16 Roads to Ride in 2016

1. The Valley of the Tears (The VOTT) – Gran Canaria
Now this is a tough climb. Rising from near sea level the VOTT climbs for 12.4km at an average of just over 11% and wastes no time in introducing you to gradients well over 20%. After a brief baptism of fire the gradients turn and your legs can enjoy a short descent. The Valley of the Tears well justifies it’s name, however, with three more sections knocking on 25%. Approach with caution.

A popular hangout for the SKY pro cycling team, Gran Canaria sports many tough climbs and reliable early season sun.

2. White Roads of Tuscany – Italy
This isn’t just a list of big climbs to conquer, this is also about beautiful and iconic places to explore. Tuscany is a land of historic beauty; explore it’s famed white roads by bike, discover old wine estates and rejoice in the serene lack of traffic.

And whilst your here participate in the Strade Bianche, the Italian Paris-Roubaix.

3. Sa Calobra – Mallorca
‘What goes up must come down’, as they say, although in this case it is more of a case of what goes down must come up. As you descend toward the coast you are left in no doubt of the climb to come. Enjoy spectacular views at our Mallorca Cycling Academy as sweeping hairpins lead you down to Sa Calobra and then back up into the mountains.

4. The Paterberg – Belgium
Perhaps not the most difficult of the Belgian bergs, it is arguably the most iconic as this is often where decisive moves are made when the pros race the Tour of Flanders. This is a spot La Fuga like to set up camp and watch the pro race from as a result.

5. Arenberg Forest – France
Diving into The Forest of Arenberg at over 60kmph the road descends from smooth tarmac to huge cobbles as the pros race the Paris-Roubaix. This is a road to remember, or a road to forget…

‘Iconic’. ‘Epic’. ‘An absolute adventure’. ’15 minutes of Hell’. Take your pick.

6. Col de la Madone – France
Rising off the Cote d’Azur, this climb has been brought to notoriety as Lance Armstrong’s training climb of choice. With a good chance of catching sight of current pros you too can escape the hustle and bustle of civilization below and rise into the mountains. The reward is a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean far below you.

Train like the pros at our Cote d’Azur Academy.

7. Barbotto – Italy
Fancy a challenge? An absolute beast of a climb averaging 15% for a whole kilometre that features in the 2016 Nove Colli.

This is Pantani’s favourite climb. Enough said.

8. Passo dello Stelvio – Italy
This climb needs no introduction. Situated in the Italian Alps, this is the Stelvio and can be tackled from not two but three separate approaches. Take on the challenge; ride up through the tunnels and around the 48 hairpins that brought Fausto Coppi to fame. Compete amongst your friends and compatriots for the Cima Coppi of your tour – first to the top! See you there!

9. Trollstigen – Norway
Norway has taken off as a cycling destination in a big way. This climb has been described as the Norwiegan Stelvio. A new destination for La Fuga in 2016 this scenery has to be seen to be believed. Off the beaten track. Breathtakingly beautiful. Welcome to the Trollstigen

10. Côte de Domancy – France
Featuring in stage 18 this will be a highlights of the Tour de France 2016. The Côte de Domancy was brought to fame by Bernard Hinault’s win in the 1980 World Championship.

11. Alpe d’Huez – France
Another climb that is among the most famous is cycling. Each of the 21 hairpins boast the name(s) of champions that have conquered on this climb at the Tour de France. An icon of the Alps. A bucket list climb. Tick it off your list

12. Col du Soulor – France
A hidden gem of the Pyrenees. Situated close to the Tourmalet this climb epitomises the spirit of the Pyrenees. Expect to see a lot more wildlife and a lot less traffic: an absolute favourite among La Fuga’s tour guides and one we are very pleased is featuring in the Haute Route Pyrenees in 2016

13. Cormet de Roselend – France
Rising from Beaufort to Bourg St Maurice, the Roselend is one of the most beautiful climbs of the Alps and is likely to be a highlight for many of the riders taking on the Haute Route Alps in 2016. Cruising past Lac de Roselend, this is a long and winding climb without the brutal gradients. Enjoy a last stop for coffee by the side of the lake before a final kick and then on, further into the heart Alps.

