Day 3

Yesterday we rode from Luchon in France to Sort in Spain. That is two of the countries in the 3 Country Challenge ticked off. Today we rode onto Andorra, therefore that is the 3 Country Challenge complete and we can all go home, celebrate on a job well done and relax with our loved ones. Not quite. Job not even half done as we are only on day two out of six. We have to get back to Luchon first via a very long detour.

Today started at 0900 from our hotel in Sort. We all had breakfast and on the way out I managed to obtain four extra packets of brioche for the days ride. Yesterday I did not feel at the races at all. Again I did not have a good sleep last night and I thought that the extra calories would not go amiss today. Today's ride is relatively short compared to yesterdays, however it culminated in the Coll de la Gallina in Andorra (more to come on that challenging climb).

Anyway, we headed off from the hotel and had the shortest warm up (about two hundred yards) before we found ourselves at the foot of our first climb of the day. Port  de Canto was the obstacle to literally get over. It started off quite well, things were comfortable and I felt much better than the previous day. Perhaps yesterday was just my bad day. Port de Canto (according to Strava) is another Hors Category climb. Rhythm of pedalling was the key for this because, although not too steep, it seemed to go on and on. To put the climb into perspective, it is 19Km long with an average gradient of 5%. There are steeper parts and not so steep elements and even a slight downhill before you are rudely reminded that it goes up again. The elevation gain from bottom to top is 1035 metres and it took me 2 hours and 42 minutes to complete. Nearly 3 hours to complete Part 1 of today's ride!

If I thought that was the hard bit, I shouldn't have kidded myself going down on the other side is any easier. It is fast, very fast with roads that switch back on themselves for about 75% of the way down. Concentration is a must and I lost mine on a couple of occasions, locking the brakes too hard because I did not read the corner too well. There are barriers, but if they do not stop you, there is a long, long way to fall. Also the shoulders and back start to hurt as you apply different pressures to keep the bike heading in right direction whilst trying to maintain the most efficient tuck riding position. At times I thought that the descent was so technical that the easy part was getting up.

The group reconvened at the bottom and our guide, Ian Potter of AQR holidays (see link at end of today's blog) took the lead and guided us out of Spain and into Andorra. It was still a fair way to go to get to the border but it was relatively flat and the pace was easy which was a welcome relief which gave the chance to stretch tired limbs on the bike. The group breezed through the border checkpoint without stopping and the next challenge was the Coll de la Gallina.

The last time that this Coll was used in the Vuelta a Espana was 2018. Apparently it hurt a lot of the pro riders on the circuit. Now I know that these guys race up these mountains for a living and I can empathise with their pain. However, they finish 4Km below the summit. Most of our group went beyond and to the top and I am sure that everyones suffering was just like the professionals. I cannot talk for everyone in the group, but I stopped to take some photographs and then stopped where the pros do at the end of their race, just so that I could rest my weary body and to take in the scenery. To be honest by this time the sweat was making a small puddle on the tarmac below my lowered head. I was in agony, but onwards and upwards! The descent was even more technical than the Port de Canto as the switchbacks were steeper than before. We all made it back though and  I assume that all were happy but knackered from the days exploits.

Vuelta a Espana Coll de la Gallina (Stage 20) 2018

Coll de la Gallina Sept 2019 - Photo by me

Photo by me

Ian & Kate Potter - A Quick Release cycling holiday to be found here:
https://www.aquickrelease.com/