Today the Col Du Tourmalet and with the sun shining and not a cloud in sight it should be the first time I will actually see what the mountain looks like. The 2 previous ascents have been in the fog and cloud.
First thing is breakfast which is as much as we can possibly eat, followed by the usual morning muck around/rituals and by 9:30 we head of for a 20 km warm up to Luz St Sauveur which marks the commencement of the climb. From here the road continually rises 1404 metres over 19 kilometres at an average gradient of 7.4% with some sections averaging up to 11%, to our ultimate destination the Col du Tourmalet at 2115 m.
A steady as she goes style of climb brings us above the tree line by about half way and from here the shade is gone, the sun gets warmer, the air thinner and the legs heavier. But on we go as we must and with a final effort to get over a cruel final 500 metres (11% to the top) it was congratulations all round and into baguettes with jambon and fromage to once again fuel the tanks.
Once again the views ...ooh la la !, the descent what a hoot!...... It was well worth the effort.
From here ... fortunately or unfortunately depending on point of view the planned ride up to Gavarnie and beyond was curtailed due a broken spoke on Gerry's dodgy wheels, necessitating a return to Argeles Gazost for repairs. And once home and suitably weary, I believe all were happy (I was) with what we'd done for the day.
So for me shower, rest, beer and the usual 5 course dinner finished off another day of grande cycling.
Following are a few photos of the The col du Tourmalet plus a couple more of Argeles Gazost.... love the name and the place.
So again...Bon noir
BB
Do they remember Mr. Mullarino in Argeles Gazot ? He made us very late for the van ride home and because we had to wait it wasn't our fault we got tired and emotional....
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