14. Passo Giau – Italy
A giant of the Dolomites, save at least half your days reserves for this monster. The last 10kms average a full 10% when approaching from Cortina. This is the sixth and steepest of the climbs featured in the Maratona dles Dolomites, but found lurking in the Haute Route Dolomites too. Not to be underestimated.

15. Muro de Ca’ del Poggio – Italy
The rolling terrain of the Prosecco hills is a place to kick back and just enjoy cycling. Recommended terrain for a late season jaunt away from high mountains, ride the Gran Fondo Prosecco and take it as hard, or as easy, as you want to take it. The toughest section of the course, the Muro de Ca’ del Poggio is the pinnacle of the Prosecco fields, beautiful and rewarding. Look forward to a grand finale of ice baths full of Prosecco bottles.

16. Colle del Ghisallo – Italy
The Madonna del Ghisallo is a chapel dedicated to cycling, it can be found at the top of the Ghisallo. With both Bartali and Coppi’s bikes amongst others housed there this is a true shrine to cycling. Featured in the Giro di Lombardia, the Colle del Ghisallo itself climbs from the shore of Lake Como and rises in two leg sapping sections, the first of which quickly ramps up above 10% within the first few kilometres, before settling into a ‘steady’ 9%. After a brief let up the final couple of kilometres rise again to 9% before delivering you to the Chapel at the summit, and the end of La Fuga’s top 16 roads to ride in 2016.

January 14, 2016 / No Comments / 1

Meet the Staff – Jared Spier

Name: Jared Spier
Nationality: Canadian
Birthday: December 31st, but it’s actually January 1st GMT
Place of Birth: Winnipeg, Canada
Philosophy: Make every experience a positive one
Languages: English Canadian & French
Favourite Food: A well-done steak, barbequed to perfection by my sister
Location: Caddy Lake, Whiteshell Provincial Park, Canada
Most Surprising Food: Aubergine, wrapped in an anchovie, wrapped in smoked salmon – on paper, surely this is the recipe for horror, yet it was absolutely incredible.
Location of Most Surprising Food: La Balette, Collioure, France (Michelin star restaurant – Rapha Randonnée Pyrenean)

LF: What’s your cycling background, when/how did you start?
JS: I started playing on bikes as a recreational mountain biker, but gave triathlon a shot in 2000. I was very fortunate that Winnipeg had an incredible triathlon scene (not true for cycling in general there) and my best friends & training partners were multiple-time national champions who pushed me to achieve a level that I never would have thought possible. After quickly realizing that long-course didn’t suit my strengths, I focused on Olympic distance tri, despite never being a particularly good runner, I earned some pleasing results – including the very odd achievement of going sub-2hr at one race, without going under 40-min on the run.

LF: How long have you been working for La Fuga?
JS: My first trips were in the 2010 season, but I quickly realized that this was a company and experience that I wanted to be involved with. In April of 2011, I came on as a full-time member of staff and since passing my first winter with La Fuga, putting all of the plans in place for the upcoming season, I am truly looking forward to seeing what we can deliver in 2012!

LF: What bike are you riding this year?
JS: I’m on a 2012 Specialized Tarmac SL4 S-Works frame… just like Tom Boonen! We both run SRAM drivetrains too, but as someone who’s always been a bit obsessed with getting all of the little things right, I took a pass on his Zipps and picked each part for my perfect handbuilt wheelset.

JS: What’s your favourite trip to have worked on so far?
LF: Thus far I’ve actually worked relatively few of our Sportive trips (in fact, I have yet to see either the Maratona or the Marmotte!), so I’ll keep those off my list for now. While I absolutely love the Randonnée routes and the experiences that we get to share in, as each group unites to cross what would normally seem like an insurmountable feat, I think it’s the addition of the coaching aspect, which allows just that much more connection to our guests for each week, which keeps our Majorca Cycling Academy at the top of this list for me. Each week I’ve spent in Majorca has been so incredibly rewarding that I can’t think of a better way to start our season.

LF: Describe your typical week working for La Fuga in the winter?
JS: In an ideal world, there would be an off-season, so it’s a bit odd to think that the winter months can often feel busier than summer. Long hours are spent putting together the best routes with the perfect hotels in the ideal locations, and it’s incredible how rewarding it can be when you see it all come together (I can’t wait to see how our custom Paris-Nice Tour goes!). Winter is also the only time that we get a chance to actually train on our bikes too, so the weekend miles rack up quickly and the Tuesday night chaingang is a must… even in the dark!

