Châteaux, Olympics and Jazz - Nice

After yesterday's climbing, today promised to be much more of a relaxing affair with a flat 100k half way round Lake Geneva to Montreux.

After I got out of Geneva, the road along the lake was stunning and the first photo opportunity was the headquarters of UEFA - not open to the public but I had a nose around at the James Bond baddie modernist architecture.

I think I may have got too close to Michelle 'Bloefeld' Platini as a security guard came out to usher me away.

Next up was the Château de Prangins which is still owned by a real life Baron (not Claire).

The route cut inland and passed the TV Director of the Tour de France's favourite scenery, fields of sunflowers.

The Châteauxs came thick and fast with the next one being Château de Morges.

After taking a cycle path along the bank of the Lake I lunched at the Olympics Museum in Lausanne. 

The 'cafe' was more like a Michelin starred restaurant with great views of the lake from the terrace. 

It's a fantastic museum with a modernist main building and a sculpture garden. 

I unwittingly became a contributor to the museum by leaning the Merckx against the 90s bronze cycling sculpture while I got ready to leave and overhearing an American guy saying 'that's pretty cool, he's put his bike against the sculpture' to the rest of his group.

Then a couple of Japanese tourists asked to take a photo and it soon got out of hand with a queue forming of people wanting to take photos with the Merckx, bizarrely, including a Brazilian woman who used to live in Brighton! 

As time was getting on and with the storm clouds gathering, I rode the rest of the way to Montreux in full on Fabian Cancellara time trial mode very much helped by a semi pro Swiss guy who towed me the 20k to Vevey in under 30 minutes. 

We exchanged a wave with a BMC pro who was out on a training ride and luckily for me, Swiss guy turned off at Vevey for me to go back to a more sedate pace for the final run in to Montreux and the Jazz Festival. 

Montreux is a v cool place as not only does it host the Jazz Festival but it was a favourite haunt of everyone's favourite Romantic Poet, Lord Byron and a bunch of similarly literary types from the 18th and early 19th century. 

There was a two piece band playing on a boat, millions of people and a real buzz about the place. 

After wandering up and down the promenade I settled down at the Music in the Park stage and watched Octave Lissner, apparently France's up and coming singer songwriter and Annie Goodchild, an altogether more talented American roots singer. 

So all in all a v good day with a relaxed 100k, glorious views and plenty of culture.