hatched and we decided to do it all again
on Friday 20th September. Winds were
predicted to be lower than at 15 mph
rather than 50 mph plus, and it would
apparently be a little warmer.
This time we would go from Malaucene.
The “joy” of this is that you actually climb a
couple of hundred metres on the way out
to the start of the climb “proper” but the
climb itself is virtually the same distance
and profile of the climb from Bedoin.
We did do a couple of other good rides
that week in between, and the special
ones amongst us, Russell, Tim, Leggy
and Michael even whizzed over to Alpe
d’Huez to climb that on the Thursday.
On the Friday we gathered again to
go out to the second assault on the
mountain. Does knowing what is coming
make it easier or harder mentally? To be
honest I am still not quite sure, though I
guess I did have the confidence to know
that physically I could do it, and had
the experience of the previous climb,
and of other rides during the week,
programmed into my legs.
As we set off again groups formed
as expected, but this time I found
myself riding alongside Ian for many
kilometres. Having someone alongside
certainly helped me, and I hope it
helped him. This route has more
shelter for a longer section. I suspect
this makes it less photogenic for the
Tour de France TV coverage, and that
is why the Bedoin route is used more,
it is certainly not because Malaucene
is easier. There is a real steep kick of a
section a few kilometres from the top,
and it was towards the top of that that
36
I found myself separating from Ian. I
panicked briefly thinking I was going
too quickly for myself, but then I found
that I was comfortable and checking
my HRM I could see that my heart rate
was at a level that I was comfortable
with and from there I carried on alone.
Occasionally another rider would go past
or even occasionally I would claw my
way past someone else, but slowly I kept
ticking off the kilometre markings - which
incidentally are the classic headstones!
Into the last 3 or 4 kilometres it was
getting tough, but I was determined that
this time was going to be a finish in one
“hit” and that my feet were not going
to touch the ground until I had crested
the summit. I was feeling the pain in
my legs, but I also felt I had the energy,
and so I kept in my head the hoary old
cliché that pain is temporary but failure is
permanent and kept plugging away.
Within the last kilometre you meet the
photographer who takes your picture then
runs/walks alongside you to put his card
in your pocket so you buy the picture later.
Normally I hate having my photo taken,
but on this occasion (because I knew it
meant I was nearly there) I was actually
pleased to see the camera.
So with that card in my pocket I kept going
on the last couple of bends and was so
pleased to see the finish, and went over
that last crest with a complete idiot-grin on
my face. Then the foot hit the floor.
My original goal had been to complete
the climb, not to race and not necessarily
to do it without a stop, for food or drink
– perfectly good cyclists will accept
this as a “proper” ascent – though an
undeclared target of 3 hours was in my
head. I did that in the first ascent on
the Tuesday so I had accomplished my
personal mission and did not feel I had
let our sponsors down.
The second ascent was done in one
go without a moment’s stop, and in half
an hour less, so I did feel even more
satisfaction, and even more entitled to
wear the tee-shirt (well, cycling shirt or
to be totally accurate shirts).
The support of the people who
sponsored us, and especially the families
who put up with us droning on about this
for so long and then let us go off for the
week on this mad scheme, made all the
difference. It also made for a successful
trip raising in excess of £14,000.
I must acknowledge the team. Russell
Johnson , Ken Broomfield , Tim
Backhouse, Ian Stocker, Gary Walder,
Simon Gates, Russell Gates, Steve
Legg, Colin Young and Bob Thompson
who were all in it from the start, Nigel
Killner who had to retire injured shortly
before the trip, and Michael Stansmore
who stepped up brilliantly to keep the
“11” numbers at 12.
So yes, it was challenge accepted and
met, and yes we raised well over our
targets for the charities. But did the 12
of us away for the week manage to have
a good time along the way? We most
certainly did, but we also all know the
code, “what goes on tour.....”
By Dean Orgill