LF: And in the summer?
JS: It’s hard to say where I’ll be at any given point of the season, but chances are it’s somewhere I would have dreamt about in wonder when I was stuck on the turbo-trainer in the middle of a Canadian winter. Certainly the days are long and the work can be tiring, but the reward of sharing such amazing experiences with each guest or just having those ‘this is my office’ moments out on the road more then make up for the effort.

LF: What is the craziest thing that’s happened to you on a bike while working for La Fuga?
JS: Our Rapha Randonnée Alpine this past June was an incredibly hot trip – it seemed we hit 40deg at least once a day on the whole trip. On day one, as we rode up the first proper mountain of the route (Col du Columbiere), one of our guests was experiencing some terrible cramping. I didn’t want him to have to give up on achieving the full Randonnée ride, so I ‘brought out the turbo’ and we rode together up the final 4k of the climb. Anyone who’s seen the Columbiere knows how tough that last 3k stretch is, especially as you can see every inch of it. Now imagine it in 40deg heat, with nowhere to hide from the sun. Unfortunately, as I pushed up the mountain, I wasn’t really thinking of the effort I was putting out… until we reached the top. I was completely knackered and we still had ~50k to ride, including the Col d’Aravis. I believe I went through 10-12 bottles that day and still have no idea how I managed to just keep pedalling for the last hours, but I sure am glad that no one felt the need to test their legs on the Aravis!!

LF: What is the craziest thing that’s happened to you off the bike while working for La Fuga?
JS: On the pick-up day of one of those few sportives that I’ve managed to work, there were plenty of bikes to build and check over after dinner, to ensure they would be in perfect shape for the trips up and down the mountains that weekend. The hotel’s doors officially closed at midnight, so as I worked away into the night, the head of reception came past to let me know that they had officially locked up, but gave me the code for the front door. Despite my fluency in French and repeating several times what I understood the code to be, it was all rather horribly miscommunicated – I won’t get right into it, but if Manuel had been French, it could have been a Fawlty Towers episode.
So there I am, it’s 2:30am, and I have finished the prep on each bike and am feeling quite satisfied that a good job had been done. I returned to the hotel to find I was locked out and a bit annoyed… but still resourceful. So, dressed in my black Rapha top and black Rapha shorts, with my black toque (edit – for those that don’t speak Canadian this is in fact a beanie hat) and the right tunes going on my iPod to accompany me, I proceeded to case the joint. After confirming that there were no secondary entrances that were acceptable, I remembered that I did at least have a room with direct access to the inner courtyard, so just had to get there… and so I summoned my inner-Romeo, climbed a balconies or two and made it over the hotel!

LF: What is the best climb you have ever ridden whilst working for La Fuga?
JS: I’ve ridden so many great climbs that it’s incredibly difficult to pick just one. The Cime de la Bonette might get the honour, simply because there is just so much to enjoy, including the conversations on the way up – the climb has so many different looks to it that it seems every corner unveils something spectacular and new. That said, while it is by no means the largest climb we include on our tours, I love the abandoned beauty and scale of the Col de Sarenne. It helps me to remember how important this world is to my life (that sounds ridiculous now that I’ve typed it, but maybe you know what I mean), as the phrase ‘broadening your horizons’ could never be more relevant.

LF: And descent?
JS: It’s a tough pick, but it’s definitely down to one of three – the Col de Marie-Blanque was the first descent I fell in love with, which is a special thing to say given that I was driving a Berlingo at the time. Once I finally rode it, I couldn’t have been happier, as the corners simply flowed from each other… but watch-out for that one right-hander as you approach Bilheres. The second great descent is the little-known Col du Castillon, which again has incredible flowing corners, allowing you to maintain magnificent speed as you connect the twists and work your way down to the Med. Finally, no list would be complete without that descent into Sa Calobra out in Majorca. I don’t have the best history with this one, but did manage to exorcise a few demons during my 2012 visit and that road is simply magnificent.

