Stage 1 Completed.

We have been planning to ride the route of Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France here in Yorkshire. Yesterday was the day. It was a daunting prospect - 206 km, over 2000 metres of climbing - and rain forecast.
So at 7am we assembled on the Headrow in Leeds and set off. One rider [in his thirties] had cried off, one [in his 20s] lasted 25 km. That left Dave and myself, Dave, Mark and Simon, with Emma providing back up. It went really well and we all completed it, the longest ride I have done for a long long time. A real sense of achievement. When I got home I was too tired to eat and fell asleep after a bath. Feel good today though.
And you know what? This stage is down as "an easy one for the sprinters" for the Tour itself ...

Mission Accomplished