Stage 9 - 5th July 2026

The Massif Reality Check — We started at 8:00 AM with the usual big breakfast, knowing we were heading into the remote Massif Central—the "interior of France." 🇫🇷 We knew it would be a long, tough day, but nothing could have prepared us for just how grueling it actually became.

The first 35 miles were "okay-ish"—lumpy terrain through the wooded hills around Malemort, but nothing that was breaking riders yet. Then, the temperature ramped up to a staggering 36°C (97°F). ☀️🥵 That’s when the "hills" turned into a relentless test of survival.

Cruel Gradients and Zero Shade — By the second half of the stage, the terrain became truly "deadly." We’ve already accrued over 800 miles on our legs over the last 8 days, and today we were being hit with brutal 17% and 20% climbs. 📈🚴‍♂️

In that heat, with absolutely no shade, I was literally just going fast enough to stay upright. "Cruel" is an understatement for including climbs like these on Day 8 of a tour. One of the categorized tests, the Suc au May, was particularly soul-destroying with its ever-changing gradients that make it impossible to find a rhythm. We also had to conquer Mont Bessou, the high point of the day at 977m. ⛰️🧗‍♂️

The Toll of the Tour — I finally rolled into Ussel after 11.5 hours in the saddle. I am just glad this day is over. Riding continuously for eight days straight takes a massive toll on the body and the mind. Everyone is feeling the weight of the miles now. Shattered doesn't even begin to cover it. 😴🏔️

Rest Day Relief — The best news of the day? Tomorrow is officially a rest day in Aurillac! 🛌🙌 It is the first of only two breaks we get before Paris.

I’ve been living out of a suitcase, jumping from hotel to hotel with zero time to catch up on life or even organize my gear. My first priority tomorrow? Finding a laundrette. 🧼🧺 (Cue the classic Levi’s ad music!) I need to get organized, let my body recover, and prepare for the next block of mountains.

The Stats

One week down, two to go. Time to sleep! 😴🚲