Collector cards of Eros with Credit Agricole and Mercatone
Our transportation for the week.
Our first dinner together in Evian les Bains, France
Dinner at the Panorama Hotel, Evian les Bains on Lake Geneva
Cloud at sunset over Lake Geneva from Evian les Bains
Eros with Ivan, our miracle maker and domestique for the week.
Joe D, Brent, Diana, John, Kimberly before our first ride, Evian les Bains, France
Sunset, Saturday, July 11, Lake Geneva, Evian les Bains, France
Sunrise over Lake Geneva from Evian les Bains, France.
Ivan leading the train
Easy grade up the ravine to Morzine on day two of the trip
Ivan
Joe
Brent
Kimberly
Diana
John
Eros fixing a flat on the way to Morzine, France.
Morzine, France
Central plaza in Morzine.
Mountain brook behind our van in Morzine
Missed opportunity. Should have bought it!
A beautiful woman, a cute sun dress, two admirers in Morzine
Ivan Basso
Team leader, Ivan Basso's bike of Team Liquigas
Lunch in Morzine prior to our ride to Avoriaz in the Team Footon bus
From the Team Footon bus on the road to Avoriaz for a mountain top finish of Stage 8
Looking down at Morzine from Avoriaz
About to pass under the Flame Rouge at 1 KM from the finish
Ariving at the finish in Avoriaz
Arriving at the Ski Station at Avoriaz
Our ride to the finish of Stage 8 in Avoriaz, France
The Caravan arrives at Avoriaz prior to the finish
A yellow Lab dressed up for the finish of Stage 8 in Avoriaz
Long wait for the riders at the finish
Leaders on Stage 8. Frank Schleck in white won the stage
Groupe Armstrong several minutes back
Heading down the mountain from Avoriaz, with a former teammate of Eros and Marketing Director at Carrefour
Hitching a ride with les amis d'Eros. Marketing Director at Carrefour and former team mate
Eros' former teammate and now Marketing Director at Carrefour. Getting a lift down the mountain from Avoriaz despite the road being closed until 8PM that night
I am lion, see me climb! Kimberly wearing her signed KOM jersey
Preparing for our drive. Need a clean windshield
Picnic on the way to Telegraph and Galibier
Beginning of the ascent up Col du Telegraphe and Col du Galibier. A very hot day
The last bit of flat before a long afternoon of climbing
Joe and Kimberly beginning the climb up Telegraphe
On the road up Col du Telegraph
Shower in the Valley while ascending Col du Telegraphe
Just received the text message from my son Stephen that their baby girl Amina was born at 10:44 AM EDT July 12, 2010
Km marker post not far from the location where text message received about birth of Amina Kinsey at 10:44 AM EDT on July 12, 2010
Ready to take on the mountain.
Kimberly on the way up Telegraphe
On the top of Col du Telegraph on the way to Col du Galibier
Altogether at the Col du Telegrahpe
View from the summit of Col du Galibier
The descent down the backside of Galibier
Brent focused on the job of climbing Col du Galibier
Joe on his way up Galibier
Someone having a nightmare must have designed this road to punish people who want to climb them on bikes.
One of us on the road to heaven
Kimberly was never without a smile on her face.
Close to the top.
Almost there, looking ready for more
Good to get off the bike. I can feel the legs protesting
Looking a bit worn out for the effort up Galibier
Les Amis d'Eros have all made it to the top of le Col du Galibier
Joe on the phone with Jackie at home in NJ
From the Col du Calibier
Colette melting cheese for dinner. Thinly sliced ham, potato cassarole, cheese, pickles and bread.
les Amis d'Eros. Ivan, Joe, Brent, Diana, John, Eros, Colette
Prosecco to start the evening
On our ascent up to Col du Glandon
Diana making her way up Col du Glandon
John heading up the Col du Glandon
Kimberly on her Pinarello FP 3 “Prince” heading toward Col du Glandon
Joe D and Eros on the climb to Col du Glandon
On the way up to Col du Glandon
Dammed lake below Col du Glandon and Col de la Croix du Fer
Waiting for the finish in St Jean du Maurienne, France
Breakfast at Sylvana Hotel, Monetier, France.
