It was a super summer for cycling here at climb09, and 2009 promises to be just as fascinating, especially with the return of Lance Armstrong to try and win his 8th Tour de France! It really will be climb09 - with the Provence giant Mont Ventoux starring both as the penultimate stage of the Tour, meaning the result will be open right to the end, and forming the key challenge in the Etape du Tour.

The Tour will again visit us in the Ariège with Stage 8 on July 11. This stage will take the riders from Andorra down to Tarascon, over the Col de Port and Col d'Agnès before a finish in St Girons. The Col d'Agnès has some of the most stunning views of anywhere in the Pyrenees, so it's going to be well worth watching the riders there.

In 2008 we had our local race, the popular Ariegeoise, followed by the famous Etape du Tour. Then we enjoyed the biggest race of all - the Tour de France - there were some excellent stages in the Pyrenees including a stage which passed by just metres from us here en route to a stage finish in Foix. As if all that wasn't enough, there were some inspiring performances in the Olympic cycling, especially by Spanish and British riders.

So if you're now itching to get on your bike, it's time to go for gold with climb09 - all the local cols made famous by the Tour de France are here waiting for you and there's loads of superb mountain biking on our doorstep if rolling on the road isn't your thing!