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On May 5, the Lozérienne Cyclo took place in the middle of a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Aubrac, the Gorges du Tarn, the Lot Valley, the Margeride, and the Grands Causses form the playground for this sportive, unfortunately held in very difficult conditions. David Polveroni was there and tells us about his experience.
By David Polveroni – Photos: All rights reserved
Two years after my last participation, I returned to Lozère for the Lozérienne, dear to LVO organization. The weather was worthy of a February day, with snow on the car at dawn and a strong mistral wind. But it would take more to discourage the 400 participants.
The start of the long course, the Aubrac and its 155 km, was given from La Canourgue at 9 am, in the heart of Lozère and 25 km from Mende.
For me, a not-so-easy return to racing: skullcap, Castelli Mortirolo thermal jacket, leg warmers, with 0 degrees at the top of the first pass and small snowflakes, it was just enough to keep from getting cold.
We quickly arrived at a first climb. The tempo was light in this long 25 km ascent, irregular but never steep. The rhythm was set by small accelerations. We found the regulars, the locals Stephane Cognet and Damien Albaret, the Isère riders Rodolphe Lourd, Jean-Luc Chavanon and myself, the Saint-Étienne rider Cedric Richard… We passed the summit of the Col de Trébatut, after 33 km of racing, in a group of about twenty.
That’s where the hardest part began for me; between the speed and the wind, I was not at all comfortable in this small peloton. I had suffered several major successive crashes in the last two years, and I was just barely recovering. So I kept a few meters back and gradually regained confidence.
First loop completed, passing through La Canourgue, 105 km remained, which were actually the 105 km of the short course, the Aubrac.
In the vineyard climb that led us to the plateau, I followed an acceleration by Cédric, but it was still far from the finish and we were still a good fifteen riders. Small climbs followed one another without changing the physiognomy of the peloton.
Descent into the valley before tackling the Gorges du Tarn: it was not easy to appreciate the scenery, it was overcast, even if a few clearings made me remove my skullcap… Yet this section is normally worth the detour.
At the exit to Saint Eminie, things sped up, on a 7 km climb that took us back to the plateau. Paul Emile Lorthioir pulled away, followed by Stephane Cognet, Cedric Richard, Albaret and two other riders.
A little sluggish, I climbed at my own pace, finding myself with Rodolphe and we took turns at the front. We caught up with 3 riders who had started too hard. About thirty seconds behind at the summit: we had good hope of catching up. But things didn’t go very well, we were all a bit “dry” and the relays in the wind were poorly timed. Our hopes of victory were over, and we would not see the front again.
The final is long and I’m a bit short on strength for this finish.
The final is long and I’m a bit short on strength for this finish. Two of our companions rode away on a descent. Rodolphe and I took turns at the front, accompanied by icy gusts of wind, a little less than four minutes behind Paul Emile Lorthioir, the winner. It was well deserved because he was very strong that day.
As usual at LVO, there was plenty to replenish reserves with the local specialty: Aligot, made from potatoes and fresh Auvergne tomme cheese. A moment of sharing and conviviality, we met up to relive the sportive once we were well warmed up.
Next round of the Challenge Cyclo Tour: the Granite Mont Lozère in Villefort, http://www.challengecyclotour.com/granite-mont-lozere/#presentation
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