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Stage Nine : Vassieux –en-Vercors to Montmelian
Distance : 230 km
Climbing: 4700m
Main climbs : La Machine, Croix, Pra l’Etang, Romeyere, Granier ( 16 cols in total)
Following yesterday’s mammoth stage which included Mont Ventoux, stage nine posed the last serious challenge for the remaining Cent Cols challengers. After an impossibly tough eight stages today would be the last big day of climbing, with nearly 5000m over 205km planned.
However, anyone in doubt their bodies would last long enough, and I include myself here, would have the knowledge that getting through today would mean near completion of the inaguraul Cent Cols. Yes, the final stage still had its tough climbs but a much shorter distance meant it wasn’t a worry, the final day would take care of itself. That was the plan, anyway…
7.30am and 30-odd riders rolled out through the low cloud enveloped the surrounding mountains as we left Vassieux-en-Vercors, a village which sits upon the Plateau de Vassieux. This town proved an area of intense struggle during the Second World War and for its great acts of resistance a war memorial sits on the Col de la Chau to remind of the German massacre of the entire population.
Straight away we’re climbing, and the first big challenge of the day is the grandly titled La Machine, which winds its way up the horizon and on this breezy morning provided tired eyes with some of the most beautiful and breathtaking views of the entire trip. At the summit he road literally carves its way through the ragged rock face and there’s a sheer vertical drop to our left, a dramatic reminder that we’re properly back into the mountains.
We’re heading north, and the scenery surrounding us is getting more Alpine in its colour and decoration. We’re heading home. However, following a reasonably good start my day would turn bad before the end. A long winding, draggy climb through a forest sees my right knee pain flaring up to unimaginable levels. I’m just 95km into this 205km stage and right now, I really can’t see how I’ll be able to continue. I’ve dropped right back through the groups and am now the last rider on the road. Driving the support van mechanic Chris is taking in the direction arrows down as I inch past junctions. I reach a small parking space in the densely wooded forest and here Chris has pulled over his van, and I pull over and roll over to a stop. I slump over the handlebars. This feels like the end.
However, in the van also is Glenn, a professional chiropractor, who has been forced to sit out today due to knee problems, jumps out and hands me some paracetamol, and massages some cream into my knee. He gets me to stretch it too. I decide not to pack in, and make the decision for one final push. I’ll try and make it to the lunch stop, I tell myself, which by now is just 20km away. I continue onwards.
There’s a change in the next couple of miles. Whether it was the cream, the massage or the extra drugs, or just the pep talk Glenn gave me, the pain subsides to a more manageable level. My team are waiting at the top of the next hill and we rocket down the rocky, pot-holed, gravel covered descent. A small smile emerges again on my face. A short climb next and we dive into tunnel so long that we require an escort from one of the team cars. Emerging the darkness into the now bright sunshine, I’ve somehow worked my way back into the groups that previously dropped me. A seriously fast descent and we’re at the lunch stop. Suddenly, my fortune is looking brighter. Phil Deeker trivia for today is that the small cafe, located just off a main road that we’re eating at, is the same place that Lance Armstrong frequented during his Tour stage recces some years ago. How cool!
The rest of the stage followed without too much incident. The painkillers kicked in and the knee pain now at more manageable levels, and I’m now more able to push on and keep with my team mates. Hills are still a struggle but compared to the insufferable pain experienced earlier in the day, the outlook is looking good. I came closer than ever to climbing into the broom wagon today. I reached a low point lower than I’ve ever experienced, but I’m glad I managed to push myself through, grit my teeth and complete the stage. What a tough day.