LF: Which has been the nicest hotel you have stayed in whilst working for La Fuga and why?
AC: As a general rule, I find that the biggest difference between hotels often comes down to their staff. Working for La Fuga, I have the great fortune to stay at incredible hotels, night after night, but often only for a day at a time. As such, the ease in dealing with the staff and their ability to understand our often unique requirements often makes the difference. With that in mind, The Hotel du Palais (5* start hotel for Rapha Randonnée Pyrenean) is simply incredible as there isn’t a request that the staff can’t assist with, as they truly understand our commitment to providing whatever we can to assist our guests. As an added bonus, I always make sure to get up a half-hour earlier then needed, so I can enjoy some relaxed time at breakfast, watching the waves crash on the Atlantic coast and sipping the best orange juice I’ve ever had!

LF: What are you looking forwards to most during the 2012 season?
JS: The new tours that we’ve put together, both scheduled and custom, for the upcoming season are going to be a great interest to me this year, but I think the one aspect that I’m most excited about are the new staff members who we’re bringing in. As mentioned above, it can be pretty tough work to ensure that all of our Tours run to the level we aim to achieve, so finding the right people with the shared knowledge, experience and passion has been paramount. You’ll certainly see some familiar faces on your La Fuga trips this year, but I’m really excited for you to meet our newest recruits too. After all, two seasons ago, that was me!

April 19, 2012 / No Comments /

In The Break

You know when you are a bit nervous, but at the same time excited, apprehensive but still wanting to go on. Pre-race nerves are something hard to explain, a strange mix of wanting something to start as soon as possible, but also of wanting it to end as quickly as possible. After racing in France for four seasons as an Elite Amateur on the French circuit I had experienced these nerves hundreds of times. In fact, racing week in week out, sometimes several times a week, these nerves start to wear out. Racing becomes more of something you have to do rather than something you want to do. This only began to happen on a bad run of form when you were tired. When you had some legs the nerves were always back in force. And on this particular day, I had legs.

The race was 140km around the coastal area of the south of the Brittany region in the North-West of France. The Tour du Rhuys is pretty much pan flat and winds around in several directions. Tracing the coast before turning back on itself several times, the race finishes on a short but sharp finishing circuit in town.

I had done it once the year before, but then I was in a state of fatigue after a long hard season my legs weren’t in any state to respond. This time I had come off the back of a serious knee injury early in the year and was just coming into some form. All I needed now was a number on my back and some roads to pummel.

The warmth of the day made pinning on my ‘dossards’ a pleasant job, something occasionally marred by bad weather that makes you wonder if you should just hand the numbers back and go home. I performed all the pre-race checks and rituals, shorts at the right height, socks at the correct length, tyres pumped up to the right pressure, quick release skewers tight enough, brakes nicely centred.

Race time. I lined up at the back of the bunch, confident I could quickly move up. Other races I wouldn’t be so confident, many a time I got on the front row in a fast criterium so I didn’t have to destroy myself to get to the front. We rolled away quite steadily knowing we had a good way to go, but the attacks soon started to come. I got to the front end of the race and followed a few moves to open my legs and lungs up. I knew I was feeling good right from the gun. Now I just needed to use it properly.

After sliding into the first real move of the day I pressed on the pedals and started to make myself hurt a little. I knew that if I was hurting then others around me would be in trouble. Our group was brought back but I countered straight away with 4 others and we quickly got a gap. I knew two of the guys with me were strong but after using the other two up, they quickly dropped away. I was on fire. My legs did everything I wanted them to and more. The problem is that when I reach this level of form, I ride like a complete idiot. I do far too much work trying to show off and forget that riding intelligently is as, if not more important, as having the legs.

The three of us forged on, holding between forty seconds and a minute over the chasing pack. Our time checks were given on a chalk board and each change in the gap was either helpful or disheartening. We started to get different splits at once, the bunch had split up, and three riders were coming across to us. They slowly made inroads on our gap and eventually we could see them behind us. It didn’t surprise me to see the three major race favourites turning the pedals and it signalled good news and bad news. The good news was that the race had been decided and as long as we worked well together one of us would win. The bad news was that now I had 5 of the most in-form riders in the region to beat if I wanted to win.

