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“53/27-30, I’m cross-chaining but never mind, I feel good, there are 3 km left, after more than 7800 m of climbing, there’s been a light freezing rain for about ten km: I’m going to make it, the end of the adventure will be tamed. I see Val Thorens. I have chills. No matter the place, no matter how far ahead or behind, the victory over oneself is huge on this kind of sportive with a high mountain course… A small victory over life for me.“
By David Polveroni – Photos: All rights reserved
It all started 12 hours earlier here in Val Thorens. It’s 5:30 AM, about thirty brave souls are there, with a small light or a headlamp to tackle the long descent leading to Moutier. A neutralized descent, and I take the opportunity to chat with Nico Raybaud, and take a quick pee at the bottom. The day will be long, so we lighten up a bit.
We quickly arrive at the foot of the first giant of the day, the Col de la Madeleine. Approaching at a slow pace, I let those who wish to roll ahead. Some are doing the event in pairs, the relay will be in Bessans, so their management is different. I had a small plan in my head, adapting to the adversity, to complete this event in the best possible “state”. This climb matches the watts I had set for myself not to dig too deep, a high i2. At the summit, the weather is overcast and some take the time to get dressed. I hesitate to do so and that’s enough to lose contact with the leaders.
Then comes the descent. I don’t panic, quite the opposite, but this group will gain about forty seconds. It’s fast…
I tackle the Col du Chaussy quite hard, wanting to catch up, especially since I see two men breaking away in front. I’ll catch up quickly, maybe too quickly… Bourgeois, the winner of the Tour des Stations last year, or more recently of the Haute Route Cran Montana, doesn’t hesitate to attack again when I return. He’s strong. We continue as a trio until the first flat section, then it starts again, but I pay for my efforts and can’t follow, so I let them go. Very quickly I see that Bourgeois goes solo. And so, we find ourselves as a duo.
1min30 behind at the Col du Chaussy. A calm descent, despite a road that’s broken up in places. We arrive in the Maurienne valley. We ride, our understanding is excellent. I feel that my legs are responding well today. I set a tempo, by feel, that I feel I can maintain for hours and hours.
Then comes the small climb of Orelle, which breaks the legs but avoids staying too long in the valley. The first rider passes with a 3min30 lead at the top, still going just as fast. I’m not making any plans yet at this point regarding the ranking. I focus on the essentials. I listen to my body: economy, nutrition, thanks to my colleague for the day, he kindly supplies me with drinks and bananas…
The weather is almost ideal, threatening but no rain, no wind, about twenty degrees Celsius. Perfect.
Crossing Modane in traffic, and we tackle the second small leg-breaker: the climb of Aussois, unknown to me, it still climbs almost 7 km with 500 m of elevation gain. Always at my small pace, always with good legs, I pick up the pace a bit before a flat section halfway up. And then, a big surprise, we see a cyclist in a panic coming back towards us 10 km/h faster. Panicked, he asks us if there’s anyone ahead. In fact, it’s Guillaume Bourgeois who made a mistake on the descent. I don’t know how long he’s been clinging to the motorbike, but at the time, I’m still a bit shocked. It feels strange! 15 minutes ahead in Bessans, the organizer resets the clock and I restart with Johann 3min30 after him.
The serious stuff begins, with the Iseran. Crossing Bonneval-sur-Arc. I love this village, atypical, I’m already thinking of a future trip where I can stop there. A little over 12 km with a few flat sections, and 900 m of elevation gain, all at over 2700 m at the summit, I know it well from having done it several times. Immediately, I want to be alone. I feel stronger than Johan and I want to climb at my own pace.
I find it quickly and, soon, I no longer see it. It’s still a long way, so I’m still managing and managing. The small limit not to exceed. At that moment, I know that the Iseran will go well. I’m still on times and a distance I’m used to, even if we’re flirting with rarer and more difficult things.
One thing will disturb my bubble. The lead rider of the 140 km course, whose start was given shortly after our passage in Bessans, will catch up with me halfway up the climb. I have 195 km in my legs and over 4700 m of elevation gain, and he’s attacking me. So, okay, he attacks me, but I catch up to him without trying to. He’s spitting, great… I really appreciated that at this point. He’s going to get in my wheel… I explain to him, in case he hasn’t understood, that I’m not doing the same race… Well, he eventually leaves, I gradually fade.
But I know this feeling and I know how to manage these last two really complicated kilometers well with the day’s strength. With the altitude and fatigue, I’m almost “bad” at the summit. I stop to put on my windbreaker. I feel that I’m lacking lucidity with the efforts so I want to remain very cautious and return to a state of “calm”. I eat, I drink, and I try to save every bit of strength on this descent. The unknown, or almost, is coming for me. But I’m confident. Except for plantar or joint pain, nothing will prevent me from reaching Val Tho.
The descent is long, and with a lot of traffic. I’m stuck behind a bus for the second half. But no panic or risk-taking: physical and mental economy.
At the bottom, the second rider of the 140 km course catches up with me. We leave the main road to spice things up with the small climb of Villaroger, and especially its descent, a bit chaotic, not very restful. We rejoin the roads of the 2019 Étape du Tour. Crossing Bourg-St-Maurice, then Landry. It’s on a small descent afterwards that Johan, after a good descent, catches up with me. But I am very confident in the strength I have left.
In Macot, I meet Gilles, a friend who rides a bit with us. From the foot of the Longefoy climb, I set a strong pace, and I go solo. My legs are still good, I manage to find a good rhythm. A small flat section 2 km before the summit, and I catch my breath a bit while eating before the descent, which will be difficult for that.
It turns non-stop. I have a good descent, at least I feel like it. In the valley connecting Moutier, for 3 or 4 km, the wind blows hard and again I reach into my pocket. Everything goes down, bread, chocolate, walnut tarts, even a little tabouleh in a flask.
The last climb is long, about thirty kilometers. I approach it calmly and always managing my body, always ready to accelerate by a small km/h, by twenty watts. Everything then follows smoothly, the kilometer markers on the side of the road, just like my legs. The rain sets in, at the best moment. I will remain covered as I am, that is, just my jersey… I pull up my arm warmers and spin my gear all the way to the top.
I simply enjoyed myself for 12 hours like I haven’t in a long time.
I really liked this race against myself before racing against others. Because over such a distance, every effort takes its toll. A superb experience, I really recommend it to all who can and especially who want to, because with this kind of challenge, you learn to know yourself.
Next appointment for me of this type at the Tour des Stations. With a revenge on Guillaume Bourgeois? We’ll see… We’ll mainly try to (re)find form if all goes well because there are still quite a few things missing for me to be at my best.
https://www.strava.com/activities/5569030116/overview
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