Haute Route Pyrenees, Stage 4.

Stage 4 of the Pyrenees, Elements of the day would suit me. climbing. Others would not, descending. We were starting higher than we finished, and all descents were again timed. I knew from previous days I can live with the pace on the climbing parts of the race, even the steeper sections where my higher weight is a hinderance. I was not looking forward to the descending though. The guys tend to hit them hard and even if I can get a few seconds at the top of a climb that will be destroyed within the first few k of a fast descent.

So today was a day of mixed emotions. First climb I did my usual of feeling rubbish for ages. I was hanging onto the back of the group cursing my knee misery, trying to stand as much as I could but knowing it was a less efficient use of power. Once we got within 5k of the top I sensed the speed was coming out the climbing, so I thought I would try to get one of the danger men to do some chasing, previously we have not seem him do any work but he was very keen to tell others to work (on stage 2 when he ordered me to work). So I moved to the front and hit the gas for a minute, unfortunately my team mates who would be good today as they are demon descenders did not see my plan and covered my attack. I sat up a little with the group now a dozen strung out. I moved into third wheel and thought, “sod it lets have another go”. This was feeling reasonably ok. So I went again and again they all covered it. One more go and I was chased by my team mates. I then sat down and waited for the summit and the misery to follow the bleep of the timing mat!

Down we went, immediately I took my position at the rear of the group. I knew there was two other guys who were slower than me on the descent so I looked to get past them fast and try to keep the lead guys in sight. I was on the line of where I wanted to be on risk wise. They were using both sides of the road (with the roads open this is nuts), I decided to chill a bit. Nothing can be gained from being involved in a crash. Then in from of me Sergio was trying to stay with the group and I was 40m behind him. A left hairpin was approaching and he locked up, sliding left then right he went straight on. Thankfully there was only a ditch with a huge amount of grass, he performed a somersault and then his bike flicked over him. My first thought, is he moving...! I had come to a stop 5m from him, and he was already up shaking his head that he had been drawn into the madness of the descending games! Another rider stopped to see if he was ok, he was and we then carried on. That was a bit of a eye opened, makes you sharpen up after having a front row seat for a big crash. I do feel its really ballsey of the organisers to let people "race" downhill on completely open roads, I would not want that on my mind.

I found a bit of space ahead of the guys I was now with after the crash and then descended at my own speed. In the valley the three of us did some work together, but I was getting a feeling of “what is the point”. I was still working hard but motivation was zero. I knew that if I climbed flat out I might be able to get the leaders in sight, then a descent followed and they would take another minute or two back. Or I could risk it and end up crashing. Pointless. I have no interest in that. We soon arrived at the foot of the second climb. Hourquette d'Ancizan had a 500m section of 17%, Sergios was beside me trying to try the pedals up this big ramp. He said to me “what the hell is this...?” I returned with “steep mate”.... which it was. After that he stuck with me for a while but then I moved away, the crash probably shook him up a bit so his climbing had been effected. I climbed on my own for the rest of the climb with a guy i now know to have come from Hamburg ahead of me by 300m or so. I knew he was steady on the descents so I carried on with my own gig on power. I summited and grabbed a refill of water and a banana chunk. This descent was horrid, there was cattle poo all over the road, hit that and you’ll have yourself a good slide. On occasions there was patches of gravel, blind rises and a few surprise hairpins after long fast sections. Overall my worse nightmare. Oh no, add some rain and that is the dream!

I was going very slowly down here even by my standards. I was not interested in any type of crash. I got off the first 15k or so and the grade was less steep, ahead I thought I could see Roy beside the Sports Tours van, as I got closer, yes it was him. He was beside Nicolas. He had mud up his jersey. Oh shite, he had gone down too. I braked and shout all ok. They were ok, but Roy later told me Nico had broken his collar bone. He had been going down that road and there was no signs for a tight turn or mashalls and he overshot it. Game over for him, I felt very sorry for him. He has done exactly the same mileage as I have and he had also been racing it hard each day. With only 3 days from the finish. Gutted for the guy, especially as he had got me into his team for the Pyrenees too.

After that I soon arrived at the foot of the big boy of the day, Col du Tourmalet. I knew this was a long one and was looking forward to it before we started the day. I fancied if I was anywhere near the leaders I could get some time back up there. But as it went I had zero interest, the event of the day had taken the wind out of me. While I was still upright and able to turn the pedals I decided I would do just that. I attacked the Tourmalet with no aggression. It is very very rare I feel this way, I was climbing the first 5-8k at club ride pace. I did come round a little bit half way up and eventually started to get hurty toward the final 5k where you pass through the ski station. As I passed the 1k to “Le Sommet”, I spotted the Hamburg guy ahead, he was slowing or I was speeding up. I hit the top and grabbed a bottle from Roy, that was very handy! Him and Darrell have been great on this trip.

I descended safely again, cursed how busy the road was, the road works traffic lights that slowed me and the busy town we went through. You never know who is going to jump out when your going through at 30mph. Another 5k or more and I was on the final 18k of very gentle down hill with a couple of meters of rises. I was again not into working it hard, then suddenly the Hamburg guy appeared on the shoulder. He hit the front at break neck speed, I hit the gas and was just about hanging onto his wheel. A minute or two later and I thought I had better do some work tho my legs were not in the mood, they were feeling sticky and certainly not up to this guys speed! I did a turn then he took the front again. We carried on this was with me taking the front through the technical turns (this is very rare). With him doing the brunt of the work until we hit the timing mat. I thanked him for his huge effort and for waiting for me even though I told him to go it alone.

So overall a bit of a downer day you could say. Tomorrow is Time Trial day. I kind of want to go for it but do not know if the knee will like it as I still have to finish the final two stages. I guess I will see how the warm up goes, and no doubt I will get into a hurty place.