Riding with wings.....Mt Ventoux

 

20km from Ventoux.

We left our overnight stopover in Lyon (20km South) for an early start in Givors, three Catgeory 4 climbs before the heat of the day kicked in, fortunately along flatter sections of what was to be perhaps the toughest stage yet. Our attempt to ride ever mile was made problematic by a big, big road closure around Romans, it seems that as soon as the Tour had passed through the day before up went the 'barrier & diversion' signs that meant an unplanned diversion of 60km for the support car, it made sense to stick together which meant not being able to ride around 35km of the mid part of the 242km course, there was nothing we could do about it. The diversion was around a long length of a dual carriageway through Romans, every road across it for miles had been closed, it seems that provision had been made for the Tour to pass through before the 'grande'diversion, judging by the confusion and amount of slow traffic it seemed that everybody had been caught out and now living post Tour frustrations.

Suffering on Ventoux

Riding on from Nyons, two thirds of the way through, the route was stunning, tail winds, flat roads, edged by lavender fields and vineyards made for a magical moment, like riding with wings for 40km.....there are some moments on a bike that are best left to the moment.

Summit of Ventoux, no words!

Reaching the town of Malaucene meant the start of the toughest climb to the summit of Mont Ventoux, 21km no let up, average 7.5% in places 12%, 2 hours and 10 minutes of agony. To ride it gives a sense of just how incredibly quick the professional riders scale such heights. After so many miles of riding to be faced with such a challenge is mentally and physically draining, there is no margin for indecision, the climb is relentless, mile after mile after mile, the single longest hardest moment ever on a bike. There really are no words to describe the suffering and, one would hope to have been able to say, the elation at reaching the summit, it doesn't happen like this, or it didn't on this day, exhausted, simply and utterly exhausted, it took time just to collect any reasonable thoughts and focus, the ride to the summit will stay with me forever and I will go back to ride Ventoux again, for sure. Days later, after talking to other riders, I feel privileged to have been able to tackle the climb and to reach the summit, on other days, the weather and strong winds alone seem to make this impossible, often closing the mountain.

We had passed the Tom Simpson memorial, spending a few minutes to share thoughts and to pay our respects, it was a special and touching

No words, just thoughts.

moment. After so many miles, reaching the summit seemed to be the hardest challenge ever faced, a mountain that stands alone owning its own space and dominating everything around it, so incredibly high looking down through the clouds that it gives you the sense of having ridden (again)with wings. There is something about this mountain, something very special indeed. 

And so, utterly exhausted, unable to manage the descent, the choice was easy, go with the safety of the support car on the descent.

We will write more about this stage as we reflect on such a special day, for those who have not ridden this mountain there are few words, it is for you alone, a combination of force and grace (and suffering)!

Ride 21 crew and rider, exhausted, we've said it a few times already, but trust us, exhausted.

www.action.org.uk/tourdefrance

Twitter @chrisarmishaw

'If you get one shot at something big ask yourself whether you would take it, impossible is not a fact, it's an opinion'