If I'm tempted to think our day is demanding with 92 km and 2,600 metres of climbing I can find some schadenfreude comfort in the prospect of the Extreme group: their day is the same as ours, plus the Col du Telegraphe and Col du Galibier, for a total of 180 km and 4,900 metres climb.
We have a five kilometer warm up spin and then straight into the first climb of the day, the Alpe d'Huez. This climb consists of 22 hairpin bends, all numbered and many of them named after famous cyclists, for a total of 14.2 km and 1,091 metres at 7.7%.
Right from the start it kicks up at 11% for the first two kilometers. We get into a rhythm and soon there is just Jordy, Thomson's Spanish ride leader for the day, a South African, a young guy from Sydney and me - with the rest strung out at various stages down the hill. After about an hour and twenty minutes we top out in the ski village and settle down for a coffee.
Once the group re-assembled it was back down the first four switchbacks and into a right turn for a spectacular 10 km traverse across the face of the mountain and then a descent to the bottom.
Shortly after we began the second ascent of the day, the Col de la Croix de Fer. This is actually more demanding than the Alpe at 27.5 km and 1,292 metres. The average gradient of 4.7% is misleading as there are two significant descents during the climb - most of it is between 8 and 12 %. I think it took about two hours, initially with a couple of other riders and the last few km with Kate Veronneau, another of our exceptional support staff.
Then a 28 km descent to the finish and a sleep in the van on the return to Albertville. Footnote: the Extreme group eventually rolled in at 9.15 PM. Two of them managed to complete the entire ride - a demanding day for everyone. I may have offended someone as the group leader wants me to abandon the Performance group tomorrow and join the Extreme group. Ha ha.
No comments:
Post a Comment