Day 18, Stage 16. Today they took the autobus!

Well, today the Tour de Force riders needed first of all to reach the start of the stage from their hotel so their distance actually exceeded that which the professionals will do in 7 days time. This added about 12km and one small category climb. The mood in the peloton was exuberant as for about a week the ride to, and the ascent of Mont Ventoux, had hung over the riders like a black cloud but this was now dissipated. Yesterday everybody rested, fixed bikes, ate junk food like ice cream or pizzas and some even drank a beer or two. Today, reinvigorated, the peloton had a relatively easy short ride of 176km (110miles), only a few serious hills with the route taking them onwards to the Alpine stages of the Tour. The riders first skirted round Ventoux and then passed through some gorges over mountains and through Gap in the high Alpes, before cycling over the Cole de Manse and then back into Gap.

Today’s ride was thoroughly enjoyed by most riders as the route was attractive but not too long or overly challenging. The mountain climbs were pretty, gave great views and they were not too steep, about 7km long but with gentle gradients of mostly less than 6%. It is surprising how the attitude of riders to the steep climbs has changed. In Corsica the Cat 3s or 4s caused concern and the cat 2s were a major discussion point but now all riders have experienced climbs of 20km with average gradients in the region of 8% and sections of several km rising to 11 or 12%. The tough climbs have made the riders more resilient and today the two category 2s were enjoyed particularly as the descents were long and not too challenging. Descending from a high mountain is still a cause of anxiety to Nick but less so to Matt. Surprisingly not all Tour roads are wide, some are narrow, some have cows, bullocks, horses or sheep and wet cow manure is a major risk for skidding as is the gravel which is strewn on many corners. Today’s descents were all gentle, straightforward and enjoyable.

As the riders left Bedoin they initially followed the reverse route that they had used towards Ventoux so that after the first climb they had the opportunity to view their old adversary from a distance. Doubtless many will come back to renew their acquaintance at some time in the future. 

Climbing massive hills on a bike has a bizarre attraction for some people! The ride proceeded in glorious sunshine though rugged countryside and soon the first snow was visible on the highest peaks.The riders first saw snow in Corsica, then again in the Pyrenees and now in the Alps.

Nick and Matt took the ”Autobus Eccosse” which significantly reduced their workload today as they had a near effortless ride to the last climb after Gap. Riding in a group dramatically reduces a rider’s energy consumption as the miles pass.

"Autobus Eccosse"

The Tour de Force riders form a large group and the organisation and support needed for this event is a massive task – if the truth is known, the organisation is probably more difficult than the riding. It is an interesting observation that when we arrive in a hotel a number of things happen. Firstly the wifi internet becomes unusable, secondly they run out of beer glasses, thirdly they run out of food fourthly they have no idea what 'vegetarianisme' (French influence!) might be and lastly despite the lack of glasses they always manage to run out of beer too.  Sarah, the Tour de Force super-organiser, has a deep understanding of priorities and several times she has rescued a potentially volatile situation with take away pizzas, extra food at breakfast or by intervening to ensure that famished vegetarians are not given the same meal as everyone else simply with the meat removed. She quite sensibly ignores the beer shortages. Though today’s ride was mostly in sunshine the weather changes and as the earliest riders mounted the Col de Manse dense clouds assembled and produced an intense downpour with full electrical and sound accompaniment.

 Matt was home first and he managed to keep dry, Nick is still nervous on mountain descents so he was at the hotel about 10 minutes later, both managed to remain dry and avoid repetition of the Mt Ventoux Sunday hypothermia session.