Tour de France: Day 42

Day 42: Paris

Most of day 42 was spent on the bus travelling into Paris. It was still interesting countryside from the bus and at times we could see the fields of sunflowers we had seen on earlier rides. After arriving at our accommodation at hotel Kyriad, Bercy, we had time for a refuel and check-in before heading off on our bikes for a final tour of the city down the Ehamps élysée around the Arch de Triomphe. We stopped and took various photos along the way including at the Eiffel Tower. This was fantastic and we were clapped around the city and had our photo taken by many people who didn’t know us. Biking around Paris at the end of the trip was a real highlight. We had an enormous sense of accomplishment of the many kilometres and the 22 cols we had climbed. A fitting celebration at the end of the ride was provided by Global Adventure Guides who provided champagne for all riders and all of the Global Adventure Guide team, including Renee the bus driver. What a huge adventure and one I would recommend to anyone. Shortly after the champagne we were back to the reality of packing our bikes up for the trip home-some people travelled as soon as that day. Others travelled onto other destinations. Many of the tour team, including us, stayed to watch the Tour de France complete the next day. For the first time in several years the race was won by an Italian, Nibali. What a fantastic mountain climber and after we saw him ascend Hautcom (which we had also ridden) we were blown away by his power and speed. Seeing the guys, including kiwi jack Bauer on the Champs élysée was a fitting finish to an epic adventure. Thank you to all of the tour participants and also to Global Adventure Guide for a true adventure!