Amanda and I wanted to check the Vallee out before we flew back to the USA as a little bit of recon for future European training bases. The big bonus was the Tour de France was passing by during the week we were there and it was an easy 40km ride to check out both the finish of the Station Des Rousse stage (won by Sylvain Chavanel) and the start of the big mountain stage Station Des Rousse to Morzine - Avoriaz (won by Andy Schleck).
We got some good training down in the Vallee and look forward to making more trips here in the future.
Here are some pix we captured during our week in Switzerland and France.
Hotel de la Poste (our home for a week in Vallee de Joux, Switzerland)
Amanda enjoying the Swiss countryside
Lunchtime on our ride to Le Pont
Can't beat riding like this
A casual 25km around the lake before we set off into the mountains
Climbing out of the Vallee towards Lausanne
We rode to the mountain top finish of stage 7. Station des Rousse
Frenchman Slyvain Chavenal takes over the yellow jersey
Our Aussie hope Cadel Evans leaving after the stage
Yes, that is Cadels number on Amanda's behind!
Day two. Start of stage 8 in Station des Rousse
Andy Schleck
Sylvain Chavanel in yellow
Cadel in the World Champions jersey
Thor Hushov in the Green jersey
Fabian Cancellara
Alberto Contador
Lance ready to roll out for the day (he would crash and lose a lot of time)
Amanda was pretty excited!
We drove around Lac Leman to catch the end of the stage in Morzine
Team BMC were already building Cadels "Yellow" bike before the stage was over!
Astana setting the pace at the bottom of the tough climb to Avoriaz
Bit of Aussie patriotism on the roads of France!
Love this shot with Amanda in the background as Cancellara rides past
