Sponsor Ciaran Doran at : https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/ciarandoranbeforethetour
When you look forward to something so much and for such a time it’s quite disappointing when it doesn’t happen or feel the way you thought you might, right?
This is the beginning of the day of stage 19, it’s early and we’re not sure we’ll make it over the Col before the officials close the route as the professionals are coming up the other direction and down the mountain we’re climbing. Yesterday was absolutely brutal mainly due to the impact the weather had on the team. Changing from intense heat in the valley to apocalyptic at the top of the mountain leaving everyone soaked through and cold took its toll. The mood this morning is dull and Gray, just like the skies over Grenoble.
A couple of things have happened that have altered our routes a little. The bad weather created a landslide on one of the latter parts of yesterday’s route which meant that this will likely be taken off the professionals route today as well. Today’s route for us crisscrosses the professionals route today on the Col du Glandon. We are going up when they’re due to be coming down! They should be much later in the afternoon but we can’t take the chance of being barred from the route so we’re going to start our day by heading up the Col du Glandon and then follow the route round in a circle as the original route was initially like hat anyway. All in all we’re not getting out of anything ! but it’s safer that we get the clashing col out of the way early.
We made it over the Col du Glandon with its mayhem of pedestrians, supporters, motorhomes and campers. The mountain was full. Even when we got to the top to the left turn to the Col de la Croix de Fer, which is not in today’s stage, it was quite full. I can’t believe how some people are prepared to park their vehicles and motorhomes on such a precipice. There was one huge motorhome parked on a steep hairpin bend less than 1km from the summit, which was raised about 1 metre high at the front on hydraulic jacks.
Over the Col de la Croix de Fer and down the dangerous side. Narrow roads and lots of traffic. We are coming up this side tomorrow !
Half way down we stopped again. This time for lunch but it was only 11am! We were so early over the col that we ended up at the restaurant 3 hours earlier than expected. That was one problem. The other problem was that three of our vehicles were sent the wrong way at the top of the col and ended up going down the side the pros were due to come up, which, not surprisingly, was closed half way down! So they had to turn back and drive up through the crowds again – if you think it’s bad on television you don’t see the half of it. It’s terribly crowded. The crowds were impossible even at 10am before the pros even got on their bikes to do 130km to get to the Col du Glandon.
Lunch done, off down the mountain again and why go for the final climb when you do a sharp right and head up the Col du Mollard. Quiet but very poor quality roads winding up through the fields made this route look a little like a resort in the Pyrenees. None of the gradients was too steep but it seemed to keep going on and on. Lunch again churned in my stomach – when will I ever learn! The top of the Col du Mollard was absolutely beautiful. This is skiing area and I’d love to come back here in winter to enjoy he hospitality at a more leisurely pace.
After a fast descent which took us down through many sections of forest which gave respite from the beating sun and finally down to the river. Again we stopped at the bottom to regroup which ate up nearly 30 minutes by the time we got going again. That’s an interesting issue. Every time we stop as a group it seems we can’t stop for less than 10 mins as everyone takes time to gather their things again after a rest.
Off we went again down to St Jean de Maurienne and after a small wrong turning (wouldn’t mind but it involved going up a hill again) we found the road to LaToussuire. All the signs indicated the route was heading up again to Le Col de la Croix Fer which was a 28km climb. This was worrying because it wasn’t until about 5km up the road that the signs to La Toussuire started to appear. Now that we had the right road and signs in place all we had to do was grind the pedals up a 6% gradient for 14km. We’ve done it many times before in the last couple of weeks so it’s a case of getting into a rhythm and grinding away, after all it was only a category 1 climb, not even an HC.
Since the professionals were due to finish in Saint Jean de Maurienne the town was being closed off early and so we had to turn round and descend as quickly as possible. Some got into the van and the rest took to the saddles for a fast whip down the mountain. 80kmh was fast enough for me and slowly through a couple of villages – I’m not sure but I think I caught a glimpse and was able to shout a fast Bonjour to Jean-Claude & Odile who were smiling and cheering us down the mountain. Fascinating how we wait for the Tour de France and cheer it for the few seconds it takes for riders to pass. That was an interesting experience for me. Here were two people, family friends, who set out to see us on the route and all they got was about 5 seconds – an exciting five seconds sure, but still, only five seconds as we sped by like a group leading the peloton on a breakaway (Dream on).
Now we’re back on the bus to Grenoble for our last nights stop in the south of France. Tomorrow will be our last day in the Alps. I’ve always belittled the last day because it’s “only 110km”. Hmmm. That 110km involves a 31km climb from Saint Jean de Maurienne all the way up to he Col de la Croix Fer again. This means we will have done he climb to top of this mountain area from all three directions.
Then there is a 40km descent to get to the bottom of the Alp d’Huez. That’s the final climb ladies and gentlemen. We will likely regroup at the bottom and have some emotional words together both at the bottom and at the top and then back at the bottom again.
I’m looking forward to it and hoping I can meet the Irish contingent on bend number 10, perhaps even get a photo for Twitter. It’s unlikely the vehicles will be able to ascent Alp d’Huez with us so it might just be the motorcycles which is a shame as this is a whole team event and it would be quite fantastic to have everyone who has been involved come and join at the top of he last climb before Paris.
The journey to Paris is likely to be long, hot and quite boring – sleep looks like the best option !
A bientot mes amis.
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