Haute Route Pyrenees, Stage 7. Nice when a plan comes off!

The very final Stage in my 3 weeks of fun. Stage 7, a shorter stage with around 70k of timed effort. The rest would be the parade stuff, waving and chatting to people (and if your in the middle of the group, possible crashes). So the shape of yesterdays stage was a lay in to start, this was good news for the toilet functions and letting the food get down. The actual shape of the profile, less than 2k of neutralised then a little section of 10 until the first climb. Nothing big today, just a cat 2 to start then three cat 3’s with a 25k valley between the last and penultimate climb.

Cyril had been in the leaders jersey for 5 stages I think, he was in my team and a friend of Andrea. So we talked and were going to try and help Cyril onto the podium if it was possible. He only needed 13 seconds to get back on the podium, but the problem was the american guy Tristan was a way better climber and he could also descend so it was going to be a tall ask. Me and Andrea chatted and he said it was up to me if I wanted to race the stage hard to try and get the 40 odd seconds I would need to win the overall. I knew he was as good as me up the climbs, and I also knew he is a brilliant descender, and with the last climb only 10-15 minutes it was not really on. So I said I was happy to just complete the stage safely as I knew I had already had the three week race well in the bag, I would need a four hour mechanical to lose that, so I knew there would be a good prize for that. I said if possible I would like to be on the podium, so we were going to see if we could help Cyril.

The stage started at 08:30, there was talk on the start that the first descent could be neutralised if the fog did not clear. We would only find out at the summit, bit annoying as we could not go super hard up it incase it was not neutralised. Even so I was struggling with the pace and dangling at the back, I took a gander up the road and the reason was clear. The american had attacked and Andrea was setting a consistent but hard tempo. He reeled him in over five minutes. Job done, with 3k of the climb left I started to recover and considered attacking as we still had one or two of the lets say non climbers with us. One the second american who was a track sprinter by the look of his quads, massive they were! I was thinking he must be chewing out some huge power to be hanging in the group! I decided against the attack to save my matches for later on. This would prove a good decision for once.

We summited and saw pretty clear skies, timing was still on. So down the descent we went, I kept saying to myself “stay safe”, “stay safe”...! It was a twisty turnie descent to I would lose more time. I think there was 6 out front by the bottom, with me, Sergio, the german guy and one other. I knew Sergio was a worker and the german guy would want to get back with the lead group. Sergio burst to the front and was reving like a demon. I sat second wheel, gave him 30 seconds then I put the hammer down, then the german. We knew the other group would also be working but hopefully we could peg them and then close them down up the second climb. The second climb was on a more main road. The german guy seemed to be struggling and looked like he could not come through to take the work, so me and Sergio did most the work. There was misty fog so we did not get sight of the lead group until the 1k to go marker. As soon as I saw them I really pushed on, I wanted to get to them before we summited. Kind of let them know we were still there.

We just about managed this, the next descent was more of a fast one and I believe Andrea was controlling it so I did not get dropped. The american with the power quads attacked the descent and probably took 30 seconds out of all. This was no problem as he was well down in the overall. We got to the 20k of valley, Sergio hit the front and again put the hammer down, our little group of 10 was then stretched out in a line. Cyril was second wheel with Andrea third. He then allowed a gap to appear, the american guy was in the group but let the gap open, in hindsight this was an error. Andrea stayed at the front for the whole valley road, as soon as I saw the gap open I was pleased, one for Cyril, two for Sergio. Cyril had a chance to get back the podium in the GC and Sergio a good chance of winning the stage. He had such bad luck all the way through the three weeks with crashes and mechanicals. Today could be his day at last! We were getting time checks from the motor bikes, first 30 seconds, then 45, then a minute... I think it went up to 2 minutes with 5k before the last climb. Andrea was really taking it easy and I could not believe Tristan was letting the gap grow.... He was an awesome climber but that time would be near on impossible to get back in a short 5k final climb....

I think we had 1min 45 seconds to the leaders as we hit the start of the final climb. Tristan then let all hell break loose. I was 7th wheel as we went through the line, He was first and Andrea second. The group literally exploded straight away, gaps were appearing all over the place. I was scrapping over the gaps but not catching Tristan or Andrea. I was standing literally sprinting, 400 watts not stop. I knew I could not do this for the whole climb. Now I was on the last climb I wanted to hold my 2nd place overall. I was going into the red after only 2 minutes, still 15m off the two in our group. I dug in again and again, may be 4 minutes and I started edging back, that is all the encouragement that you need sometimes. The climb was not steep so I knew the drafting would help me if I could get on Andrea’s wheel. Another 30 seconds and I was there. I was properly puffing and in a world of problems. I could also see Andrea was going deep, weaving about. Tristan kept this massive pace up, god he was strong especially as he was pushing the air t the front too!

I held on for a couple of minutes thinking we had 1500m left. I was actually considering having a push for the line but that could have drawn us closer to Cyril’s group ahead. I sat in and we passed the last k, all was good I had covered Tristan and knew second in GC was done. As we saw the line Andrea signalled me to come beside him and we crossed the line together. A good day had by all. Cyril had his 13 seconds and we had both kept our places. With Sergio towing the powerful American and Cyril up the climb only for the American to attack with 1k to go and win the stage. Sergio was second and a really good way to finish the three weeks for him. I was more pleased for him than any other time during the week, he really had been through the mill. Good for him to leave with a podium. Talking of which, the prize giving, I love the prizes but hate getting up on stage. I was looking forward to what was in store for us....! I should not have been excited. The prize most of the week for podium has been socks, I now had 6 or more pairs. For second for the week I got a strange type of aero helmet. That was ok, probably not for use but for ebay I would say. The last prizes were for the three weekers, we were all asked up and given a bottle of champagne, thats handy for someone who does not drink. I immediately jumped off the stage and donated it to Roy the Sports tours guy (he was on camera duty). Then I was asked up again as the winner of the three week group. Oh good amother bottle of the same Champagne. To say I was well chuft would be an understatement and not one bit sarcastic. Never mind, I doubt that would attract more people to do the three week event.

So all done and dusted, no crashes for the three weeks. only one mechanical and that was a inner tube from Planet x which was faulty (I also had another two from them faulty with me, not impressed). That could have really cost me if I had not noticed, as it was it cost me 11 minutes. I also got away with not having to talk on a microphone! I will let things settle in the next week, looking briefly at the race I had done what I wanted and thought I could. top ten in all three and fastest in the three week crew. I still stand by doing three weeks is possible for everyone, its only tough the way you ride it. Prepare and anything is possible.

On that note I will sign off. Thanks for those who have been reading, thanks also to pro bike kit for their support, no other companies were keen to help me. With a huge thanks to Justin Lord (Azur Cycle Tours) without his help I would never have been able to get the mileage up the climbs all year round. Last but certainly not least massive thanks to Pete the man who always tested me with training plans and kept confidence in me. Speech over. Enjoy not having to read my poor grammar and spelling each day.

Paul