Lycra, Lattes and the Long Way Round

As I drew closer to the town of Pont-de- Vaux... I found myself thinking of some of the places Id passed through. There were so many tiny hamlets, villages and larger towns, some vibrant and fine-looking, others lifeless, run down and in dire need of repair. Then there were, of course, the countless numbers of French people who had helped me piece together the jigsaw of roads along my way. The places I was riding through werent quite the same, but there was that unmistakable pungent smell of agriculture in the air and the sight of fat cows chomping lazily on mouthfuls of grass. It was vastly different from the Hautes-Alps and the bustling stretch of Mediterranean coast, but full of its own charm and character nonetheless. Beginning with the idea of tackling some of Europes most formidable mountains on his road bike, Mark Krieger, along with his wife Roz, started his journey around France - from the medieval town of Langres - and instantly fell in love with the country. Known for its history, culture, fine cuisine and above all, its cycling, it became the perfect setting for a Tour of a lifetime.