Off the mountain

The Tour de France has several mountain top stage finishes. Ever wonder how they get off the mountain - they ride. Can you imagine putting in some 100+ grueling miles up and over several climbs and then having to get back on the bike to ride down to the team bus? The ride down is not alone either, it is with all the fans and recreational cyclists who previously had lined the route up the mountain.

Here is an excerpt from Will Frishkorn's (of Team Garmin-Chipotle who is competing in the TdF) blog and his experience riding down the mountain.

"The craziest part of the day by far however was coming down off the finish hill. When we hit the top we had warm clothes and a bit of food waiting. After a quick hit of calories and quickly bundling up we headed back down 15k to the team parking. Unreal! The crowds that made the entire climb almost unbearably loud were all moving the same direction and it was complete mayhem; thousands of people on foot, bicycle, motorbikes, and a few cars sneaking in as well. Every few corners there would be cops signaling to slow down and yelling "accident!!" and sure enough there would be a few people smashed together off in a ditch. it looked like one of the Milram guys got tangled up in one, but mainly just spectators. None the less, scary ... and with the mind already pretty numb it was that much harder. Amazing though to see how many people were out turning the day into one huge party. Makes all the suffering that much easier for sure."