Day 5

Looking around at breakfast this morning, you could tell that a lot of people were quite weary from the previous three days exploits. If day one was a shock to the system and yesterdays 27Km climb up Port d'Envalira was an epic monster of an effort, then today was not going to be a rest. The day would see us travelling for a distance of 120Km (73 miles) with one Hors Category climb, one Category 2 climb and a small taster climb to start with. Although the morning started cold, today would give us the hottest temperatures with an average of 20 degrees and maximum of 24 degrees. Quite pleasant temperatures to be tending the garden at home, or a bike ride in the local area, but with temperatures this high, cycling at average altitudes over 1500 metres, without a cloud in the sky is exhausting.

We set off from the hotel and had a flat Km as a warm up before our first climb of the day. Everyone was well and thankfully the niggles and injury of yesterday seemed to have cleared enough for everyone to start. Only the sharp explosion of a punctured rear tyre would be the troubles for the morning. The first climb of the day was quite gentle and the group seemed to be grouped closer than at any other point of our journey. Although I say the climb was gentle the elevation gain was still 500metres over a distance of 24Km. The descent was not technical, with sweeping bends, rather than tight switch backs. Some speed was therefore held for long periods of time by many of the riders without too much danger apparent. I realise that this is how I prefer to descend.

The big climb of the day was the Col de Pailhères with an elevation gain of 1207metres and distance of 15Km with an average gradient of 8.1%. The summit stands 2001metres altitude and in the heat of the day this climb was a brute. I have recommended that they rename this climb Col de Bastardo. The scenery is again stunning, meandering through forest and granite walls. Motor vehicles gently follow the slower bike riders as I am sure the motorist is aware of the effort being made by the rider to get to the top. There are plenty of places to stop to take in the view, but none better than the summit. In the distance the Mediteranian Sea was just visible and the panoramic vista of the mountain range is amazing. 

Ascent of Col de Pailhères with views of forest and  mountain walls

Summit of Col de Pailhères

I have never been so pleased to see our support team of Iain, Diane and Guy applauding and giving encouragement at the summit, prior to handing out soft drinks and pre-prepared hotel snack lunches. One of the sponsors of the trip, Mr Douglas Keenan of Birchalls Tea was there too with his wife, giving support and engaging with the group. 

We descended down the other side after our packed lunch and well earned rest with the warning that the road was being repaired prior to winter and that it was being repaired with gravel. This surface is a well known danger to cyclists, so we were warned on more than one occasion to be safe and take things very steady. 

Our final climb of the day would take us to Lordat, and although it was a relatively short climb at only 5Km, it followed Col de Bastardo and the legs and body had not recovered from the heat of the afternoon and the aforementioned, renamed Col. The elevation gain is 285 metres with an average gradient of 6% but some gradients topping out at 11%, which is very tiring after such a long day in the saddle.