Adam was on good form and Chris and Neil were both feeling the strain of the day before.
Because of the snow however, the Galibier was closed which was a real disappointment to the guys as it is an amazing ride. Instead it was a detour and a 23km climb up the Col Du Glandon followed by the Croix De Fer, a very big mountain at over 2000m high!!!
At least the sun was out and it was mostly dry, so they set off back up the top of the Col du Telegraphe, a 4k ride but the really good news was the descent, a 12k ride. Interesting fact for the Fireflies: in all the years the Fireflies have ridden they have always approached Col du Telegraphe from the other side so no-one had ever gone down the 12k side until now.
To suggest the guys blasted down the mountain is an understatement (sorry for any Mums reading) so have a look at our bike cam for the full throttle experience!
Once they hit the valley floor they had a 30k ride and settled in to a 10-12 strong peloton and as there was a few guys in this format they packed closely, roughly 6-12 inches apart… you are literally that far away from the wheel in front of you and the wheel behind you! All speeding along at around 25mph!!!
And sorry again to Neil’s Mum, but the guy in front of him suddenly put on his brake, forcing Neil on to his front wheel at a virtual 45 degree angle – imagine an endo at 25mph, not fun!
Chris was riding behind Neil and almost had Neil’s back wheel in his face! The guys described this as ‘exciting and scary’.
This forced them to create two packs of riders as everyone was a little shaken up but all carried on to the Col Du Glandon.
As they began the ascent - a 21k climb - all of them were in very good spirits; the sun was still out and all broke to ride up at their own pace.
The climb wasn’t super steep to start with but incredibly long and Neil was feeling pretty tired. The altitude was kicking in and they still had 100k to go…
Around 10k from the top, the mountain did become almost vertically steep and at the top looking down to the valley where they started Chris poetically described it as “a ribbon of tarmac around the mountain.”
Then on to the Croix De Fer, the very big mountain, over 2000m high!!!
By the time they had done Col Du Glandon riding up the Croix De Fer (did we mention this was a very big mountain?) over 2000m high!!! You are pretty exhausted and the last thing you want to do once you reach the top is ride another 3k to the highest peak!
Neil was going to pass on the extra ride but with Adam and Chris pushing on, and clearly being a competitive boy, he joined them!
Now they had a 19k descent, just what they needed, hitting it downhill very hard! And I’m afraid another look-away-for-the-Mum’s moment, but as they were flying down (in formation and very sensibly flying down) a motorcyclist not paying any attention tore through a corner, literally missing the pack by a mere six inches! The guys offered some friendly gesticulation and words of driving wisdom as he sped off.
At the bottom they stopped for food and refreshments where Adam pulled Neil out of the venue of his choice and in to a pizza place where all three of them ate/stuffed 12 inch pizzas – which they would regret a little later as it left them feeling rather full and heavy.
So on to the legendary 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez, another infamous Tour de France route. On the 16th corner you hit the ‘Balcony Road’ where you continue to climb into the sheer face of the rock, a road that looks like it is chiseled in to the mountain with a drop of 450m.
Adam again was looking very strong – go Adam (honestly, the youth of today) - zooming off back to the hotel. He had tried to keep up with the leader but couldn’t so ended up riding back alone which with very tough but he really enjoyed it! You know it’s a hard day when you’ve eaten all the food you packed and drunk every drop of liquid.
Meanwhile back to Chris and Neil… they were both now very, very tired and decided to pace themselves and stick together. After a while both felt they were losing their sense of humour but this soon turned into complete hysteria – which manifested itself in uncontrollable laughing (wish we had footage or pictures!).
With our Laurel and Hardy (their words not mine) routine in full swing the guys try to help the pack of girls at the back. This was a lame effort as Chris was finding that cycling at their pace was causing cramp and stiffness which means you can seize up, so him and Neil had no choice but to pick up the pace and head off – the thought was there and they did try! Chivalrous Mill guys!
By now they could barely ride as they were laughing so much but luckily and happily made it back to the hotel.
Adam, by this point, had been in a 20 minute freezing cold bath… he told me this really helps with the stiffness and muscles… but I’m never going to try this, and neither will Chris or Neil! To quote the younger members of the team “we’re not bloody doing it”. Kudos – again – to our very own Mr. Scott, hard man of The Mill Fireflies – Go Adam! – show them how it’s done!
So Friday night (and I barely dare mention it) and everyone settled in bars to watch En-ger-land’s amazing performance against Algeria – must of really lifted their spirits… Well, if that didn’t the 40% Juniper schnapps certainly did!
Stats from the guys:
Top speed: 53.5 km
Climbed: 9,500 ft
Distance: 137k
