MONT VENTOUX THREE MOUNTAINS CHALLENGE
DAY 3 OF 3
So to recap Alpe d'Huez had been seen off on the Tuesday in fine style, followed by a solid yet steady performance up the Col du Galibier on the Wednesday. It takes over 9 hours to get to Carpentras in the South with temperatures over 100 degrees and no air conditioning - this is a challenge in itself. Tonight's hotel has noisy diners and drinkers outside below the bedroom till 2am and then at 5am they start moving the tables out side. Up and away just after 6am and park just outside the little picturesque town of Bedoin. Despite the exertions over the last 48 hours I feel OK and buoyed by the fact that there are no cliff edges and drops to oblivion like the previous day. Then I remember that this is possibly the most feared mountain in the world for cyclists and recall a few facts.
In 1958 Charley Gaul from Luxembourg has a winning climb up the tough Bedoin side of the Ventoux and celebrates his win on the tour by being taken back to the hotel in an ambulance.
Our own Tommy Simpson dies of exhaustion on this beast in 1967 and is found with his hands still on the handlebars.
No less a man than the undisputed king himself Eddie Mercx of Belgium wins in 1970 - he celebrates his victory in an oxygen tent.
Oh well at least its the last day and so I can push my body to the limits and hope for the best.
It’s 6.50am and after finding a parking spot I make final checks to the bike before attempting the staggering climb of 21.5k. As I do this a German guy comes by and acknowledges me. So off I set on the toughest Southern ascent and it’s a steady climb and then it’s into a winding section with trees on either side. It’s steep but has a perfect tarmac road and the temperature is around 70 so can’t complain. Onwards and upwards with little respite and I pass the German guy who has had to stop and rest. Atmosphere is calm and very quiet with only one car every few minutes and strangely no cyclists and then I spot one in the distance up ahead. It’s a lady and as I pass her she smiles and acknowledges - "bonjour", I smile and reply "bonjour" as I try and pretend its not hurting but I'm sure she knew otherwise.
After 50 minutes of climbing there is a slight break in the trees and I think I spot the observatory monument at the pinnacle where I'm heading to. At 8am I decide to take breakfast and its the usual Cola gel and a swig of Isostar sports drink. Continuing on its relentless in its severity and the sun is rising and shining through the trees which does not help. However after a brief period of mental waiver I get my second wind and feel OK again.
As I reach the top of the shaded area after one and a half hours of very tough climbing I am looking forward to the last 5k. I have read that there is a short flattish area before the final ascent and so far so good as the road begins to gradually drop down. However a few minutes later I am getting a little concerned as I feel that I am surely beginning to descend. I'm sure that I have not made a mistake as I have seen sign posts to the contrary and have not veered of the same road. Down and down I go for about 10 minutes until I meet another cyclist coming in the other direction. Much to my dismay he informs me that I will either have to reclimb or continue on to the town of Sault and then take the road round to Carpentras. As there is nearly 2 hours on the clock already and he heat is beginning to tell I decide to carry on to Sault (big mistake).
Many cyclists are now coming up this side of the mountain and although its a lot further than the Bedoin side I think my mum could almost make it up this side. When I get to Sault I ask and get told take the tourist route back to Carpentras as there are less cars - this turns out to be more narrow cliff roads. The heat is now getting up towards the predicted three figures and I have no drink left and there is continual climbing and descending.
Eventually I have to stop and call at a house and before I have finished my sentence to ask for water, the Frenchman laughs and shakes his head as he duly takes my bottle. "Crazy Englishman" or something very similar was going through his mind. With Bedoin thankfully approaching I take a wrong turn which results in more distance and even worse - more tough climbing. By the time I eventually reach the car from where I set off I have been on the bike for a staggering 4 hours and 40 minutes. My body is now aching and I'm mentally drained as I realise that I could have almost done the Ventoux twice in this time. Missing out on standing at the top of the mountain outside the observatory, not only do I feel cheated but have also done another 50k plus for nothing.
Apparently I should have veered left at the building at the top of the shaded area.
Moral victory counts for little as I vow that this is my last project - but then I said that last year.
Always look on the bright side of life as the song goes and at least I am still in one piece, Cancer Research UK has benefited financially and I can now genuinely claim to be a climber.
Many thanks to everyone for their support - Wayne Kennedy
DAY 1 - Alpe d'Heuz: a true time 'Trial'
DAY 2 - The Col du Galibier: a frightening experience
DAY 3 - Mont Ventoux: crazy Englishman cycling in 90° heat
Copyright Wayne Kennedy 2004.