The good news was confirmed as we quickly settled into rhythm based on some of the unwritten rules of cycling. I would try and explain these rules but it would take at least three separate blog posts. As we pressed on my legs started to hint at the first signs of fatigue, hills began to feel a bit longer as the lactic acid made its way round the cells, but I still felt good. We hit the finishing circuit and the dung hit the fan. The first attacks came from one of the guys and our group split and came back together before splitting again. Although we weren’t working together we knew we were chasing the win so the speed never dropped and I started to feel the burn. I followed attack after attack and even dared to make my own once or twice. It’s at this point that your brain starts to go fuzzy with the details as your effort levels exceed your thought levels.

Eventually the group split with less than a lap to go, and I wasn’t in front. I wouldn’t be gunning for the win and I was disappointed. After a quick sprint I came in 5^th. As per usual I had done too much work, everyone loved to tell me as much afterwards as well. I was cursing at myself at the car, when I heard my name over the loudspeaker from the podium. For some reason they wanted me to go there, probably so they could mock me for my race tactics.

Fortunately I had won the prize for the most aggressive rider; unfortunately this prize came in the shape of a tree, or at least a large shrubbery. Not something I had been hoping to win, but I appreciated it all the same. It was too big for me to take it home so I had to give it away.

Another race raced, another race lost…onto the next one.

August 22, 2011 / No Comments /

A Massif Day Out

Etape du Tour Acte 2 – 2011 – Issoire to St Flour – Sunday July 17th

Serial sportive rider from Down Under and friend of La Fuga, Lew Targett describes his experiences on what promised to be a beautiful ride through the Massif Central but turned into a day of survival.

Final event/Race for this year’s European Campaign.

The 2011 Etape du Tour which this year had two editions for first time, ASO making more money!
Acte 2 was between Issoire and St Flour in the Massif Central, the stage on which Vino retired after a big off, and the new Dutch hero, Johnny Hoogyland had an argument with a barbed wire fence. 210 kms distance, and 4000M of climbing, par for the course, and I was about as fit as I can get. Which is not very. Had a great week before with a couple of guys at my hotel who were also there for the Etape, reccy the course a bit looked OK.

Sunday morning in the waiting pen, good start number, 2222, out of about 8500 I think. However weather report VERY iffy. Sure enough there we all were, six thirty in the morning, everyone looking slightly worried, and the rain started, not too heavy but ominous, jumped fence to Bar for a coffee X2, but looked it looked bad. Usual hectic start, should be used to it by now, only difference, French riders not Italians. Now, if your cup of tea is riding in driving rain, freezing temperatures, and a relentless headwind for 210 kms then this would be the race for you.

However if not, then you would be better off opening the second bottle of red and staying by the fire, getting fat. It became pretty obvious that things were not too good when by 30 kms cyclists were abandoning and turning around. It was so bad as to be unbelievable. I’ve ridden in some pretty ordinary weather, the Three Peaks, and last years Gran Fondo Campagnolo to name just a couple, but nothing like this !!, unbelievably bad, a particularly bad days for cyclists with white knicks or white bikes, and aero wheels, it was terrible.

After awhile there were more people stopped/collapsed with hypothermia/turning around, than there were riders going forward. By the first food stop at Aranches, 70 kms, Ross Muir, our guide, was told later, 4000 riders had abandoned. Only 140 kms to go. Five climbs, particularly nice at the top of Puy Mary, (see above, and that was on a nice day, imagine it in bad weather), the biggest climb, with all the ice/hail in your face, almost made for an interesting descent in the rain and fog, at least you didn’t have to worry about the other riders , you couldn’t see them anyway.
Stopped at our own foodstop midway and bumped into a couple or riders I knew, they sure looked bad, kind of a blue white colour with this unusual shaking, I hope I didn’t look as bad as them. Two guys in the Van not going anywhere. Only 115 kms to go.

On the assumption that it could’t get worse I continued on with a mate who could ride with only a bit of shaking. After awhile I think the entire French Ambulance Service must have gone by, very tempted, I thought maybe if I just ride into a ditch they will feel sorry for me and I can get rescued. Finally got to our last foodstop at 160 kms, really, really was over this ride, could hardly get off bike,Tom, another guide manning the stop, said only 60 kms and one more climb too go. Easy. By this time an alarming lack of other cyclists around.

