Today was another big day on the bike starting immediately as we left the hotel with a climb of the Petit St Bernard. It's a 26km climb with an average gradient of about 5 %. The hotel for our rest day had been brilliant and sat conveniently a few kilometres up the climb already. when the morning rain was easing we left the hotel and quickly fell into different pace groups. It was possible to set a nice steady tempo and ride all the way to the top without stopping. I rode up with Chris and Jeff and we found rather than spotting every borne on the way up we often missed them with our chatter and distractions of the view. The climb was less of a mental challenge and involved a lot of hairpin bends and switch backs. The sat nav looked more like Millie Cleminson had been doing her best colouring in.
We passed the ski resort of La Rosiere and I recalled motorbike shots of the 2009 Tour de France as we climbed past the landmarks.
Soon we were above the treeline and the views were stunning. Reaching the top a nice German motorbiker took our photo but failed spectacularly to get the col sign in the photo somehow..!
It was between 6-7000ft anyway. Long enough...
Thankfully there was a warm cafe for us to wait for the support car in and so we sat and enjoyed hot chocolate with Rum in to warm us up.
The weather was a lot cooler at the top and It wasn't long before Matt Beven joined us for chocolate. Once the land rover arrived and we all donned more layers for the descent and left to head for warmer air and sunshine in Italy. The col summit marks the border between France and Italy and this was apparently where Hannibal crossed the alps. It's hard to imagine elephants up there. They must need large ear muffs to keep warm.
The Bianchi was actually coming home to Italy. :-)
The descent was freezing and even the layers weren't enough to stop the shivers on the way down. A change in jurisdiction and perhaps funding was obvious at the border.The road surface in Italy were crap. Nightmare!!
It was hard to not watch the spectacular views whizzing past.
With lots of stops for photos and chocolate and to cheer on Ella as she climbed the whole way up ..! Chapeau .. Xx
At the bottom it was mostly brilliant riding down slopes along the valley bottom and watching the appearance of Italy and a different culture and architecture.
The day ended with another 35 mile ride along the valley after a late lunch.
John Jeff and I powered on to the hotel just wanting to get the days cycling done. We made it and I had a few mins before Jill arrived to do the usual routine of washing out waste bottles and washing out kit ready did for the next days cycling
There is a bit of D & V going around the peloton so today could be tough for a few people.
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