Etape du Tour 2008 - the Hell of the South

[jpcook01]

Hi,

I certainly will be wearing the BBC Kit so please say hello if you see me.

Getting nervous already.

[naninase1]

subscribe me

[davidglebe1992]

cat

[MillsandDixon]

Do you hate BigBrother

Then check out MillsandDixon

[Jayo246]

jeez that would be tiering

[Pokegod100]

My teach is going on this! he's doing Mont Ventoux

[BBCSportEtape]

Wish him luck from us!

Only Jon of we three is going back for more punishment this year!

[PPartisan]

Heart rate never went of 170 haha, good film!

[BBCSportEtape]

Cheers - glad you liked it.

Unfortunately, only Jon is doing this year's Etape up the Ventoux. I've asked him if he's up for filming some of it, but it might be a tall order on his own.

[highlandstag]

Could do with some tacks on the road.

[MrPeterMacann]

Nice man

[kendrickwallace]

Nice video. Are you planning on riding Mont Ventoux this year? If so, perhaps I'll see you there!

[dowling1981]

What about Benjamin Nevis?

[BBCSportEtape]

Eh? As in riding Ben Nevis?

[dowling1981]

Yes, does Benjamin Nevis boast good riding landscape?

[BBCSportEtape]

Hi,

Unfortunately just Jon will be braving the Ventoux this year - not sure if he'll be wearing the BBC kit, but I'll ask.

I'm hoping he'll be able to film some of it, but nothing definite as yet.

[worthingdaveo7o]

Excellent video guys,

Only learnt about your videos after spotting you on your puncture stop. That tourmalet climb was painful, mist/fog etc.

I was chuffed to beat the 1st elimination. Just made it to hautacam . Would reccommend this event to everyone.

Looking forward to 2009,will try to do a bit more training next time!!! Maybe have a glass or two pre/post etape?

Dave ( currently tapering and carb loading for 2009)!!!!!

[bunnygreen]

sounds like you moaned your way around the Etape.

[lollygag33]

I didn't say you were too fat, and that you were going to die...I said "I'm genuinely worried for your health, you are a bit over-weight, and watch your HRM"...which you clearly did. Therefore, I'm laying claim to your safe and successful finish of the Etape! You wouldn't have been able to do it without me. Seriously...chapeau. If you are there in 2010 I'll buy you a beer as I'm going to do it for my 40th.

[BBCSportEtape]

In which case I thank you for your jibes which certainly spurred me on...I used 10200 calories on the ride and lost about 3 pounds!

Hopefully I'll be there in 2010 as we've all caught the bug and are going back next year for sure

[lollygag33]

OK. My penance for being unkind is that I will be doing the 2009, just confirmed. See you there matey.

[wotswhat]

Thoroughly enjoyed your journey from journalist to pedal pushing athletes.I look forward to your return in 2009.The story would have been all the duller if you had swanned up the hills in glorious sunshine,had no punctures, cleared all the elimination points by hours and not fallen off the bike. (although there might then have been cries of doping).

[trondant]

Brilliant stuff guys. Already looking forward to next year's sequel. Give us a shout if you're in New York in the meantime. Best, Rob Mackey

[furndia]

Lads... respect.. I was thre guy at the bottom of the Tourmalet who grabbed your wheel for a few clicks!!! Thanks for the tow.

I made the finish and sounds like you got a bum deal on elminaion as you were through the check point at the bottom in time.

Rumour has it they were mopping up due to weather conditons closing in.

my brakes broke at the top and walking back down was like walking in pea soup

hope to see you again.......... allez!!

[bassmint55]

"Nothing is lost, save honor..." I was in a criterion bike race once in hilly terrain. My teammate was lapped just before the finish. But no official was present so he simply jumped on to the rear of the lead pack. He crossed the line with the rest of us. Unless I'm mistaken, Paul had done a similarly dishonorable thing by refusing to surrender his timing chip with just 4 clicks to go to the summit. If that's what happened, then team BBC's failure is unredeemable.

[BBCSportEtape]

The odd thing is that although I skipped elimination at the bottom of Hautacam by a whisker, at the top I was well inside the time...I guess I just rode like Armstrong in 2000!

[mauhoum]

Hi guys, it's your dodgy carcase-carrying host here!

We very much enjoyed your company, and if you ever fancy crunching a few more Pyrenean cols, you're always welcome to stay.

Great vid and great effort, wish I had joined you. Hopefully next time it's in the Pyrenees!

Oh BTW the kitten has been named Tomsk, not Paul I'm afraid!

Tony

[diarmuidcollins]

Good video guys. I saw a few white outfits on the road (well originally white) but didn't spot the BBC ones. Hautacam was brutal but looking forward to next year already! Plenty of other sportives in the mean time if you feel up to the challenge!

[Ballacks101]

I hope to see you guys at the race next year. I'll be doing my first one. Well done for on your great achievement.

[Simonsmith1967]

Well done guys. A fantastic effort, doing one col is beyond most of us so hats off to you all. Hugely entertaining video too, what an adventure.