As expected, the rain has returned. It should make for a less-than-ideal day in the saddle. But hopefully it motivates the men to get to Besancon as quickly as possible. We made it here last night in a reasonable amount of time, so a sit-down dinner was in order. 'Filet de boeuf avec pomme frites' was the call- hard to pass that up, wherever you are in the world.
Look for the fast men to finish in a flurry. Mark Cavendish should be smarting from Thor Hushovd's cagey move to steal back the Green Jersey, so expect him to marshall the troops to the front and ratchet up the pace as they crank out the final few kilometers.
So, Besancon...mentioned in the journals of Julius Caesar, it has been historically significant through the times of Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Empire, and both World Wars. It is perhaps best known, however, for it's famed 'Citadel'. Designed by French military engineer VAUBAN, the fort would fall to Spain after he drew up the original plans, so the Spanish saw no reason why they shouldn't follow his design. Once the fort returned to the French, it would take Vauban nearly 30 years to complete.
Known as the 'watch making capitol' of France, Besancon is also the birthplace of Victor Hugo. His best known works are 'Les Miserables' and 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame', and some call him France's greatest poet and exponent of the Romantic Movement in France.
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