News

Title: Chamonix to Nice - Day 3 and Day 4

Date: 22/09/2009

DAY 3

Left Susa with a nice little warm up climb and then a 30 km rolling ascent towards the final climb up to the col du Montgenevre. Felt good on the climb leading the first group up and over with a great descent down to Briancon for lunch. After lunch the long climb up to the col du izoard begins. I'm feeling good and the first half of the climb suits me. Not to steep and I'm soon away just behind the first 2. 

About half way up it kicks up and my pace slows but I keep on the gas and make it to the top in good time and with a little on reserve. This is good as there's still along 30 km to go to Guillestre and then the long 20 km climb up to the col du Vars. Vars is the ski resort where I did my first season working as a ski instructor way back in 1987!  As i started up the climb to Vars however I started to get pain in my right knee and slowly ground to a halt. I waited for the van and adjusted my cleat which seemed to be causing the problem but the damage was already done and I eventually admitted defeat and climbed into the van for the rest of the final climb. Gutted!

I've iced it tonight and well see tomorrow. I hope I can ride as tomorrow is a great day riding into Nice with a 90 km downhill descent on the cards.

Hope the knee is better but it feels pretty sore. We'll see!

Neil.

DAY 4

Last day 198km to go!

We head off under gloomy skies crossing the col du Vars before a great ride down into the valley below. A deep sided gorge where all roads lead South.

30km of rolling flats see us riding at speed in a tightly packed peleton before cutting backup into thehills for the final col du Cayolle. The col is closed to road traffic, my knee is starting to flare a little on the inside so I take the van and drive around to meet the group at the other side.

The col looks good and everyone says it's one of the best ofthe trip, bit gutted but too many Mont Blancs this summer and my knees are sore.

After astop for lunch I get back on the bike. It rolling roads from here to Nice. This is what I love, fast pacingon the flat, slight inclines and speedy descents. It isn't to hard on the knees and so I take turns on the front pulling the group and it's great fun. The miles fly by at 40kmh average speed and soon it's getting warmer and the skyline is dropping.

Before we know it Nice is in our sights. One final climb were I shag my knee good and proper and then a cruise down to the sea front.

And so ends an amazing trip. I'm a bit gutted that I had knee trouble but then 8 Mont Blancs in a row and a new bike set up will do that I guess. I'm sure it'll feel better after a couple of days rest and then I'm keen to get in a good couple of months full on cycling before the winter, get some of the mileage we have done this week to good use and get out cruising up some of the local cols around Chamonix.

So a great trip. Both myself and Andy sware we'll be back for more and a big thanks goes out to Mark and the guys at GPM10.com who brought us here and made it all happen.

Right, back to Chamonix. Ruth is getting a bike this week so hopefully I'll have a new training partner before to long.

Also got to get back to work on winter planning, two articles to write this week and deadlines aproaching.

A new mcnabsnowboarding web site will be on line within the next week or two so plenty to be getting on with.

All is good!

Neil.