Stage 3 - 29th June 2026

The Hectic Departure — The day started with a 6:00 AM breakfast and a sharp 6:30 AM bus departure. 🚌 It was a mad rush to "hoff" down as much food as possible, sort the luggage, and handle the pre-ride essentials. It’s rare for the Tour de France to head into the mountains this early in the race, but today we left Spain behind to tackle the Pyrenees. 🇪🇸➡️🇫🇷

From Baking to Breaking — We rolled out of Granollers at 8:30 AM in 26°C heat. For the first 50 miles, we were caked in a thick layer of sunscreen. Then, the real work began. Between mile 50 and 80, we did 30 miles of pure climbing—no descents, just a constant upward grind through the "lush green hinterland" of Catalonia. 🥵⛰️

As we approached a Category climb just 20km from the summit, the world changed. The sky literally opened up. Thunder, lightning, and a terrifying hailstorm engulfed us. ⛈️❄️ The roads turned into rushing rivers and landslides. I’ve never ridden in anything like it—it was absolutely brutal.

The Summit Survival Hack — I finally made it to a cafe near the summit, shivering uncontrollably in just a thin rain jacket. The staff and the Ride Doctor were genuinely concerned; they warned me I was in no state to tackle the upcoming 25km descent. 🥶 I was particularly worried because I’m one of the few riders still running rim brakes—not ideal when the roads are literally rivers. 🚴‍♂️💦

I ordered two hot chocolates, holding them like personal radiators to stop the shivering. After 15 minutes, someone shouted that there was a brief pause in the rain. I grabbed a black bin bag from the cafe staff, shoved it down my jersey as a makeshift windbreak, and ran to join the peloton as they were leaving. 🚮🧥 That black bag was a lifesaver; it kept my core warm enough to survive the drenched 45-mile ride to the finish.

The Pyrenees Are Unforgiving — The Pyrenees are beautiful, but they are utterly unforgiving. By the end, every single one of my devices—Garmin, bike computer, and phone—had run out of battery. 🪫 We were in the saddle for 10 hours, burning over 6,000 calories.

The Stats

The Midnight Arrival — We finally had some pizza near the finish line and jumped on the coach at 8:30 PM. 🍕 We now have a 3-hour transfer to our hotel in Carcassonne. We won't arrive until after midnight, and all I want is a shower and a bed.

Today was a test of focus and pure emotion. The mountains take no concessions, a tough day that tested everyone's resolve.