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…