18 983km and two 12hr flights from home in New Zealand and you can find Albi, France, and for me it is now a home away from home during the nine month season of European professional cycling.  Home to 56,000 people and now two skrawny kiwi cyclists from Te Awamutu, as my good mate Pete Latham and I have set ourselves up with a sweet two bedroom apartment right in Centre Ville. 

Albi, like most of France is rich with history, and home to the biggest brick cathedral in the world, Le Cathedral de Sainte Cécile.  Construction took 200 years starting in 1282, and stands at 80m high.  There is also many distinct buildings from the 16^th century, where they used hard wood beams like railway sleepers for the structure then filled in the walls with brick and mortar.  They look to be still holding strong today so they must have known what they were doing back then. 

Though there are only the two of us anglais riders here there a couple of other French professionals as well, Stephane Poulhies who rides for AG2R and Cedric Courtuly who is with Agrutibel.  I rode with Stephane for two years as an amateur on Albi Velo Sport, where he was a very solid wing man for me.  A true sprinter, he doesn’t like the hills too much, so I would help lead him out in the mass bunch kicks and he’d lend me a hand when it got a little lumpy.   

Stephanes family have also been a huge help to me over the past few years, staying with them often in 2005, eating a lot of great French cuisine prepared by Stephs mum Christine but, nearly every week last year, and this year Jean Luc, Stephs Dad has done more airport runs to Toulouse and back for me than I can count.  We now however have our on set of wheels I can get there myself. 

That is another story, the fellas new ride, a 2006 Renualt Megane.  Never been a big fan of French cars but when you have a limited budget there’s not a lot you can do.  So far so good, though since buying the green machine officially it belongs to nobody, as while I was back in NZ slumming on the couch, Pete tried to register the car with the local authorities, but once again the ancient French systems got in the way.  Pete thought he had all he needed with him to get the job done, registration papers filled out, apartment lease papers, gas bill for proof of residence, and signatures from all parties, but it wasn’t to be, as my name was on the gas bill.  The madame made it very clear and blunt by the sounds of it that that is just not possible.  So for now we will just have stay on the low down until we can both head in there and let her know how it is. 

Like any other town around the world with a strong cycling culture, Albi has its old fellas bunch rides on weekend mornings.  They are always a good way to start a long ride and that’s where you’ll find me tomorrow morning.  I’ll report again soon and let you know how many of them try to half wheel me along the way haha. 

Catchya Tim 

Below are a few pics from around town, the first being from our balcony looking down the street to the town square, a quiet beer at the square, and some of Albi’s scenery.