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Stage Eight : Bedoin to Vassieux-en-Vercors Distance : 210 km Main climbs : Ventoux, Soubeyrand, Roustans, Pennes, Rousset. (14 cols in total)
After seven exhausting but exhilarating stages, today the Cent Cols Challenge threw down the gauntlet: to day we would ride up the Giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux. After another mammoth breakfast involving much bread, jam, chocolate spread, ham, cereal, yoghurts, orange juice and coffee, the 30-odd riders remaining turned out of the hotel under a bright blue sky with a nervous chill in the air.
A few rolling miles along a quite country lane and and we were soon onto the ascent. I’ve waited years for the chance to ride this fabled climb, steeped in Tour de France history, but I would never have thought my first attempt would be after seven days of hard riding. An easy pace on the tough early sections through the forest was called for, with the pain in my right knee causing much concern. I battled on, selecting ever-lower gears, and soon settled into a relatively comfortable pace.
Like the mountain standing all alone, I soon found myself alone on the road, just myself against the 1,912 metres at hand. Things got much easier once the forest section was behind, however, and the starkness of the white rock that litters the top of the mountain lay in harsh contrast with the lush greenery lower down. Words of wisdom from Phil Deeker the night before included the fact that the weather station at the summit seems closer than it actually is, and this is very true. It seems so obtainable but it seems that progress doesn’t bring you much closer for a long time. A frustrating ascent. At least we were lucky with the conditions, brilliant blue sky, no clouds to mention and thankfully little wind, for a mountain famed for its 200 mph winds that can blow at the top.
As if that wasn’t enough, the remainder of the stage included several stiff climbs to further test mental limits and physical condition, but with the satisfaction of the Ventoux having been climbed, the rest of the stage posed less of a problem. Still hard mind, make no mistake.
