Scott and I are sitting in the foyer of the Mercure in Pau catching up on what has been going on in world in the last few weeks. The camp is now complete and the guys are on their way home.
Day 11
Yesterday huge cracks in the crew were turning into crevasses so who knew how they would react today.
There were thunder and lightning warnings for today’s route which didn’t bode well. As it turned out the guys had to go through about 1km of rain with the rest of the day being quite mild.
We started today at nearly 2000m and were finishing in St Girons around 500m so that meant plenty of descending. However…….. there was the small issue of the final KOM of the camp over the Col du Puymorens. Mike and Gordo had a sprint finish with Mike taking it by half a wheel. In the second group there was an equally ferocious sprint with Colm & Jonathon Kelly an apparent dead heat. From the top of the Puymorens there was about 40-50km of descending which was well appreciated.
On arrival in St Girons no surprises that the crew got lost yet gain despite clear instructions. They even asked a road worker which way then proceeded to ignore his instructions and go the complete opposite direction to the Hotel.
We capped the day off with a drink next to the river (I polished off a bottle of wine as it was my birthday).
A few brave performances today. Dr J swam 3km, ran 50kms, biked 210km then ran 1hr40. Jonathon Kelly joined him for all but the first 50min run as they both attempted to overhaul Scott in the point comp. Scott still had a few tricks in the bag as he pulled out the 1km bands on the final day (even though he was near vertical as I swam next to him). Also Michael Peters battled through sickness and rode the full stage having not eaten for a day and throwing up all night – he was 100% fuelled on Sprite. Gordo put up one last attempt to take the yellow jersey from Mike. After 3 50min runs (one before and after swimming and another at lunch) he was forced to raise the white flag as Mike was going to tail every move he made.
Day 12
We opened off with a swim and group run. The hoteliers were a bit bamboozled when the 1 croissant & 1 piece of bread they provided didn’t satisfy the groups appetite. So out came the food boxes from the van… chicken, fruit, bars, yogurt, creamed rice………
The team rode as a group today until the city limits when an all out attack from Molina split the group and they all hammered the last 10km to the Hotel. Colm took line honours from Jonathon & Scott.
We finished in typical epic style with a great French meal at the race course. There were no repeats from NZ where team Sweden tried to drink Christchurch dry. The guys were just too darn tired.
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Scott and I were talking about the hardness of this camp. He thought it was going to be much easier than it was. Had we made the route too hard?? Maybe, but the guys all made it!!!!!! We had one man down temporality because of an Achilles problem and another with a stomach bug but everyone else made it. Epic is supposed to be an incredibly challenging 12 day adventure into the unknown for many, and that’s what we provided. What’s more we had some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Next week the guys will be able to sit at home and watch the TDF riders climbing the same Cols and will have a much greater appreciation of what they are going through.
Tomorrow I’m going to get out there and go over the Marie Blanc & Aubisque (arguably the 2 hardest climbs of the camp) to add to my trips up the Tourmelet & Luz Ariden. Then the torturous 3 day journey back to the NZ winter.
Special thanks to Ian & Julie from www. pyreneesmultisport.com and John Ellis for the help during the camp
Epic NZ in January is now open for registration. Contact myself, Scott or Gordo
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