The shortest stage of this years race at a meer 14.5km, but it was an uphill time trail up the legendary Alp D'Heuz. Few climbs in cycling are as legendary as Alp D'Heuz. Grand tours have been decided on it's 21 hairpins, and legends made. 1,100m of climbing over 14.5km from Bourg d'Osians up to L'Alpe d"huez, averaging 8%, with the bottom section hitting a steady 10%. Just what the legs felt like after yesterdays monster stage in the rain. At least the sun was out, and it was a beautiful day for a time trail.
The record is set by Marco Pantini in a time of 36:40 set in the good old days of 1995. In the new era of cycling the record is 39:48 set by Nairo Quintana in 2013. Today was not a day to set records for Pete, Leah or myself. The goal for an ametuer cyclists is sub 1 hour, and Pete and I came close, but not quite, as the legs just were not up to it today. The fastest time was 44mins and he passed me on his way up, and he started nearly 20 mins after me. Not the best day out for the climbing legs today, and we all suffered.
Leah did 1:25, and suffered and is now asleep on the couch. Pete did 1:01:05 for 94th on the day and I did 1:01:55 for 109th on the day, well below my 45th placing overall. Although I had a slow time trail my overall placing has not changed, and the strategy (I like to think of it as a strategy, but really I did not have a choice), of taking the middle easy was correct for me. Pete and Leah also had similar strategies, as we all felt yesterday, and are thinking about tomorrow.
Tomorrow. 187km from the bottom of the hill below us, where we started today all the way to Digne-les-Bains. 4 climbs, and the nasty one is the second. Lets see, but everyone is expecting a long day, and an early start at 7am rolling at the bottom of the hill which means a 6:10am roll out of Alp d'Heuz, in the dark.
Leah enjoying the day
Done and happy to at the top with Pete.
View from hotel room
And a reminder of what yesterday was like!
Tomorrow...
