Training Log Archive: devil

Bagneres-Horquette d'Ancizan-Azet-Aspin-Bagneres

Back down to Bagneres, one of the dodgiest rides I've done with thousands of cars, vans and riders coming down the mountain, with the bikes all on the wrong side of the road

Ride out to todays TdF start with a bunch from the Allez Pyrenees. Not really flat and it got a bit roasting hot, especially on the return ride. We missed the caravan so luckily didn't have a pile of useless crap to carry back. Now waiting for the storm that the tour riders are in at the moment to get to here.

The ride with the Allez Pyrenees Peloton up to the top of the tourmalet, then back down to the camp about 1.5km off the summit. The road was already crowded with cars and riders when we set off, and once we got on the climb there were crowds lining the route all the way up. I took the climb pretty steadily, there were a few holdups with big groups weaving all over the road. Passed the devil early on, then out into the sun. The top was chockers with riders, gendarmes and spectators so didn't hang around too long but headed down to the camp where beers awaited. Then it was time to grab free crap from the caravan before another wait for the riders to come up. Eventually the clatter of helicopters coming up the valley heralded the peloton. The good thing about being so high up was that it lasted well over half an hour, with some of the back markers looking very much the worse for wear. Great way to spend an afternoon.

An easier day with a ride from Arras-en-Lavedan up the valley to lac d'Estaing, then over the Col des Borderes, I forgot to restart my garmin at the lake so did the Borderes climb a second time. Then up to the Col du Soulor and finally onto the Aubisque. The climbing was definitely easier than yesterday. Had the omelette d'Aubisque along with the horses that kept trying to raid the restaurant tables before the mainly downhill roll back to the car. Back just in time to watch Froome and Porte finish off the stage, Tourmalet again tomorrow!

More hors category action with a ride up the tourmalet and then back round to bagneres. A bit of warm up to start with 12kms up the valley before the official start of the climb with the km markers and gradients. The tour comes up here in two days time so there were already people campervanning on the side of the road and sitting ready in their deck chairs. Once more plenty of punters on the climb. I was doing a fair bit of overtaking, and at one point went past a bunch and one of them sprinted up to me and said he'd ride to to top because I was going fast enough. I think he was a bit quick as he got ahead, then turned round and went back to his mates. Completely chockers on top with cyclists getting photos by the summit sign, camper vans trying to drive through, tourists wandering around. Then down the other side to Luz which was a fast descent after negotiating the hairpins and a time trial along the rail trail towards Lourdes, avoiding the dodgy valley road. Then a final sting across to bagneres across some country roads and a bonus col.

In the pyrenees, after a bit of arranging and weather dodging ended up doing the Col des Tentes with Rob who was staying in Luz. Really spectacular and plenty of chat for the first 20km until the road pointed up. Fun dodging round the sleeping sheep on the road at the top and a jaw-dropping 360 view from the top. Followed by a winding descent through alpine villages and a lunch in an old village square.