Finally, finally, 15 kms from finish, the sun amazingly, came out, sort of, it was still raining, and windy but just merely cold, not freezing. I had also discovered that waterproof cycling gear does not exist, and that Robbie McEwan was right after all.As I crossed the finish line in St Flour after 10 hrs and 40 mins, I can can tell you, dear readers, that I am really over Sportif’s.However,what made this ride truly memorable, apart from the the appalling weather, distance and climbing, was the thousands upon thousands of spectators that had come out in truly awful conditions to cheer us on, there were people everywhere on all the climbs, in the villages, kids, grown ups, cheering us. Something you would never, ever see in Australia, they really cared about the riders and I think it was about the only thing that kept me going.

The other great thing was all the roadside artwork (see above), from the Tour stage a couple of days before, so much work, just for a few minutes as the riders flash by. Well, my 21st, and I suspect, last, Gran Fondo. Time for golf. Just so I won’t be tempted to ride bike again, left it over here.
Lew Targett

A Postscript.
Of the 8500 or so riders that started, less than 2000 finished. The winner (a pro), finished in 7 and a half hours, and even he couldn’t get a Gold medal time!! A record low number of finishers for the Etape du Tour. ASO should pay us than rather than the other way around.

July 25, 2011 / 4 Comments /

Rapha Randonnée Pyrénéenne Report – June 2011

And so our adventure began, under blue skies on the French Atlantic coast in the surfing destination of Biarritz, our hardy randonneurs clipped in hoping to make it all the way. Our route would take us from this coast to the med, covering just less than 800km with over 15,000 metres of climbing. With many of the most feared and famous climbs en route, the journey was set to be an epic one, but we were yet to know just how epic…

Day 1 Biarritz – Oloron-St Marie

* Distance: 130km
* Elevation: 3070m
* Key Climbs: Col des Plombieres, Col d’Osquich

Our hotel for the first evening was the fantastic Hotel Du Palais. A 5 star affair with 3 restaurants, everything in this place was elegance and I would like to take a little time to describe the thing that hit me most…the breakfast.

I’ve had a few breakfasts in my time, large and small, but frankly I have never seen anything quite like the spread offered at the Hotel Du Palais, anything you could imagine eating for breakfast was on offer, it would take you at least a week to sample everything. But the riders didn’t have a week. They were down to load up on the necessary (if not very tasty) fuels that would carry them across the first stage.

On the itinerary was a warm up stage, taking in some smaller, but by no means easy hills before we reached the high mountains. The weather had been nice in the morning but the sky became greyer as a weather front that would prove to be the bane of our lives moved in. Unfortunately before we started one of the team had been ill the night before and decided to sit this one out with the hope of rejoining the ride at a later stage. Spirits seemingly undampened by this occurrence, he sportingly helped our guide in the advanced car make sandwiches and set-up the days lunch stop.

After the ceremonial dipping of the rear wheel in the Atlantic, the riders quickly settled into a nice riding rhythm getting to know each other on the flat before conversation ceased when the road reared upwards. The mood was jovial at the lunch stop with much talk of the “col de goat track” which involved a 17% rise with a droppings spotted descent. With rain intermittent and the roads constantly rolling up and down (the French use the term usant), by the time our riders reached the hotel everyone was ready for some well earned rest and food.

A physio stop was the order of the evening for one of the riders as he was having trouble with his neck and back. An hour on the table soon put him straight and after a glass of red he was ready and raring for the next day.

Day 2: Oloron-St Marie – St Savin

* Distance: 115km
* Elevation: 2615m
* Key Climbs: Col de Marie Blanque, Col d’ Aubisque

The Hotel Du Palais was always going to be hard to top, but the hotel Alysson keenly offered us what was necessary to prepare for what was to be the first real test of our riders’ grit.

And what a test! With the frighteningly steep Marie Blanque and the ferociously long Aubisque on the menu with a ten side orders of rain, the day was set to become both a physical and mental challenge. Once again the same member of the crew struggled with stomach upset during the night and decided it wasn’t worth antagonising things by putting such demand on his body. But once again he helped with the making of the lunch stop sandwiches whilst our guide regaled interesting (if not slightly embellished) stories of racing around France.

The first two small cols of the Lie and Ichere got our riders legs warmed up for the first big test of the trip. The Col de Marie Blanque is reputed as one of the hardest climbs there is by many (me included). At 9km it is nowhere near the longest, but it has a fierce sting in its tail. The last three kilometres rear up ahead of you at gradients of 11%, 13% and finally 12%. The road straightens out and you can see how much pain you will be in and for exactly how long, it is unrelenting. The rain made things even more unpleasant for the riders but all reached the summit ready for more.

