Hautacam
Height 1520m Ascent 1040m in 13km Average gradient of 8%
We made our way to Argelès Gazost, up to D100 to the carpark of Carrefour Argelès Gazost. There were several big groups of cyclists on the same road so we knew we were on the right direction. While Iain had a head start, I went into Carrefour to get food (I love supermarket shopping!).
After conquering Col du Tourmalet, Hautacam is "small" challenge, but by no means less formidable.
Hautacam was where Cadel Evans wore the yellow jersey for the first time in his career with a 1 second lead over Fränk Schleck in 2008. In 2014, as the penultimate stage, the steep slopes of Hautacam provided the perfect opportunity for Thibaut Pinot to attack and leapfrogged Alejandro Valverde to second place (or as Phil Liggett would have put it "Pinot was dancing on his pedals while Valverde stopped and cycled backwards").
The first part of the route up Hautacam was shaded. I had a chance to stop by a tiny waterfall outside the village of Artalens-Souin and cheered whoever rode by.
With less than 7km to go, there was hardly any shade.
The scenery was awesome nonetheless.
We made our way to Argelès Gazost, up to D100 to the carpark of Carrefour Argelès Gazost. There were several big groups of cyclists on the same road so we knew we were on the right direction. While Iain had a head start, I went into Carrefour to get food (I love supermarket shopping!).
After conquering Col du Tourmalet, Hautacam is "small" challenge, but by no means less formidable.
Hautes-Pyrénées (Source: http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2014/us/stage-18.html) |
Hautacam was where Cadel Evans wore the yellow jersey for the first time in his career with a 1 second lead over Fränk Schleck in 2008. In 2014, as the penultimate stage, the steep slopes of Hautacam provided the perfect opportunity for Thibaut Pinot to attack and leapfrogged Alejandro Valverde to second place (or as Phil Liggett would have put it "Pinot was dancing on his pedals while Valverde stopped and cycled backwards").
The first part of the route up Hautacam was shaded. I had a chance to stop by a tiny waterfall outside the village of Artalens-Souin and cheered whoever rode by.
With less than 7km to go, there was hardly any shade.
Iain cycling in the sweltering heat |
On the way up Hautacam |
What is wrong with my bike? |
Mont Ventoux
Height 1912m Ascent 1690m in 21km Average gradient of 7%From Tarbes, we bade farewell to the French Pyrénées and drove through Toulouse to Avignon. The mountains disappeared and we were greeted by old viaducts, castles and fields of sunflowers.
Field of sunflowers |
The city walls of old Avignon |
Mont Ventoux is located between a Alpine massif to the north and Mediterranean massifs to the south. The bottom of Mont Ventoux has a mixture of oaks, pines and cedars and is home to golden eagles, viperine snakes and chamois, to name a few. Vegetation stops at about 1500m but 60 rare flora species manage to survive on the summit. In 1990, the rich and diverse flora and fauna microclimates and habitats of Mont Ventoux made it to UNESCO's list of protected biosphere.
(Source: http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?mode=all&code=FRA+06)
Summit of Mont Ventoux and the meteorological station |
An old road marker |
In the initial stage, the trees provided some respite from the heat. Soon, the bald summit appeared and taunted us from afar.
Another slog up the the bend with Mont Ventoux taunting from afar |
Exercise prudence - 'cos that's how steep it is |
So near yet so far |
I am not sure if it was because we were closer to the Tour de France or the bigger turn out as compared to Col du Tourmalet and Hautacam, I could not help but feel that there were also more arrogant cyclists on Mont Ventoux – them in expensive gears, do not acknowledge when you cheer them on and tear down the mountains in top speed. I could not see any reason why there is any need to put one’s life at risk by going downhill and around corners at more than 80kmph when professional cyclists misjudge corners and go over barriers. Surely not everyone is a Romain Bardet making a lone breakaway with the whole peloton chasing him down.
Allez! Allez! Allez?
No. Chill, people. Chill.