Tales from the ventoux

2009 Etape Du Tour.

The alarm went off at 3.30 am and it felt like I had been in bed for 10 minutes. It was Etape day and a very long journey lay ahead . I gave my room mate Hugh a shout and as usual he was awake and ready for the task ahead.

The bus to the start town Montelimar was leaving at 4.30 sharp so there was no time for hanging around. I go through the check list which I had prepared and had gone over in my head many times so as to have everything needed for the day ahead. Breakfast at 4 am was muesli fruit bread and cheese and coffee, not too easy to take at this hour but you do your best to get it into you.

The bikes are loaded onto the bus from the night before when last checks were carried out. We are on the motorway speeding towards Montelimar a journey of an hour and a half. Already there is a lot of traffic all carrying bikes heading for the same mission. Some butterflies in the stomach already and everyone s very quiet on board. As we reach the outskirts of the city and the first of the many roundabouts there are already lots of cyclists heading towards the start area.

We park in a business park and get ready to cycle to the start line saying good bye to the bus and our support van . We will meet up with our support van again at the finish area (well 6 Km down from summit of Mt Ventoux) .

As we cycle to the start line you begin to realise the magnitude of this event . With about 9000 entries it is a major logistical operation to manage. We are grouped according to entry number. I am in the fifth group off with 1500 other cyclists. As we line up I am just itching to get away. At about 7.20 am were off and heading for Mt Ventoux a 172 Km trip with four intermediate category 3 or 4 climbs before we hit Bedouin 22km from the summit of Ventoux.

The early kilometres are tense with plenty of jostling for road position as the faster riders stream up on the left lane. The only answer is to push on hard and as you get away from the city the field will thin a little. As I am not an “Etape virgin” having done the event last year I had the experience and I know concentration is vital to avoid a collision with another rider or road “furniture”. It wasn’t long until we were into the first climb of the day an easy cat 3 to 478 m. I took it steady as the temperature was already heading into the twenties and a lot of climbing ahead. Still I was glad to hit the top of the climb and head for the first big decent of the day. The first big crash of the day was on the decent of the climb which was very fast. You see bodies on the road and it is a reminder that this cycling business can be a dangerous game and for a few kilometres you slow down.

As regards nutrition in an event like this you need to know your own requirements and then you calculate for the course and conditions .I had 2 energy bars 2 energy gels and powder to make up 3 soo ml bottles of energy drinks. I actually got through the whole day on these plus 2 bananas I got at the feed zones and it was very adequate. The main requirement was to have enough

water and with many drink stops along the way it was easy to refill..

After the first climb I settle into the day rolling well in the valleys and taking on the climbs at my own pace . The day was hot probably 30 to 35 degrees but it I found it very comfortable once I was moving along. On the climbs you encounter some very hot pockets where there is no breeze but as you get up the climbs the breeze has a cooling effect.

My first stop was at Sault 100Km for a feed/drink zone. It was manic with masses of cyclists together with bikes pushing in for supplies. I was glad to snap up 3 bottles of water and get away. From Sault its straight up the long 11km climb to Col de Abeilles which is 6--7% climb and stifling hot. However it was worth it all for the fantastic decent. The road off the top is like a motorway and I achieved speeds of 80 kph …a record for me! I wonder what speed the pros did on this one?

I was now fast approaching Bedouin the last town before Ventoux. I had already climbed this route for days earlier and on that Wednesday it was touching 40 degrees and that puts you right on the limit . I also knew the section in the forest from Km 15 to Km 8 is the difficult part so I planned for this. At the food stop it was just as crazy as the previous one so it was water and a banana for me.

I am on the climb and counting the kilometres down. The first 5 scoot by and then its into hell in the forest. Already there were lots off the bike walking on the right. A slow march upwards. As I got up the climb it became clear that there was carnage on this toughest of challenges that is Mt Ventoux. As well as walkers there was people sitting or lying flat on the roadside. Several getting sick and many more weaving ahead as I toiled my way skyward. I stopped to take on a gel and take a few photos at about 12 to go. I was feeling good and the planning had paid off . I was out of the saddle for much of the steep part and this gave relief to the lower back and generally helped relax.

With 6 km to go I leave the forest behind and arrive at the final water stop at Chalet Reynard. It was a little fresher here with a light breeze and psychologically I had cracked it. The final 6 Km was fantastic and with the cooling breeze coming in from the valley on the left I just seemed to zoom upwards. As I passed the Simpson memorial at one km to go the crowds were massive on the roadside and their support pushed me on towards the finish line.

Another Etape done and I really enjoyed it . All the miles of preparation paid off and that is what counts in the end. Both Hugh and I travelled with Dublin outfit Onyourbike for the second year and they were brilliant. The back up was first class and the lads go out of their way to make sure you have a great week. Doing the Etape Du Tour is the nearest thing you can do to be like the pro rider. The roads are closed for the full event. There is mechanical back up throughout the course and the whole event is professionally run. The fact that it is the same course as a Tour stage also gives it a great feel and I was certain to watch every minute of this stage on TV to spot some familiar roads.

The best time in the Etape was done by the French national champion at 5 hrs 11mins. The Tour stage winner Astraloza clocked 4hrs 49 mins an amazing time! I clocked 8hrs 9 mins(inc stops) placing 3426 with Hugh coming 7hrs 39mins(inc stops) place 2421 . Like the pro race there is a cut off time and if the broom wagon catches you are out. Of the 9000 starters about 2100 failed to finish .

We were well pleased with our results and with no mechanical problems or crashes the event was a great success. We had a barbecue later with some well deserved cold beers but as midnight approached it was time to sign off on another wonderful Etape du Tour. Will I do another one???????