Col du Tourmalet

A big day on a big mountain. After an amazing night of lightning and cleansing rain, we woke to a power breakfast at our fine relais - le centre Laurent Fignion (the infamous french rider who lost the tour de france by seconds to greg lemond). We thought an early start would have us finish early with time to tour the town.

We left the hotel around 10am expecting to reach the top of the 6000 foot Col in the Pyrenees (the tallest actually) in 2 hour or less (from the hotel). The spin out was brisk and we reached the foot of the climb in 20min.

This climb was epic, challenging, grinding and exhillarating! At 10km to go and over 1000m yet to climb, it didn't take a math major to know the AVERAGE grade for the next 6.2 miles was 10%!

I continued to look down at my knees in wonder, how they and my quads could continue to power. Although I had a 29 on the back, I found the 27 to be ideal for cadence, pace and pain (perfect pain really). Any change up or down would destroy the fragile balence.

Just 3k from the top and some serious exposure and grinding, we arrived into the mountain ski village of La Mongie only to see the very serious saddle of the Tourmalet a neck strain upward at the end of several switchbacks cutting into the pyreneean chards of mountain rock. Good Lord, I thought. After 1 hour and 30min in the saddle, I reached for a bar in my back pocket and carefully chewed and swallowed between breaths. This part of the climb was pure magic as La Mongie got smaller and smaller and the mountain grew bigger and bigger.

Reaching the top was like being in the grad tour oneself as the hikers, motorists, picnic goers all watch you in amazement, some shouting "Allez, Allez" as you crest the summit grinning from ear to ear amazed at your own accomplishment.

The grand Col du Tourmalet will forever hold a very special place for the seven of us who masterfully conquered her mighty slopes today. We all went to bed with tired legs, warm hearts and the notion that we can do anything with pure drive and perseverance.