One col further: a fan who saw Derk on on the French television.

Good to know up front.

On top of the mountain in a deserted winter sport location. Derk is getting really tired now. On the right: his brother Wim.

The day starts cold and stays cold for some time. A thick layer of clouds covers the sky and the surrounding mountains. From time to time rain falls steadily down.

The start isn't in Voix, like the 'real' Tour does, but 71 kilometres along the stage. From Voix the terrain is flat and boring. Since the beginning of his Tour Derk has made quite a lot of kilometres while taking wrong turns and detours. During those stages he has made 75 extra kilometres, often with lots of ascents, for which he is now compensated.

We planned to make an early start, but unfortunately Derk is too tired to get up really early. Derk, Frans and Wim leave for the place to start at 7.25 AM.

Thing turn out to the worse when they get lost along the way and finally, around half past ten, Derk starts from the planned location at Portet d'Aspet, in front of Col de Portet d'Aspet.

During his stage Derk briefly crosses the Spanish border. Because you need to wear a helmet by law we made sure we had one in the car, together with his passport. Naturally, he doesn't have any of those items with him, when moving into Spain. Of course, during the few kilometres in Spain he sees the police coming from the other direction. But, fortunately they don't seem to have interest in this strange appearance and they just drive on.

Frans also has an incident in Spain. While videotaping Derk passing by, he is leaning against a fence which is used as a barrier for a canyon behind it. The fence looks solid, but immediately gives way when Frans tries to get support of it! Frans manages to keep on his feet just in time! That was close!

Finally the clouds open, the sun appears and the temperature increases.

We are in de camper, driving in the direction of the next camping, when Wim calls to tell us that they forgot the energy drinks. We change course and head south for a rendezvous in Bagneres de Luchon.

Back in France, Derk finishes the Montes Aubas Portillon y Reguera and descents carefully to Bagneres de Luchon. We meet him with the camper and provide him with energy drinks and a lunch based on rice. He is very tired already and he's not even halfway the 5000 altitude metres. Wim and the rest of the crew starts to get fatigued as well. The long days of the Rowingbiketour is asking a lot of everybody.

Derk has of course the hardest time. He look tired and even lies down a bit, which hasn't happened before. He obviously hasn't slept enough and would like to stop for the day. But he doesn't, he's determined to finish today's stage.

Some good news: the broken dérailleur has been welded!

We head on to the camping. Just minutes after going back north the clouds cover the sky and the temperature is back to it's original levels. But behind us the sun is still burning. And that's were Derk is rowing...

During the many, many hours that follow Derk is going up and down cols. At half past nine Derk has finished his hellride. When he finally arrives at 23.10 PM by car on the camping his face has the signs of exhaustion. But he's still able to laugh!

Let's sleep a little longer tomorrow...

Go to day 14 »

Derk is dropped at 21 kilometres of the official start and begins his stage at 10.45 AM. Like yesterday Derk skips the first flat kilometres and wins time by doing so. It's important that Derk finishes today's stage, because the start of tomorrow is at a completely different location. Because the first kilometres of today are dull and flat ones, it's better that Derk does them later in the Tour.

The sky is grey and clouded and at times drizzle is falling. From within the car Frans and Wim see how a thin fontain of water is launched by Derk's rear wheel and then falls back on top of him.

While Derk starts the ascents of his first col, the Col d'Aspin, Frans and Wim enter a nice, warm restaurant, were they order a tasty cup of coffee. While they start their second cup, Derk finds out that de col he wants to climb is closed, because of road maintenance for the Tour de France. Naturally his cellphone malfunctions again and while trying and trying to contact the help-forces he's just getting more soaked and colder.

Finally Frans and Wim are contacted and drive to Derk's location. A lot of time is lost while finding an alternative route and finally Derk is dropped behind the roadblock and just has to decent down the col.

The descent is not as easy as always. It is extremely cold and there's poor visibility because of the thick clouds Derk's riding through. Making speed is dangerous, also because there are cows, sheep and horses everywhere. The cattle is not behind fences. When Derk finally arrives down the col, he's hardly able to speak and is standing with trembling knees and rattling teeth.

On top of the second col, the Col du Tourmalet, a restaurant is located. Time for a spaghetti break!

The somewhat eccentric owner has lots of pictures of special bikes and when he sees the rowingbike he comes running out of the restaurant with a camera. Inside are pictures of a wooden bicycle, early Tour de France bikes and lots of other weird types of bicycles.

At the same location a man shows up who works for the Dutch television. He promises to do some promotion at his TV colleagues.

Derk rows up the last mountain, in the direction of Luz Ardiden, without much problems. Compared with the hard, long ride of yesterday, the stage of today was easier and less tiring. When Derk arrives at the camp site around nine o' clock, he looks a lot better than yesterday.

At 10.00 PM we see flashlights and therefore know that Caroleen and Rianne have arrived with the Rowingbike ambulance. They'll help us through the last week, while Frans and Wim, unfortunately, are returning to the Netherlands.

Go to day 15 »