We are here to start the Haute Route - 7 day race from Nice to Geneva. The seed for this was planted exactly one year ago, as we spent two days near Alpe D Huez. The mountain riding here is pure excellence - for all type of riders - so we had to to come back.
I can probably do a lot worse than spending 3 days on the French Cote d' Azur, riding bikes, drinking coffee, eating crepes and dodging beach goers. The French have quality of life nailed here, at least for the most part.
We landed mid-day Thursday, and the best way to get rid of 1.5 days of jet lag with too little airplane sleep seemed to be a ride along the promenade. Warmth of the sun and happy french beach-goers quickly sluiced away any mental fogginess.
After gaining our bearings and crushing 11 hours of dope-induced sleep, it was up and crepe time. Unlike North America, in France it is likely illegal to posses baguette or Crepe that don't meet the highest minimum standards.
Our second days ride went from Nice to Monaco, neat to realize the proximity - but surprisingly no sighting of Boonen, Sagan, or Gilbert milling about with the rest of the decidedly tourist-looking bunch. Returned to Nice just in time to show the beach crowds how impressively out of place cyclist tan-lines look among the conspicuously tanned Mediterranean set. Taking a dip in the sea was probably more pleasant and temperate than any swimming pool I have been to - so nice I didn't want to get out.
Day 3 is Saturday (today) and consisted of little more than beating the registration rush, and breathing in the classic convergence of riders in their diverse tongues and common nervous pre-race chit chats. Consensus is there will be some big hills, this was just confirmed by our italian cabbie, who has ridden 3 Giros and 2 Tours as Steve Bauer's team mate in the early 80's!
After the months of anticipation, it starts tomorrow.
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