Stage 8 - 4th July 2026

A Summer Holiday Feeling — Today’s ride through the Dordogne felt exactly like the sources promised: a "summer holiday" on two wheels. We started at 8:00 AM sharp, and after fueling up with a full breakfast of French pastries, I felt ready to tackle the 113-mile trek. 🥐☕️

The scenery was simply spectacular—village after village built from that iconic honey-coloured stone, looking like something out of a fairytale. We wound our way past the area of the famous Lascaux caves and under limestone overhangs, with "wow" moments around every corner.

Churning Out the Miles — The heat was the real challenger today, hitting a blistering 35°C (95°F) with very little respite ☀️🥵. To manage it, we formed a solid "road train," working together to churn through the miles. 🚂🚴‍♂️ Because this stage is designed for sprinters with only 1,150m of climbing—which the sources call "nothing" in Tour terms—we were able to maintain a great pace.

The feed stops continue to be the "stuff of legend". Today’s highlight was an amazing array of fresh cakes that gave us the sugar hit needed to push through the afternoon heat. 🍰✨

Magnums at the Finish — We managed to clock up the 113 miles and roll into Bergerac before 4:00 PM! 🏁 It was a joy to finish alongside the river with views of the local vineyards. 🍇 Since I had some time, I popped to a local supermarket, bought a massive haul of Magnum ice creams, and handed them out to the other riders as they arrived. 🍦🙌 There’s nothing like a frozen treat to boost morale after 11 hours in the sun!

The Never-Ending Transfer — As always, the cycling is only half the story. We now have a 2-hour coach transfer ahead of us, meaning we won't reach our next hotel until 8:00 PM tonight. 🚌 It’s a long day, but after the "private world of pain" in the Pyrenees, today was a beautiful reminder of why I love this sport.

The Stats

Stage 8 is done! My body is still holding together, and the views of the Dordogne were worth every drop of sweat. 🇫🇷🚲

Tomorrow will be a tough day, with lots of climbing and temperatures expected to reach 36°C.