The Double d'Huez - (Stage 18 TdF, Gap > Alpe d'Huez, 168km)

Pt and Janice had arrived in Gap the night before and, jet lagged, were being thrown straight into the deep end.... starting with Stage 18 the Tour would spend three massive days in the Alps, promising exciting racing for the pros and long days for us mere mortals.

Much confusion trying to figure out the bike bags... Pt managed to avoid tyre issues for the first time though

The route for the day would take us over the Alpe d’Huez, twice! It is the first time the Tour has gone over this iconic climb twice in one stage. The day was going to be all about the Alpe...

We started the day by climbing out of Gap up the Col de Manse, they way we had descended in two days previously. I rode with Pt and Janice, it was a good introduction for them - a climb that barely registered on the days profile that was longer and steeper than their training hill - the Peak.

Ready for a long day in the saddle!!

The scenery once at the top of the climb was worth it though. Glorious sunshine with a layer of cloud below us in the valley.

After the first feed I headed off in a slightly faster group and as we comfortably ticked along over the Rampe du Motty and on towards the Col d'Ornon.

Off to the Alpe

After another brief rest we again headed off and climbed the Col d'Ornon at a decent pace before a cracking descent took us all the way down to Bourg-d'Oisans and the base of Alpe d'Huez.

A quick refill of the water bottles and it was every man for himself as we all picked our own pace to climb the 12.3km hors category climb. Knowing the hill well, and that we would be doing it again in only a matter of hours, I rode relatively conservatively. Today certainly wasn't the day to try and beat my best time up the mountain.

Halfway up the Alpe

At the top we stopped for lunch and headed out of the town an onto the Col de Sarenne. It was a short climb, but a pretty punishing one, with lunch still settling and the searing midday heat.

The Col de Sarenne is wild and beautiful, with some stunning scenery again. However, its 'wild' nature unfortunately translates to the quality of the road surface on the descent. A very narrow, steep and technical descent was made even more sketchy by an uneven, potholed and gravel covered surface. The bails of hay with red and white tape on them at cliff edges, corners and posts did nothing to make you feel safer. How in gods name the pros are going to race down that road I don't know!!

The road was so dodgy that my a bolt in my Garmin mount came lose and fell off, I had to stop and fix it and then continue to descend like crazy to catch back on to the group I was with.

Before a final loop back towards Bourg-d'Oisans we stopped at a small café and had an espresso and ice cream before rolling back out for the final climb – the second ascent of the Alpe d’Huez.

Round once more...

The effort going up the second time around was pretty much the same as the first time, except this time in far greater heat. The times for the two climbs were similar, if not anywhere near my best – nice and steady…

Arrivee!!

On hitting the top we had a quick photo and then headed back down into the main village to find a bar to watch the rest of the riders come up and give them a cheer for the final 2km. We settled in and had a few beers and coffees.

Much to my joy there was even a Rapha pop-up shop right across the road.

To feature in the next Rapha catalogue

JK, the birthday girl, hit the top a little later than we had expected having somehow contrived to take a wrong turn and a 10km diversion shortly after having to stand on the side of the road whilst Matt F tried to change an inner tube for 45 minutes.

Birthday girl hits the top (after she found it)!!

Pt and Janice were someway back (having caused a minor panic by not signing into the last feed station so no one knew where they were) and arrived back at the hotel as dinner was starting, broken but having both completed (by far) their longest and most punishing bike ride ever! Awesome.

A glorious holiday ride (with some hail stones) (Stage 16 TdF, Vaison-la-Romaine > Gap, 168km)

After a massive day two days previously everyone was glad to be setting off at a far more civilised time of day – 7.30am. Not exactly a lie-in, but an improvement.

Added to the ‘late’ rise, it was a glorious day. The perfect day for cycling through Provence. It was also a much more relaxed atmosphere amongst the group – the apprehension of Stage 15 and Ventoux had gone and a rest day spent relaxing by the pool had clearly worked its magic.

The more relaxed atmosphere meant a gentle pace and plenty of stopping to take in the views. It really felt like we were on holiday as we rolled up and over a couple of categorised climbs with stunning scenery on either side.

The route took us out of Bedion and back over the Col de la Madeleine. Not quite the same route as the Tour itself, which would be leaving from Vaison-la-Romaine, but after passing through Malaucene we were quickly on the official route.

As we rode away from Malaucene and up the Col de Macuegne we were treated to a stunning view looking back at Ventoux. Another opportunity to stop and take it all in.

Ventoux, I think I love you...

Dropping down the valley we passed through the small town of Sederon, where road works were underway in preparation for the Tour itself. We had been warned that we could ignore the diversion signs and roll through the road works as they only lasted a few hundred metres.

As I approached I recognised the familiar sight of wet/melting tar and decided to walk my bike round. Others were not so lucky and spent a fair amount of time at the next feed stop trying to clean their wheels of tar. Using wet wipes for this task seemed a little odd though.

Luke was amongst those faffing about the tar on his tyres. He was convinced he was about to get a puncture, but after some pressure decided to roll out again with a big group heading off.

We had barely gone 4km when Luke’s front wheel let out a large hiss. A puncture.

Luke then proceeded to try and change his inner tube. We pulled a tack out of the tyre and then on trying to inflate the tyre, realised that Luke had unthreaded gas canisters for his threaded valve adaptor. Just as we were chiding him, a random dude rode past.

“My wife is in a car just behind me with a track pump if you want”

The guy looked like a pretty serious cyclist. He was as it turned out. He is cycling the route of all three Grand Tours this year a week ahead of the pros – solo! His wife was following him in a car for the whole trip, washing his kit, sterilising his bottles and giving him sports massages each night. Mental!

It turns out she was a little bit mental (the nice type of mental), and after a slightly bizarre conversation we were off again (Luke puncturing again not too far down the road).

We sat and had lunch as the storm clouds gathered over the mountains. The chances of getting wet were increasing.

Once on the road again it wasn’t long before the relaxed attitude of the day was evident again as we dived into a café for a quick espresso. Then an ice cream. And then a round of cokes. The Tour was on the TV and the mood was jovial – it was pretty hard to get back on the bike again.

A couple of the Lifers who had been chilling at the back of the peloton for the day suddenly were having a bit of a jours sans, fatigue sweeping over them. Transition days can be hard, and after such a big day to Ventoux and a the Alps looming, the mental side of things can often be more difficult than the physical. It reminded me a lot of how I felt riding through the artificial forests of Bordeaux in 2010.

We had a fast decent into Gap before starting the final ascent of the day, the Col de Manse. Just as we hit the base of the climb the heavens opened. Hail stones and lightening. The hail was hurting and being on a metal bike was a little concerning. As the torrential rain and streams of water sweeping down the road got heavier and more intense my only thought was to get back into Gap as quickly as possible. Mark T, Luke and I pushed perhaps a little harder than we needed with the dry and warmth firmly in our minds.

Going over the top it was just a narrow step and technical descent to contend with before we were back at the lovely Gapotel…