The same couldn’t perhaps be said by the time they reached the foot of the descent. Sodden kit and soaked roads made what is usually a fantastic drop not much fun at all. Our guides did what they could to warm them up with changes of clothes and Rapha raincapes, gillets and booties being dished out as well as a much appreciated café stop.

It wasn’t long though before everyone started to warm up again on the ascent of the Col d’Aubisque. This 19km beast reared its ugly (actually it’s quite beautiful) head as the first hors category climb of the journey. The weather got worse as we reached the top, with visibility becoming less and less as the clouds became thick and the temperature dropped. By the time everyone reached the top the wind had made things bitterly cold and everyone spent some time in the cars with heating on full blast to try and prepare for the descent into our arrival town of Saint Savin.

Thankfully the weather relented somewhat on the descent and everyone made it safely to base. Dinner was served by the celebrity master chef, Jean-Pierre Saint-Martin and was thoroughly enjoyed by all, even after some confusion as to which side of the plate we were supposed to take our bread from (A matter gruffly settled by the waitress). The extra pasta they served was so good that we kept it for the next day; they even served some for breakfast!

Day 3: St Savin – Luchon

* Distance: 110km
* Elevation: 3050m
* Key Climbs: Col du Tourmalet, Col de Peyresourde

After a good night’s sleep, and a tasty breakfast (boiled eggs were a welcome addition…..as well as the pasta of course) our riders were ready for another tough day in the saddle. Our guest with stomach problems had decided enough was enough and decided to fly back and concentrate on getting well again. We thanked him for his sterling demeanour in the face of difficulty as he never once complained and was very willing to chip in to help our guides. For the outset the bad weather had laid off somewhat leaving damp roads and gushing streams. The riders span their sore legs out on the drag up to the foot of the legendary Col du Tourmalet. Here the sun was shining and everyone shed a few layers for the long ascent.

The scenery here was spectacular, so much so that it was hard to concentrate on the road in front of you as it wound up the valley towards the sheer cliffed summit where snow still remained in the nooks of the high mountain. Everyone was happy to reach the summit though, but not so happy to start the descent as once again the bad weather had moved in making it somewhat unpleasant (especially without gloves as one of our hapless guides quickly discovered). It made things reminiscent of Octave Lapize’s statement of “vous etes des assasins” at the Tour de France in 1910 after scaling the Tourmalet completely drunk with fatigue. Hopefully we didn’t force any of our riders into such a state (and if we did they were incapable of telling us!). By the bottom though the temperature had increased to a balmy pleasantness and the rain had stopped, leaving some dry roads.

Here we enjoyed our lunch stop where we were treated to pizza amongst other fine delicatessen before setting off to mount the looming Col d’Aspin. Compared to the Tourmalet, this ascent was actually quite pleasant with less demanding gradients and nice weather. The descent was the first dry mountain descent that our guests got to experience and it was thoroughly enjoyed (although it has to be said, by some more than others!)

This left us with one last test, the Col de Peyresourde. Here the road climbed with the valley in more of less a straight line with a few twists and turns on the way, the gradient usually at a steady 7% with a few deviations. Here one of our riders got into some difficulty, suffering all the way up the hill. For the last few kilometres the rain once again made an appearance and his expletives became more and more frequent. Our guide however remained diligent and buoyed the rider all the way to the top.

The descent into Luchon was perhaps the worst yet, with the rain pouring and long straights that encouraged you to gain speed only to scare the hell out of you with a dangerous corner. Everyone was relieved to make it down safely and dry off for the next day’s events.

Day 4: Luchon – St Girons

* Distance: 95km
* Elevation: 1900m
* Key Climbs: Col de Portet d’Aspet, Col du Portillon

After making use of the hotels superb drying facilities, our riders were ready for an easier day and so we acquiesced to this request with a shorter stage to St Girons.

Affaires didn’t start easily though as our riders were straight into the Col du Portillon. Fortunately this climb is so beautiful you almost forget you are riding uphill…..almost. Today the weather had really relented and finally the views were there for all to see. A quick drop into Spain before a sprint for the sign for France brought us to our scenic lunch stop by the river enjoyed for the first time in comfortable temperatures.

