Our first climb of the day was Cold de L’Aravis with Mont Blanc visible in the distance. This was a proper climb and after we descend through a beautiful gorge. Now we see the start of a new formation for Chopper and I – The Peleton à Quatre. This particular Peleton à Quatre consisted of Chopper, Neil Evely (Ogilvy), David (Cannon Ball) Hulin (of French Heritage from Le Framestore in NY) and me.
The Peleton à Quatre climbed through the shady trees of Saisies ending in the unsheltered summit at an open car park at the top. No shelter and no gear to change into.
Chopper is then subject to a very bad accident in the loss of some loved ones (or loved thing). On Saisies there is a small descent on part of the climb, during this Chopper reaches for his helmet and tragedy strikes, his £160 Rudy Project Shades (that he could not afford) fall off to skid across the road only to be hit a lorry that flattens them in real Tom & Jerry style! Only minutes earlier he had been declaring his love for them. A full memorial service was held! Chopper was very brave and overcame his tragic loss to pedal on.
Later we dropped into Beaufort and one of the riders, Max, had a broken chain so we stopped to assist. Lending Max my special tool!
Delayed by an hour we start Roselund in very hot conditions but cheered on by passing a stunning lake of Cyan, Azure, Green. The top of Roselund is very high and normally cold but today it was very hot.
The descent was very, very fast with top speeds of 45... No, 47... No 50mph (arguments break out as top speeds are claimed and immediately disputed) suffice to say it was incredibly FAST!
Later we dropped into Bourg St Maurice for a tipple where three of the Peleton à Quatre take on some beer with Adam on the Coca-Cola as they take on the first half of Iseran! It killed everyone! It is hard, brutal and dangerous. We are now totally knackered.
We reach the hotel which is the highest in the Alps and suitably named Eagles Claw in Tignes.
No comments:
Post a Comment