Stage 7 - 3rd July 2026

The Logistics Grind — The "Tour behind the Tour" is becoming as much of a challenge as the cycling itself. After barely eating last night following the brutal Stage 6 finish, I made sure to get a decent breakfast down me at 6:00 AM. 🍳 By 6:30 AM, we were already boarding a coach for a 3-hour transfer to the start line in Hagetmau. Sleep deprivation is officially part of the daily routine now, and between the riding and the transfers, I haven't had a spare second to return calls or messages. 😴📱

Wine Heaven and Guinness Drinkers — We finally got on the bikes at 10:00 AM. In Tour terms, today was an "easy" flat stage, covering 109.7 miles (176.6 km) of flawless French tarmac. The weather was kind—or maybe I’m finally just adjusting to riding in 28°C (82°F) heat! ☀️

The route took us through the massive, shady pine forests of the Landes department, which offered some great protection from the coastal winds. As we emerged from the trees, we entered "wine heaven"—the world-famous Bordeaux region. I spent a good portion of the day being "educated" by a fellow French rider on the intricate differences between local vintages. It was likely all wasted on me, though; at heart, I’m still just a Guinness drinker! 🍺☘️

The Never-Ending Chase — The miles went by smoothly past endless chateaux and rolling vineyards, following the lazy River Garonne into the city. But the day didn't end at the finish line. Once we rolled into Bordeaux, we had another 2-hour transfer to reach our hotel in Périgueux. It is a non-stop cycle of chasing transfers, snatching sleep where possible, and getting back in the saddle. It’s a crazy lifestyle, but my body is surprisingly still in one piece! 🙌

The Stats

Stage 7 is in the books. Bordeaux was beautiful, but we’re already looking toward the fairytale stone villages of the Dordogne tomorrow! 🇫🇷🚲!