By Miles and Nic
Slightly different perspective for today’s blog as the reigns have been handed over to the van driving support crew of Nic & Miles.
As today’s route was a 111 miler, it was an earlier start time of 7.30am for breakfast, 8am van open for bags and provisions (water, bananas, cereal bars, etc) ahead of the 8.50am roll out for the cyclists. Oh, and put a plaster on the back of Farney’s hand and provide Tim with antiseptic wipes. The request to apply Chammios butter to Andy’s nether regions was politely declined.
First refreshment stop of the day was 35 miles in at Remich, a small village back in Luxembourg on the banks of the river Mozelle, slightly upstream from the village of Schengen where the European travel agreement was signed in back 1985.
Camping tables, Chairs, snacks, bananas and drinks were laid out and must had looked quite inviting on a hot sunny day as we were approached by a couple interested in buy some of our provisions.
Fed and watered we all set off towards Germany for the dinnertime riverside stop in Trier. On arrival, the van team had a quick dash around Trier’s Lidl to buy 6 Baguettes, Ham, Pork, Salami, tubes of Mayo, full fat cokes and yet more bananas and crisps ahead of the appearance of the cyclists. On leaving the Lidl car park a call came in that Planty had a minor mechanical & could we find a local cycle shop. The guys arrived, dug into their baguettes and Planty headed off to get his rear derailleur bent back into shape.
Final stop of the day was again by the riverside in the village of Brauneburg. For once, the drivers had a bit of time to enjoy a relaxing coffee ahead of the boys arrival. The usual refreshments were provided with were supplemented by a local cafe supplying Turkish coffees.
After refreshments the guys rolled out to complete the final 18 miles to our overnight stop at Traben-Trarbach and the van was finally unloaded of everyone’s overnight and day bags.
Whilst it’s real privilege to sedately drive through such beautiful countrysides and visit hidden towns and villages, our days are long and busy as we try our best to ease the burden of the cyclists. From loading and unloading bags twice a day, researching refreshments stops, booking dinnertime restaurants, daily shopping and running any errands that crop up.
To use a cycling term we see ourselves as the team’s honourable role of ‘Domestiques’.
Tech wise we constantly cross match the day’s route on Strava, which the cyclists use, against google maps that we use and monitor the guys progress using a Wahoo feed from Neil’s bike .. so 3 phones are on the go 😀
After securing bikes in the hotel’s garage, quick showers, the guys were last seen heading off to a local bar to sample their first taste of well deserved German biers, Prost !🍺🇩🇪
