Haute Route has a Village at the beginning and ending of each stage where you eat, shower if you want, whimper like a child, park your bike and get a massage. It is also the place where HR’s sponsors set up their tents and hope you have the energy to come around and buy something. After the time trial on Stage 3 I finally got around to taking a stroll around the Village and didn’t get much farther than these guys, I’m happy to say.
This is Claud The Butler; two guys driving this old Citroen over the same cols as us (I nearly passed them going up the Bonette), hoping to arrive at the end of the stage and set up shop before too many of the riders have come home.
And they brew a good drop, I can confirm. Better than pretty much anything I’ve had in the 6 years I’ve been in France (but if you know French coffee, you might not be surprised at this). And look at that guy’s legs – they are cyclists to boot!
I gather that Claud (if there really IS one) follows major sportives in the UK and France, perhaps just parking at the end at some, or partnering with others, like in the case of Haute Route. Whatever the case, I had two wonderful cups o’ joe from these guys, which made the pain go away for the 5 minutes it took to savour. Merci.
The Vicious Cycle 
In my orienteering days, Wilf was the man with the van and the vegetarian chilli to revive us after freezing hours in the woods. I’m glad that you had the sunshine equivalent.
I think my wife would take up orienteering just so she could get some of that chili.
Well worth it. His business is still on the go.
Love it!
My one regret of the Haute Route Pyrenees 2015 was taking until day 5 to discover Claud The Butler’s coffee. The best I have had in a month in Europe ( didn’t get to Italy).
I knew they were there but coffee was about the last thing on my mind after each stage (except 3 and the last one). And yeah, Italy might have proved stiff competition.
I wonder if the name refers to this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claud_Butler.
Yep, French coffee… how they are so consistent in making bad coffee is, in a way, impressive. On the other hand, ‘French filtered coffee’ in Japan can be really good.
If it doesn’t, it should!