| Project Rwanda with Stieda Cycling at the Tour de France |
  
Everyone was definitely challenged as we rode 75km over the Col de Port to the base of the Plateau de Beille, then up the 15km HC climb to our picnic lunch. We watched the publicity caravan pass throwing up freebies and then eagerly waited for our first viewing opportunity of the Tour. It didn’t disappoint as Contador and Rasmussen sprinted by at the 2km to go mark, eyeing each other closely. Group after group passed each with their own mission, mostly to finish in the time limit! Of interest to everyone was how the riders that finished, quickly changed clothes and raced 15km back down the mountain to their team buses, while the race was still going on! In fact, as we were carefully weaving our own way back down, who should roll past us on the gravel shoulder but Vinikourov, looking particularly stressed out! The next day we rolled over the Portet d’Aspet, stopping to pay our respects at the Fabio Casartelli memorial (he died in a crash during the 1995 Tour). We then climbed the Col de Mente were we stopped for lunch and watched the race pass.
On to Lourdes where that evening, I took the opportunity to give the group a background presentation of Project Rwanda. We viewed the 3 videos on the website as well as a few of the photo galleries. Everyone was very appreciative of the Project’s efforts and many pledged to donate when they returned home. Providing the background intel on how coffee bikes can improve the lives of everyday Rwandan’s was the key link. On the Tour’s rest day, we rode over the Tourmalet, a fearsome beast of a climb that pushed everyone to their limit. We made arrangements for the latest celebrity cyclist to join Project Rwanda, Marion Clignet who would join us for our ride the next day. Marion had initially raced as an American in the mid-80’s however due to political circumstances, switched to race for France and subsequently won multiple medals at the World Championships and Olympics.
For our final day in the Pyrenees, we rode 60km before tackling the final race climb of the day, the Col d’Aubisque, 17km at an average of 8%. Marion Clignet and her boyfriend Philip were excellent hosts as they guided us through the French countryside that became more and more crowded, the closer we got to the Tour’s final ascent. As we ascended, fans waiting for the real riders (!) cheered us on with shouts of encouragement, “Allez” (Go) and “Courage”. Our tour bus awaited us at the restaurant, 1.5km from the top. Many rode to the top and returned down for lunch. At lunch, everyone received a Project Rwanda jersey and cycling cap as a reward for their efforts. Many immediately donned their jersey to cheer on their favorite racer over the last kilometer.
Our final 4 days were spent riding on the race route to watch a race finish, a pass through at a sprint line, the Time Trial finish and then a TGV (high speed train) ride into Paris that enabled us to ride on the Champs Élysées on Sunday morning. Everyone wore their PR jerseys and we stopped for a memorable photograph in front of the Arc de Triomphe. After a ride in the Bois de Bologne, we returned for lunch and race viewing at our suite in the Hotel Crillon. Once the Tour stage was over, we mingled with the riders in the Place de Concorde as they lined up for the finisher’s parade lap. Everyone had a chance to get up close and personal with the athletes, something they all greatly appreciated. Our wrap up party and some time at our favourite night club, The Buddha Bar rounded out the day! A final farewell and encouragement to visit www.projectrwanda.org to follow the progress of this wonderful effort to help the amazing people of Rwanda who have never given up hope to live. Ride on, Alex Stieda
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