July

[Bierzo Baggie]

You’ve just started a trip down memory lane.

Cycled over the Col du Chat on my way to Aix les Bains in 1989 to see the last mountain stage of the Tour de France that year. It wasn’t very high though so I think  Mont du Chat is probably another pass nearby ??? Will have to investigate..

And La Vuelta has passed through Ponferrada several times since I’ve lived here. There have been stage finishes twice on the Morredero pass. My best memory was riding up there in 1997 and seeing Jalabert, Chiapucci, Tony Rominger, Zulle, Escartin, Chaba Jimenez….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIs6Bjq6N_0
I’ll be one of the ones jumping up and down around the 45 minute point…

The stage was won by Roberto Heras who later worked for Lance Armstrong in more ways than one!
Heras is still around in his 40s running mountain marathons with his brother.

Your trips sound great! You should write a bit more about them..