Day 7, Thursday 2nd October

Ax les Thermes to Prades....a mere 90 km

Almost the end, the team have got livelier each evening - the Powerade and Viper recovery sachets aren't snatched so quickly these days, beer and wine and late nights being the replacement. Col de Jau is the big climb today but the team also face the longest climb of 20 km to reach Port de Phailheres at 2001m. All are in high spirits as they check the bikes first thing and get on their fancy dress kit we've bought for them - looks great! Lawrence is in a shower cap and full make up, Graeme looks like he's just left a 70's disco, there's hair nets and stockings in abundance - Andrew Croker is the only one to leave the stockings on all day, admittedly as arm warmers.

All set off on time (well done Hopalong and Warren). Suddenly it's tough - we've had blue skies and sunshine so far until this col. It's misty and sombre and the guys are quiet - even Ipods are kept low and a rendition of Queen's We are the Champions rousing from the assistance van fails to raise a smile. It's freezing. We get to the top of the col and it's windy and icy. The guys reach for cups of hot tea before kitting up in arm and leg warmers and quickly starting the winding descent out of the cold. Suddenly as soon as you're over to the top of the col the sun comes out so it's off with the cold kit which is thrown into the van (you'll never see so many jackets, gloves, arm warmers, and even helmets strewn everywhere, mostly lost by the end of the week!). Ruaridh's going to be awarded most chaotic kit bag (but also the biggest, cheekiest smile so he gets away with it!).

Col de Jau's done and we head down to Prades for the night. What started with a handful of the team wanting massages at the start now turns to everyone needing a good leg rub at the end of the day. Our hotel host, the hilarious Madame Maxine (who Lawrence described as the one lady in the film There's Something about Mary), at the Hexagone hotel looks after us well.

More forfeits and more awards it's the last night for the team, the final cycling day looms, and a crack troup of at 20 cyclists pile into the 10 seater van which Dickie's hijacked off our driver Astrid to drive all of 700 m into the small village to find a good bar. Several tequilla shots, Harvey smoking a tobacco pipe with the locals and lots of silly games later somehow everyone gets back for 2am! Great to see the team starting to relax, even the sore legs are forgotten for a few mad hours.