Bagners - Luz The BIG Day

Day 6

Today started out raining, which is sad because this is the hardest climbing day. For those of us who aren't in the know it is called the Queen Stage,and involves several famous climbs. The boys are doing 3. The first is named Col de Peyresourde, a Cat. 1 that climbs for 11km at an average 7.4% grade ascending 3122 feet. The next is Col de Aspin. This is also a Cat. 1 climbing 12.3 km ascending 2588 feet at an average 6.3% grade. The best is saved for last, this is a ginormous, beautiful mountain that gives you 17 km of climbing @ an average 7.5% grade with sections as steep as 15%, putting you ascending 4156 feet, for a days total of near 12,000 feet.

Well we had major plans for starting off early, around nineish. Greg was going to take his bike in and get his wheel balanced, turns out he cracked a rim on one of the descents. While getting his wheel fixed he met a character whose name I don't know, wearing sixty two vests who apparently was a bike racer in the good ol days, and from the looks of him and his shop still wanted to be. You couldn't get in his shop because it was virtually a museum of old bikes and parts that were strewn, crammed and otherwise placed harry-carry all over the place. This bike racer gone mechanic promptly produced a cardboard box with photos of him and other racers. Between the trip down memory lane, buying a new wheel, and Clark and Gordy trying to purchase jerseys, buried under bike . . . stuff, we left at 10:54. Hmmm, late start for such a rigorous day. The first climb was beautiful and really steep, everyone did it with ease and we ate crepes and hot coca at the top. On our was out of the coffee shop, a guy asked if he could ride with the boys, his name was Nick and he was all by himself. He ended up staying through the next two climbs The second climb was equally successful, the view was amazing and there were horses at the top. It was really cold, so again with the hot cocoa and this time we had pastries. All the boys crowded themselves into the van to eat. Gordy was the first out and ready, waiting. And waiting, and waiting. I finally got out my crowbar and pried them out of the van. In Jason's case it really was a pry out sort of thing since I'm 5' 3” and he's not, but was to cold to adjust the seat and just forced his legs under the steering wheel, and wedged himself into the driver's seat. It was a sweet picture with all of them in there with their helmets on, crammed shoulder to shoulder. They looked a little like they were special needs. Then they were off to the famous “Col deTormalet”. In my vote that is a brutal climb. Its much like climbing little cottonwood canyon from the botttom of the canyon, clear to the top of the Tram at Snowbird. But no one asked me so I got in Gargantua and headed up the mountain. Just past the resort I pulled off to get a very nice picture of them riding by the jagged mountains when I acquired a stray burro. He hung out next to me and we watched riders go by for about a half hour or so. I got my pictures, shared an apple with the burro then headed off to the top for amazing photos and a view that took my breath away, quite literally because it was so freakin' cold. All the boys rode in, smiling. It was an amazing day.

Route: http://www.bikemap.net/route/382389
Millage: 60 miles
Elevation Climb: About 11000 ft