Day
Three: Col du Glandon
Climb: 1,924m
Calories burnt: About 5,000
Top descent speed: 45.3mph
Distance: 30 miles
Average speed: 9.1mph
Yesterday was hard. Very, very hard. Today proved to be
harder still.
From the get go we made our ascent. Five miles of constant,
no let up, 5% climbing. 5mph gruelling pedalling in the mid day sunshine broken
only by the odd shade from the trees.
Finally, we plateau in a village. It feels like we have
cycled 100 miles. We haven't! A welcome water fountain. Cold, refreshing. The
head goes straight under it to get an instant cool down. Need food already,
some intake; just been told that we now have a serious "ball breaker"
to do. A 6% long climb followed by a quick descent. Oh great; a descent, that will undo all that
hard work we have just done. Undoing the
hard work with lightening speed, dropping rapidly at 13%, we'll hit the bottom
but then we'll need to get back to the same level but this time up a 13%
climb. And, not a short one either!
We set off, then. We climb. The legs are feeling it
already. The mind is telling me to just give up. I can't, there is too far to
go. The chest is hurting, it feels like my heart is the wrong side of my rib cage,
I have to control my breathing and rhythm. We get to the peak, not THE peak,
just this peak. Into top gear and the very steep, quick descent. You can sense
the wheels and brakes heating up, the confidence you have in the brakes working
efficiently are fading as much as they are. We hit the trough but boy there is
no let up. Oh, man; the 13% straight back up again!
This is killing me. 3mph now, heels digging in and trying
to pull up on the pedals as much as possible. I'm calling my colleagues all the
names under the sun; they said today would be easier. Well, it's not. It's
definitely not!
Flys. Where have these bloody flys come from? They are
getting on my t*ts now, buzzing around my face. I can't breath. I can't let go
of the handle bar to swish them away as I need to pull on the bars to help me
up. I feel like a bullied cow on a Summers day. They are really hacking me off.
Finally I hit the top of this climb. My legs are like jelly. I've probably lost 2
litres of fluid in just that ascent. I rehydrate as much as possible, forging
on. The climb is less steep now but still it climbs. And still it climbs more.
A lovely short, shallow descent. The views open up. It
looks are more akin to Exmoor. Open, green with the road sweeping through the
valley. The descent is short lived, no surprise there!
The next climb begins.
This must be about 5%. Shallower, yes, but long. Oh it's long and with
no rest bite at all until the summit.
My stomach is grumbling with hunger. Two litres of fluid
are now gone. I reach for an energy bar. I just cannot eat it as my breathing
is now erratic. I can't chew and breathe at the same time but manage to pull
myself to the cafe at the top, half the bar still in my hand.
From the cafe, there is just a steep, quick 100m climb to
the summit. It's done. How? I have no idea because that was really tough.
Really, really tough.
We collect our thoughts in the relative sanctuary of the
cafe.
A bowl of pasta, a coffee and a full sugar Coke to ready me
for the route back. It will be easier
now but the fear of that near climb and then that return sweeping, energy
sapping,13% killer is something I am definitely not looking forward to. In fact
I'm dreading it. But there is only one way home.
Off we set to enjoy the lovely, sweeping, downhill section.
Open views, so it's head down and just go for it. Enjoy
every moment. This is pay back from that damn climb.. Head wind? I don't
believe it there's a head wind. Not a
small one. No this is a 'the weather is changing' type of wind. Bugger!
The drop down, albeit with the wind smashing your face
about, was so enjoyable. A freedom welcomed and embraced whole heartedly. But
up we go again, steady as we go. Slowly,
slowly catchy monkey. Don't look up, just focus on the cadence and breathing,
finally reaching the apex. Now for a much longer and much steeper descent. This
will be the dip. Must get the gears
right here because as soon as you hit the bottom its straight back up again.
Downhill is astonishing. The road twists and it turns, the
speed rockets. We hit the dip. Bang. Change down...chain comes off! Luckily no
one is around to hear my expletives. I put the chain back on, but how the hell do I get rolling again. I
can't get going, it's too steep and I can't get clipped back in the pedal. Nightmare.
Reluctantly, I start pushing but the walk is just as bad. My calves are
pulling.
Three switch backs later and the road levels out enough to
get back on. Off we go then. That's definitely the worse section. Now for the fun to begin properly.
Whizzing down. Awesome. I feel rewarded for my efforts on
that climb. The real prize is now. For miles it's down hill and only down hill.
I feel like a free spirit; gliding. Speeds are increasing more. The bends are
more and more fun. I catch up with the others.
More down hill. More fun. It starts to level as we can see
the reservoir. The finishing point. So picturesque. I suddenly feel an urge to
do a Mark Cavendish. I go for the sprint to the finish. Where on earth did this energy come from? We
weren't 100m from the car park at all. No, we are half a mile away. I blame the team orders! I blow out, I'm
spent. I get passed.
There goes my green jersey then!
I cruise back to the car.
What a ride.
