Or.... 3 Wheelers have a very very hard day, but all make it home :-)
What will be Stage 20 of Le Tour de France, 138km and 4,500m of climbing from Nice to Col de la Couillole over 4 climbs and zero flat road!
Staying in \ near Nice made for a long lie, didn't need to get up until 5am :-) Breakfast then I met Ally at his hotel for a gentle 3km ride along the Promenade des Anglais to the start pens for the usual hanging about bit.
Just before 8am, it was time for Ally and myself to set off and the only time all day I was ahead of Ally :-)
Ally jumped on the wheel of a couple of riders and we followed them out of Nice, with the 3km neutralised zone keeping the ride less frantic that it sometimes can be. We then hit the theme for the day, a climb to get to the start of the official climb! Last I saw of Ally for the day, as I sat up and was planning to go really really slowly, which I managed well :-)
When we eventually climbed to the first climb of Col de Braus it was very nice, lovely switchbacks and steady all the way.
Descent was pretty technical, then on to the big one, 21km of Col de Turini. Don't believe the profile, I didn't see any flatter sections!
Was pretty steady all the way, just very long and was fine keeping to my steady pace. Passed Tony during this climb as he had started a little earlier but was struggling with mechanical issues on the hire bike! Stopped at the feed stop at the top to get more water, trying to remember to eat and drink more than I usually do! Lovely descent, but then start climbing almost immediately, not the categorised climb, just another pre climb climb!
The 3rd climb is the shorter Col de la Colmane. Again, was all fine, steady going, and was even a hint of drizzle to keep the temperature down. Around 2km from the summit was the 2nd feed stop where I sat down for a wee bit, recovered, then easy up to the summit. This descent was the best of the day, only 1 more climb and it's done.
The last climb is the hardest, Col de la Couillole, 16km @ 7.1% average, no respite at all! It's only 10 miles, how bad can it be? Answer, very!
First 2 miles, started to think this was all fine and would soon be all over. But no, my stomach decided once again it had other ideas. Started to feel the stomach cramps coming, so slowed right down and decided on a just get home policy. Was all going okay until 5 miles to go and had to stop, lie down, throw up, and then head off again. The plan now to cycle a mile, stop, repeat. Plenty of others suffering and walking at this point! Was just about keeping things under control when just as I was going under the flamme rouge I got the only tweak of cramp all day and had to stop, stretch it out and head off again. Note the 1 leg cycling :-)
After an eternity, I could hear the announcer at the end and the metres countdown to the finish - Etape 2024 DONE :-)
Glad it was all over, was feeling pretty good until the last 8 miles and the climb finished me (and many others) off.
At this point is where all the supporters cheer you on, meet up with others, sit around and have a beer etc. BUT. There were not many people at the finish. My chief supporter, helper and Directeur sportif was absent! Turns out you had to park around 9km away and walk uphill to get to the finish! Not many did this. We then had to descend the 7km to Beuil village where the supporters were! Descending when absolutely gubbed, through riders, people, cars etc was not fun and did see a few come a cropper AFTER the event! Finally met Lindsay but not Ally as he was about an hour ahead of me and off for a massage and the pasta party. About an hour behind me Tony also finished safely, after stopping to get some mechanical help with the hire bike and getting up the last climb.
Rode down to our car and the "fun" drive off the mountain back to our wee home. This was also fun, as massive tailbacks and lots of riders cycling back to Nice!
Ally and Tony both had excruciating waits and bus trips back (through the tour company and ASO official bus). Ally not getting back to his hotel until 11pm, 7 hours after he finished and Tony was back in Nice at 1am!
The post event was a major let down, only time Lindsay has not been able to get to the end to cheer us on. The ridiculous descent on bike after the event, the LONG wait for the bus, the traffic jams and time taken to get off the mountain, all put a wee downer on the event. Shame as the route was beautiful, climbs tough but no stupid steep ones, fabulous area for riding a bike.
Recommend the Etape for anyone looking for a big challenge on closed roads before the pros do it. And I know I may have said this before, but I really, really mean it this time - I'm done with the Etape du Tour, probably :-)