Cycling: Dean beats the big hill, but the going's getting tough

By TERRY MADDAFORD

It was a tough challenge, both mentally and physically, but one that Julian Dean eventually overcame - to pedal up to the town of St Flour at the end of the 237km 10th stage of this year's Tour de France.

Buried in a bunch of 83 riders who reached the town more than 24 minutes after the leader, Dean slumped over his handlebars and reflected on a hard day.

"It was one of the longest stages I have ever ridden. That in itself did not make it that hard," said Dean, the sole New Zealander in this year's race.

"But, coming on top of what we had already done, and with nine climbs and in the hottest conditions of the race so far, that made it hard."

After yesterday's 11th stage - 164km to Figeac, where he finished in an 18-man bunch 7m 13s behind the stage winner - the demands were "definitely starting to hurt".

"At times you start to wonder why you signed up [to start]," he said.

"But, you quickly forget. This is a special race. It's awesome. There are more and more people coming out. The atmosphere is amazing."

Dean agreed the success of the French riders - they won two stages in a row and had Thomas Voeckler in the yellow race leader's jersey for most of the first week - has added to what is always a festive occasion.

Of the stage to St Flour - the longest haul in this year's race - Dean said he was still with the leading bunch with 70km to go when he "hit the big hill".

"It was a case of suffering through it and then finding a group to get to the finish with inside the cut-off time."

Yesterday's stage was flat for most of the day with only a couple of small climbs. The overnight 184.5km stage to La Mongie was not expected to be particularly taxing, but Dean is wary of tonight's 205.5km haul to Plateau de Beille and the 17th stage, 204.5km from Bourg d'Oisans to Le Grand Bornand.

"If I get through that I should get to Paris," said Dean. "Mentally, I feel I can get home but there is always that nagging feeling that maybe tomorrow it is not going to work."

While Dean is still languishing in the bottom half of the field, the feeling within his Credit Agricole team remains buoyant.

They have Thor Hushovd in third place in the race for the sprinter's green jersey just 15 points behind leader Robbie McEwen. Team leader Christophe Moreau is fourth in the king of the mountains and 53rd overall but only six minutes behind tour favourite, Lance Armstrong, in sixth place.

Dean said that despite the rigours of day-in, day-out hard racing, he was not saying "this is my first and last".