Not sure if that was a good idea...

As part of the final preparations, I just watched The Road to Ventoux, a DVD of a recce of the route of the Etape. That thing should come with an 18 certificate!

To be honest, most of it looked doable, and really beautiful - so I'm looking forward to enjoying that...however, the climb of Ventoux looked super-grim....especially the forest section. I knew it was gonna be the hardest thing I've ever done - by some distance - but seeing it 'in the flesh' again wasn't pretty.

Maybe it's a good thing if it reminds me to make sure that I've got plenty left in reserve, and to ensure that I eat and drink enough to get through it. In the end, what I've always said is that when I get to the bottom of Ventoux, I'll only be 21km from the finish - if I get that far I know I'll be able to find a way to get through it, however hard it gets.