Day 5 – Schnorbitz …
Col du Petit Saint-Bernard was the final days ride, a 30 km climb averaging 5% gradient; a nice jaunt up to the summit of one of the main passes in the region crossing into Italy.
With blue skies and a nice gentle breeze we set off on this Tour de France climb – most recently raced in 2009, in good spirits at the thought of this being the final challenge of the week. Al and I set a steady 17 kph pace up the steeper 8% section at the start of the climb, the legs feeling good and finally getting used to the daily effort we’d been doing each day. The kilometres ticked down on the waymarked posts as the two of us continued up the climb like the mountains goats we had finally become – I’m sure I heard a tourist mistakenly comment to his wife about the Schleck brothers as we passed by, an easy mistake to make I think you’ll find …
We continued on through the ski resort for the final 8 kms, only slowing when we turned a corner to be meet by a pair of mountain dogs sleeping on the warm tarmac, they weren’t moving for anything and weren’t interested in us cyclists, it must of been the skinny legs that put them off!
The last snow speckled kilometre levelled out as we past the statue of Saint Bernard, his arm outstretched towards the Italian border less than 800 metres away. We crossed the border and pulled into the car park of a cafe to meet the support van and popped in for a quick Italian coffee to celebrate the end of our two hour climb.
A short break and the chance to put some extra layers of warm clothes on and a few snaps of nearby Mont Blanc and we were ready for the 30 km ride back down the pass. Al and I descended at a good speed along with the three guides, following their line around switch backs to keep the speed up. We finally arrived at the bottom of the climb, the same route apparently used by the Carthaginian General, Hannibal, 45 fast minutes after we started.
The end of an unsurprisingly tough but satisfying week, 11,500 metres of climbing, hundreds of miles cycled, 13,500 calories burned; I think tonights beers have been well earned. Will I be back next year? … Hmm, not sure, maybe ask me again in a few months …
Thank you all for your comments of support/abuse, we couldn’t of done it without you all. Actually, we probably could of done it just fine, but it was fun to read anyway, we thank you. Until the next great adventure … so long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, good night …
The end of a fabulous adventure
You’ve got to do it next year, because I’m definately going.
“CHAPEAU!” to you both
Oh are u? Only joking mr jones
U sound like you have experienced child birth in the last paragraph about doing it again! You’ve both done so well guys, proud of you both. Have a great night, I bet you’re both grinning from ear to ear. Enjoy your well deserved beers, and safe journey home xxx
He’s already said he’s not doing it….which translates to, yes he will be doing it again!!
Looks like there could be a slightly larger party next year then – might even be enough to make an echelon…
Well done lads.
Great blog.
See you soon.
I can honestly say, hand on heart, that it was a lot easier than I thought it would be, natural talent made me breeze through, at one point I had to check my chain was still on it was so easy…….but Shaun, you will have to train a lot harder for Morzine next year, I can’t be waiting around again…….
I’m speechless …
Well done to you both, a great achievement. I’m sure it will become a regular thing.
I’ll stick to my girly trips, eating, drinking, sightseeing,sunbathing……
I’m with you Kim. Just couldn’t be arsed with all that!
Wow congrates to the both of you, what a great experience, but too much pasta eating for my liking 🙂 I’ll stick with a sprint for the train & relaxing trips away with Kim