Wind and Rain and Fire (and yes - snow)

Phil H - "The toughest day ever, anywhere, anytime"

Mick W - Toughest day on a bike since Around the Bay in a Day 2004 when paramedics were called to deal with cyclist hypothermia at Queenscliffe

Peter S - I've got nothing to say

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But lets start at the beginning.

A latish breakfast by our standards was followed by a reasonably easy negotiation of some Annecy traffic to the bike path along the Western side of the Lake.

It was raining but not heavily and this gave us a different perspective of the beautiful lake to that we witnessed the previous afternoon.

We rolled along the path at a leisurely 20 kph and eventually leaving lake behind and following a series of bike paths almost all the way through to Albertville.

During this time, we each recorded our thoughts about what lay ahead - that is the 26 km accent of the Hors Category Col De La Madelaine. The comments recorded pre climb are:

Phil - Nervous to the extreme about what lays ahead. What am I doing here?

Ern - Confident I will do a good climb, just need to set my own pace and keep within my limits and all will be fine

Peter - I am sh--ing myself

Colin - This is the climb I have been fearing the most. It is very long and my first big climb

Mick - I see it as a scientific experiment. (Mick added some physics formulas that referred to gravity, mass and velocity)

Craig - I gained a lot of confidence from yesterday and am confident I will make it.

Damian - It is pretty scary but I am excited by the challenge and really looking forward to it.

At Albertville, we consumed the obligatory baguette lunch and rolled out of town just as the rain again started to fall.

From there, we had another 30 or so minutes to the start of the climb. At one stage, Peter dropped back to the writer to comment that virtually all conversational banter had ceased suggesting there was a degree of nervous expectation within our group.

It was also notable that we stopped for a greater than usual number of natural breaks during the day.

With little notice, we came to the foot of the climb and stopped to unload any weight we could from our bikes - pumps, saddle bags, lights etc. We also filled water bottles, most discarded helmets and in now clearing weather and 17 degrees, did away with rain jackets, arm and leg warmers and all but Ern and Mick discarded gillets. A number of us also took to the bushes with the appropriate tissue.

A photo stop at the climbs commencement followed and we were off.

The first 15 k's were generally accepted as being quite comfortable. The gradients for each kilometre are sign posted and with the exception of a 9% and an 8%, were between 2% and 6%. Most were even using the big chain ring from time to time.

At around kilometre 13 we became engulfed in quite thick fog but it was still comfortable and the temperature had not really fallen.

Between kilometres 15 and 16, we broke through the fog and were hit by a strong and cold head wind and increasingly heavy rain which subsequently almost became sleet.

In addition, from the 15 k to 24 k mark, the minimum gradient was 8% (and only one at 8%). However this does not tell the full story. When you reach a marker that says the next kilometre has an average gradient of 10% and you then travel the first 500 metres at around 2%, you are aware that the balance of the k is going to be a lot more than 10% and it repeatedly was like this.
The temperature dropped, the wind increased and the rain became heavier.

Damian was first up the Col shivering into the the bar at the summit desperate to warm up. He was followed by Peter who reported the difficulty of holding his handle bar due to the cold.

Ern followed soon after, then Colin and Craig.

Phil and Mick completed the climb in developing sleet and not long after, it began to snow - yes snow.

The temperature had dropped by 14 degrees before the Col was climbed.

It became impossible to squeeze water from a bottle or even take a gel out of a pocket such was the coldness of our hands.

We were shaking and distressed as we completed the climb and the bar did a roaring trade in coffee and tea.

Peter had 6 coffees in 35 minutes, Colin 8 teas as the surroundings turned to snow white.

With the weather worsening, we discussed what we would do. Our destination for the day was St Jean du Maurienne.

Damian was concerned that he was suffering the start of a virus so along with Phil H and Mick W, decided to take their bikes and join "Pants Off" in the van and seek accommodation in the nearer town of Le Chambre. Those remaining would wait out the weather and then proceed down the Col and join them (the weather seemed to be clearing). Between the making of this decision and the packing of the van, the snow fall increased and it was decided that descending the Col by bike any time soon was not going to be sensible. The 'Van Team' took all but two bikes and set off in search of accommodation while Ern, Colin, Peter and Craig ordered more coffee and tea to await the return of the van.

Peter used some unique negotiating methods to get us into the unused restaurant area and the warmth of a fire place and we rewarded the owner with the purchase of a local bottle of red.

Settled beside a warm fire, sipping a fine local red while the outside was turning to a classic scene of white was not a bad way of recalling an incredible day when 6 of us ascended our first ever French Alp and all of us succeeded on Madelaine for the first time (PB's as Damian had put it).

Another bottle of red passed and those left at the Col were almost disappointed when "Pants Off" returned to collect us.

As Peter said "This puts a whole new perspective on the notion of Friday afternoon drinks"

We all reunited at the Etap in Le Chambre and managed to find the only restaurant open for the night.

Today was monumental. The climb, the weather, the snow - everything about it is memorable.

We are almost a week into our cycling adventure and every day has been so totally different.

Just what tomorrow and the iconic Alp d'Huez will present us is any ones guess.

We just want it to come quickly.

Check the new photos in the gallery. Also the normal apology applies along with the news that Mick may have come up with an idea so this site will think it is being accessed from Australia. This means it can be written and corrected in English and not via French.