actually on Aubisque, but he'd already crossed the Tourmalet as the first rider)
First mention of Eugène Christophe's broken forks, repair and subsequent punishment
First mention of Alphonse Steinès telegram to Desgrange after getting lost in the snow: "Crossed Tourmalet stop. Very good road stop. Perfectly feasible"
Bonus points for any mention of Octave Lapize shouting "Assassins!" (the remark was actually on Aubisque, but he'd already crossed the Tourmalet as the first rider)
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I rode the Montée du Géant this year. It's when they take the statue up to the top from its winter storage. Brass bands and closed roads and much jollity. It alternates sides and this year it was the Luz St Sauveur side.
Stunningly beautiful, once you were out of the clouds. In fact the whole area is stunning and my short break there was far too short.
Stunningly beautiful, once you were out of the clouds. In fact the whole area is stunning and my short break there was far too short.
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
ITV4 coverage starts at 11:00 today
mididoctors
Ãœber Member
Distant mountain is certainly better than distance mountain
Smelling a lot of maybe thou
"However, the association tour = detour in Bigourdan Gascon is far from obvious, and the reputation of "bad detour" may have been a reinterpretation of the local name in the 19th and 20th centuries following the numerous misadventures of the first "tourists."
The locals reinvented it seems believable 🤔
No sources but the examples seem legit place names
However the name Mal in one example is disputed again
In the same sense, the place names bigna or vigna seem to translate as "severe height, difficult to access"; Bigna mala: the most famous of all, the Vigne-Male, "the height of bad appearance, for the ancients: difficult if not impossible to climb
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