The day started in Bellegarde where we reluctantly waved goodbye to Kolya who took a train to Zurich to meet up with his family. We left Bellegarde and started the day as we meant to go on with a stiff climb up out of the town on a pretty busy road. The surface was good though and splitting into smaller groups we sailed along the first 20 miles. The cars can pass on busier roads when we are in smaller groups rather than one long peloton. Jill and I rode with Ella who has been doing some incredible riding for a 14 year old. She has completed 2 whole days of 90 miles plus and every other day ridden a significant section of the route. Truly impressive stuff or 'Chapeau' as we like to say in cycling.
As we rode on the outline of mountains began to appear on the horizon. Jill and I let out a few verses of some favourite Sound of Music songs much to Ella's embarrassment. I am sure she was glad to be a million miles from home and not being seen by friends at that point. A few navigation issues around Annecy and a short spell on a dual carriageway and we were then headed along the edge of lake Annecy and delighted to find Jeff and Lucy Cleminson waiting on the start of the cycle path for us.
Lucy led the peloton along to our coffee stop 4 miles along the best used cycle path I have ever seen. It makes the Bristol to Bath cycle track appear unused. Brilliant to see so many people of all ages on their bikes.
Kate and Millie Cleminson had fresh pastries waiting and had also met up with Chruc and Tacye as well as Leigh Fullagar. Old Healix staff will all remember Leigh well. She looks just the same and lives in the most incredible spot. JP took the opportunity for a quick dip in the lake before we all stuffed our pockets with snacks and headed off towards the impending climbs.
I had a good catch up with Leigh as we sped onwards along the lake and onto Ugine. Everyone wore their team shirts and we looked like a great peloton enjoying the smooth Tarmac of the cycle path and a chance to ride 2-3 abreast and chat away the miles. The number of cyclists thinned out at the far reaches of the lake until it was just our peloton left.
We turned off the smooth flat path and started the first climb of the day. 8km at about 7% up to a small village where dropping down into another valley we met the cars for lunch beside a small lake. Another opportunity for a quick dip. That was just a taste of what was to come later in terms of climbing.
Leaving the lunch stop we slowly started our big climb of the day passing up the main road into Beaufort, famous though out France for its cheese.
It's surprisingly small for the prestige it carries s a heavyweight cheese producer. I rode the rest of the day with JP and Jeff and we set a steady pace as we began the official climb of the Cormet de Roselend. It's officially a 20km climb with an average gradient of 7.4% but there are very helpful kilometres markers or 'Borne' beside the road which show the gradient for the upcoming kilometre.
It's a bit of a mind game riding a climb of that length and we all use different strategies to survive them. Allowing myself a drink stop every few Km was one of mine. I don't think the boys were too upset to make use of the stops too and having slightly fresher legs than me (and stronger) I think I helped to keep their pace below their threshold rates with my snails pace. It was great to have company from two great cycle buddies the whole way up. Cheers chaps! Matt Beven powered up without stopping unable to face the thought I think of starting again. He oassed us as we tefilled our bottle looking like a real pro as he chucked his empty bidon away. We got some great support on the way up from Scott and Kate and Chruc and Tacye and some cheers from the back of the car when Millie and Lucy sped past. Matt got a refilled bottle delivered to him just like a pro and then onwards to the top we all went.
Eventually the last kilometre came and went and we made it to the top. Matt was waiting and John Fullagar had parked near the top rode down passing us all headed up. Then he came back up past us and down the other side to climb back up to the top again. Like some sort of crazed cyclist on a bungee rope. The rest of us barely able to muster the breath to greet him looked on in awe and slight incredulity. Nutter!
With no newspapers to stuff up our jumpers we donned our jackets or someone else's in Jeff's case and took off down the descent into Bourg St Maurice. It was a technical descent with numerous hairpins and my nervousness meant i rode a little more slowly than the boys but eventually we reached the warmer air of the lower valley and turned left in Bourg to head to our rest stop in Seez. The hotel I spotted from Bourg on its perch up the hill and with 6 more hairpin bends up showing on the sat nav we were ready to stop for the day.
The balcony of the hotel had a bar and so with cold beers we sat and cheered in the rest of the team as they all ticked off the last bends to the hotel. It was a hot and a hard day but we all made it safely and have enjoyed a rest day to recuperate our weary legs before tomorrow's climb up the Col du Petit St Bernard.
Paul has been at Geneva airport most of the day taking Chruc and Tacye to the airport for their flight and picking up our new support crew, Elizabeth Beven and Angela Mewis. Liz is an old hand at this so I know we shall be fine but personally a little sad to see Chruccy go. It's the first time I have had a family member on one of these trips and it was great to have her with us, Tacye and Chruc deserve a rest though and we are all very grateful for all they did for us to help us get this far.
While Paul has been busy we have hardly been lazing. The washing was done and hung out to dry. Twice! Done once then we went to town to fix a bike wheel and came back after the thunderstorms to find the washing no longer on the hedges but all over the floor! Oops. So it's all hanging out to dry and the wheel is not totally fixed but we have a spare. No point taking risks with 7-8 mile steep mountain descents. The picnic cups are washed. Bags sorted and repacked and bikes faffed with. :-) now it's most 19.00 and we are ready to rest....
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