Day 8 - Vizille to Grenoble (20km)

[Rich] Arising from another rosé-fuelled sleep, I practically had to hold my eyes open to make it down to the breakfast table before 10am. Fortunately there was just the odd 20kms to ride down to Grenoble.

Or so we thought. Turns out there was a climb of several kilometres on leaving Vizille, a mere pimple compared to what had gone before but enough to remind us that we were in need of several days' worth of solid sleep. It was the first day we'd had with cloud cover as well, and chilly enough to merit an outing for the old Motorola team top. Nothing more motivating than wearing a pro team jersey, as it encourages cries of 'Allez Armstrong!' from witty passers-by. Doubtless ironic in origin, these shouts nonetheless inspire you to push that little bit harder on the pedals. Aaaah, what it is to be a Tour de France rider.

Rich at the top of the last climb of the holiday

Grenoble seemed like a veritable metropolis compared with the past week of mountain goats, chalet idylls and snow-capped peaks. And then we got the train home.