Welcome to Scotland Cav!

Happy, happy, happy, happy. What a day!!!

Out of the door at 6:05 we were the first car at the top of the 20% descent to Talla. Never mind that we thought as we pulled out the flask and sandwiches. The weather though was bloody awful. Terrible rain and winds that shuddered the Subaru on its springs. I kept thinking of the Vuelta and its 25 degrees and the Tour of GB and its 10 degrees and 40mph winds!

After about three hours others started to arrive and there was a cheery atmosphere on the hill despite the conditions. Some wee kids had cow bells which reminded me of the TDF - well in sound at least. After another hour or so the cavalcade arrived and then the helicopter, which was presumably filming the event - it's on ITV4 tonight if you fancy seeing just how horrible conditions were.

And then they were here, the crowd was cheering, but the peleton was silent. My favourite photo was of world champion Thor Hushovd who had the most awful grimace on his face, but for me there could be only one photo and who knows how long it will be before we see the same again. It's Mark Cavendish behind his faithful lead out man, Mark Renshaw, yet again shielding him from the worse of the weather. It seems pretty certain they will go there seperate ways this season as Cavendish seeks more money and Renshaw seeks his own opportunities. It's a small world though and they'll cycle together again some day I'm sure of it.

As soon as they had come they were gone and the hill was quiet and we were off home. Was it worth the ridiculously early start and two hours standing in the driving rain? Absolutely!

If you watch the TV tonight I'm the guy in the red jacket and shorts, at the top of the 1st King of the Mountain stage - you'll see my knees knocking and bum shaking with the cold!