“Angel” Ivan our “domestique”
Kimberly enjoying some Gelato
For trying her French, Kimberly received a rose from this shopkeeper
Statue of a knight in armor in Briancon
Strolling down the main street of old Briancon
Part of the old walled city of Briancon
The “new” city of Briancon, France
Approaching Sisteron. A Napoleon fortress on the hillside
Equipment truck of Team Sky. Lots of carbon
Our hotel in Gap. Camping out with Team Sky and Team Milram
Nice digs! Team bus
Team Sky's fleet of Jaguars at our hotel in Gap. Hotel was home that nite to Sky and Milram
Our adopted friends from Santa Rosa California, Jean and Blake
With our adopted friends, Blake and Jean from Santa Rosa, CA in Gap, France
Fortress above the old city at Sisteron, France
Waiting for the start and watching riders sign in at Sisteron, France
Eros on the left, Kimberly on the right.
Mere mortal on the left, World Champion, Olypmic Gold Medalist, TdF stage winner on the right
200 meters to go in Gap
Robbie Ventura and Frankie Andreau of Versus TV stopped by the bus to say hello to Eros
On the road to Mont Ventoux
Lunch in Sault, France. lavendar fields in the valley with Mt. Ventoux in the background
Waiting for lunch in Sault, France before Mont Ventoux
Lunch as we contemplate the climb of Mont Ventoux
Valley of lavender fields approaching Mont Ventoux
From the deck of a restaurant overlooking Lavender fields. Mont Ventoux in the distance in white
An ancient village on the way to Mont Ventoux
Fields of lavendar on the way to Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux from our starting location near Bedoin, France
No... that is not snow. White rock!
Riding through Bedoin, France on the way to Mont Ventoux
Finding shade on a very hot day
The climb begins at this turn
The real climb begins
Diana and Kimberly riding through the lower slopes in the forest. The shade is welcome
Diana looking fresh on the lower slopes of Mont Ventoux
Did I say she smiles a lot?
Brent looking fresh and relaxed for the ascent up Mont Ventoux
Kimberly getting a launch after getting new water at the last stop before the summit of Mt. Ventoux
John getting water at the last “pit stop” on the way to the summit of Mt. Ventoux
Brent at the memorial for Tom Simpson who died climbing Mt. Ventoux
The summit is in sight
Joe looking at the goal. Not far to go now
Diana looking like she's out for a Sunday cruise around the block
Getting close now. Only a few km's to go
Looking at the goal
Within the last km or so
Kimberly summiting on Mont Ventoux
John summiting on Mont Ventoux
The group at the summit. Brent, Kimberly, Eros, Diana, John, Joe
All together at the top with Monsieur Mont Ventoux, Eros Poli,
The steeds that carried us to the top
What a view from the Giant of Provence
Gate to Finalborgo, Italy
les Amis d'Eros for lunch in Finalborgo, Italy
Mussles for appetizer in Final Borgo
A gift from Dr. Marco on the occasion of the visit with Eros. Luigi, Diana, John
Our waiter in Finalborgo, Italy
Guido with Limoncello.
100 year old brake calipers owned by Dr. Marco ? at lunch in Finalborgo, Italy
Gift momento for the group from Marco, a friend of Eros
Our Restaurant in Finalborgo
Local mode of transportation.
Leaving Finalborgo
Kimberly, Bepe, Eros, Luigi, Diana in Finalborgo, Italy
Taking a tour on the outskirts of Treviso with Les Amis d'Eros
Up a short but steep pitch in the hills above Treviso, Italy
Historic mill and museum near Treviso, Italy
17th Century mill near Treviso. Our destination for our tour around Treviso
Visit to a 17th century mill and museum near Treviso
All registered for the Pinarello cycling marathon 2010, Treviso, Italy
Dinner the night before la Pinarello Cycling Marathon at Relais Monaco Hotel near Treviso, Italy
Heading to la Pinarello Cycling Marathon in a rain and lightning storm
Waiting along with 3,200 other riders for the delayed start
This was NOT a nice day to start a 100 mile ride
Joe, Luca, John, Ivan, Kimberly, Brent waiting out the rain delay
Slowing to a crawl before the first time check
First food and drink stop on the Pinarello cycling marathon
Somewhere in the hills above Treviso. John, Kimberly and Joe staying together
Prosecco grapes in the hills around Treviso
Prosecco grapes as far as the eye can see
Coming back through the old city gate of Treviso at the end of the race
done
Having gone ahead with the “pros” Brent and Dianna had a lot of time to talk about the day
In the Pinarello exhibit at the Pinarello Cycling Marathon, Treviso, Italy
Giovanni Pinarello, founder Pinarello Bicycles
The "Frame" and the frame maker, Giovanni Pinarello, who knows a good frame when he sees one.