Two more climbs of the Col de Menthe and the Col de Portet d’Aspet were easily (well at least with less difficulty) overcome and the riders descended into St Girons to the fantastically quaint ‘Chateau de Beauregard’ which was to be our place of rest for the evening. A converted Chateau, this hotel was decked out with period furniture with gorgeous wooden beams traversing the building adding a special atmosphere to the rooms.

This was amplified by the superb spa that had been added, giving our riders chance to enjoy a steam room and Jacuzzi and generally unwind before taking advantage of the massage that had been organised for each rider.

The Restaurant was just as spectacular, set in a converted barn with an open wood fire warming the cauldron of soup, the ambience was the perfect way for our riders to enjoy an extremely tasty meal, once the obstacle of the menu had been hurdled! The bottle of gorgeously smooth red wine topped things off and a thoroughly enjoyable evening was followed by a good night’s sleep.

Day 5: St Girons – Gincla
* Distance: 165km
* Elevation: 3760m
* Key Climbs: Port de Pailheres, Col de Port

This day was the queen’s stage. With the distance topping 100 miles and the final hors category climb of the Port de Pailheres to be tackled, if our riders could get over this, it was downhill all the way to the finish…..well….almost.

Early on everyone was feeling the toll of the kilometres building in their legs but soldiered on up the Col de Port which seemed like a molehill compared to what had been previously climbed. After a quick lunch snack the riders moved on trying to keep moving on what was set to be a long day. As a result the k’s were quickly eaten up and the riders were soon on the ascent of the Port de Pailheres. At a touch over 2000m, this climb offered 18,6km of pain. With a pizza stop part way up the bad weather had moved in for the umpteenth time and the riders were keen to press on to the top. They managed this only to be slowed down by a heard of very large cows casually walking down the road towards us. One rider was even charged a couple of times, perhaps due to the eyes painted on his one piece handle bars? Who knows? Fortunately he survived the episode and used the adrenaline boost to charge to the top.

More pizza awaited the riders at the top, which was covered in a thick fog. A cold tricky descent got warmer and warmer and less and less tricky letting our riders enjoy a long 40km/h run to our penultimate stop in the heart of one of the valleys.

Another quaint building in a small town, our guide spent some time explaining to the locals why he was making a small picnic in the hotel car park. They seemed pleased enough with his response and carried on with their walk around the village. The riders seemed pleased enough with his picnic as well devouring most of it after a long day in the saddle.

Dinner was another triumph, with the pièce de résistance coming in the form of a ‘tarte aux pommes’ with a nice sauce and ice cream, hastily gobbled down by our ravenous randonneurs.

Day 6: Gincla – Collioure

* Distance: 130km
* Elevation: 1500m
* Key Climbs: Col Palomere, Col d’Aussieres

The end was in site, a measly 130km to be covered and a minute 1,500m to be scaled. The sun had finally come out for good and everyone could enjoy the ride to the med.

After leaving the hotel and climbing steadily for a few kilometres we were greeted with superb views as the landscape changed from rugged mountains to more rolling hills. The first descent was a joy with sweeping bends and some longer straights, constantly keeping you on your toes without making you work too hard. Another short climb gave us our first view of the Mediterranean and spirits were jovial. We descended into the valley to face our last test. The Col Palomere is not particularly steep, but it drags on and on for 20km and with 700km in the legs as well as several of the toughest cols around, it’s needless to say our riders were happy when it was over. Now we could enjoy the drop down to sea level with relative comfort although the roads deteriorated somewhat leaving everyone was painful rear ends.

But after much hardship we arrived at our destination, Collioure. The ceremonial dipping of the front wheel in the Mediterranean was performed and everyone enjoyed a glass of champagne with some strawberries whilst savouring the moment in the sun.

To top a fantastic trip, dinner was served in a Michelin starred restaurant overlooking the port and out to the sea. Everyone shared and reshared their stories, recounting the times of hardship, suffering and occasional unabated swearing.

The journey had indeed been an epic adventure; the route alone was fearsome, coupled with the weather it turned out as one of the most gruelling rides possible. All the riders can be proud to complete it and we look forwards to seeing them again on another of our trips.

June 24, 2011 / No Comments /

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