Yesterday we had one of those perfect days waking up to clear blue skies, very fortunate as it was the day of the 4th edition of the Ali Rainback challenge. As the title suggests the ride is organised in memory of Ali Rainback who ,sadly, passed away in 2008 as the result of a brain tumour. Many of us had met Ali as one of the founding directors of Ski New Generation ski school. The proceeds from this years entries went to the Huck Cancer Foundation with just over 1000euros collected.
As I have already said, and as you can see in the photo below, the weather was ideal for the more than 60 riders who arrived in Annecy for the 9.30ish start.
The day started as it was intended to go on, everyone was relaxed, while the main organisers of the event Matt and Jeanette collected entries and handed out numbers. There was the full spectrum of riders, from those sporting complete matching lycra to baggy shorts and trainers, from sub 7 kg road bikes to the dusted off mountain bike that was sitting in the back of the shed. Most of the group are people based around here, a mixture of Brits, Irish, Aussies, Kiwis, there were possibly even French riders there, I am not sure. Some of us had met Ali, it was not important, everybody had a smile on their face, for some it appeared to be a nervous smile, but a smile nonetheless.
LE GRAND DEPART
Matt gave us a quick rundown of the day then we were on our way, riding along the cycle path that follows the side of Lake Annecy. The cycle paths in this country are fantastic and the Annecy path is no exception, however by mid morning on a Sunday in late Summer(or early Autumn) it does start to get quite a few people on it and if you are in a peloton of around 60 riders you do have to stay alert. As we got further away from Annecy it thinned out and we could start to relax bit more.
COL DE TAMIE
The ride offered 2 options to the riders, either climbing the Col de Tamie from Faverges, or not. I opted to do the climb, the Tamie is a popular local climb and one that I enjoy. The climb from Faverge is 10km and with a gradient of just under 4% it is the easiest of the roads up to the col. Nick and Ben went flying off the front from near the bottom of the climb, and the rest of us, ... well ..... we didn't. So after this effort, some of us rightly decided we deserved a coffee stop at the top. Rob, who helps us out with our road bike guiding here at Cycle Hame in the Summer, rightly decided he deserved a red wine stop at the top - it was after 11am after all. For future reference anyone else thinking a coffee stop at the top of the Tamie is a good idea, don't bother. Honestly, the coffee was okay but it was expensive, you would have thought you were in a Courchevel mountain restaurant and the staff so rude it bordered on comical. Still the sun was shining.
After the col it was a quick descent down to Albertville and on to the first feed stop. The cakes, cookies and flapjacks were spot on for the occasion.
By now the peloton had fragmented for the ride to Moutiers, I set off with Sam, a guide for Alps Cycles in the Summer and ski instructor for Ski New Generation in the Winter. This part of the ride is okay, largely flat with a few short climbs along the way, notably the foot of the Col de la Madeleine. This pinch only lasts a few minutes which encourages you to push a bit harder, as you get to the top you are forced to do that thing where you try to make it look as though you are breathing normally when in reality you are blowing out your arse but you have to make it look easy because there are always people standing around at the top.
THE FINAL ASCENT
There was another feed stop in the Super U carpark at the foot of the days final climb and another excuse for further procrastination, apart from Charlie and Rob of course desperate to get to Brides les Bains and a quick Cognac. Oh yes, Nick and Ben, did anyone see those 2 after the Tamie?
The final ride is from Super U up to Courchevel Le Praz, this is the new name of the village we always new as Courchevel Le Praz. This part of the road is 13km and serious enough climbing up to 1300m altitude. Riders made their way up at their own pace and nearly all made it to the Drop Inn at the top. For myself it was a pleasant ride up with John Thomas from Alpine Cadence. All the riders we saw along the way seemed to be in good spirits, we certainly couldn't have asked for better conditions for the climb.
Finally we all descended on, NO finally we all ascended on the Drop Inn in Le Praz for the BBQ. It was a great afternoon after a great 100km ride in the late Summer sun, I have decided it was too warm to be called the early Autumn sun. The post ride BBQ really was very good and I will be looking forward to more of the same in 2013.
Finally, thanks to Matt and Jeanette, the bakers, the support drivers, the staff at the Drop Inn, and anyone else who helped to organise a great day out.
No comments:
Post a Comment