Stage 9 started off with a flattish, clear and chilly 35 km in a valley today. We rolled from our hotel as a group with Phil on the front. Phil set a pace which was as brisk as the air for the first 20 km or so and once we reached the top of the only real topographical feature in this section (100 m climb) there were only 3 people around. Phil dropped back and I rolled into the first climb of the day with one other rider. It was a wooded climb that snaked its way up to the top of the day’s first col (Col du Mas de L’Ayre). It wasn’t too hard of a climb and the higher we climbed out of the valley, the warmer the air became. It helped that the top of the climb and the descent soon thereafter was in the sun helping to warm the air up a bit more.
Feed #1 was in a town having an open air market this morning, so I was able to stop by and pick up some post-ride treats for Jen and I. Can you really go wrong with fresh French baked goods - No!
The next climb of the day (Col du Pre La Dame) would take us to nearly 1,500 m, so I packed a heavier jacket in case it was cool higher up. Another wooded-to-open climb awaited us and it did not disappoint. The autumn colors were out in full force right now and as we weaved our way into the Lozere department (region), each climb and descent was a scenery feast. A flowing switchback descent followed the day’s biggest climb.
A 15 km loop to tackle another col awaited us before lunch and I even had a bit of time to make a slight route deviation and find another smaller then single lane wooded climb chalk full of chestnuts, rocks and crumbly tarmac. It’s a ton of fun exploring in someone else’s backyard when you have a bit of extra energy.
Lunch was a vegetable crepe in a cafe. It was funny, it was shaped like a square and when Jen asked why I did not take my food I had to laugh because I thought the crepe was a napkin on my plate.
A few more cols remained throughout the day, all taking the shape of wooded-to-exposed climbs the higher up you went. The more challenging climb was the last one of the day (Col de la Barraque). It had some fresh light gravel laid down in steeper spots making keeping traction when standing a more focused effort.
From there it was a mostly descent with some flat into our final night’s stay in the town of Ales.
Only one more day of this Double Cent Cols Challenge Adventure remains. We consider ourselves to be lucky to have been able to take part in this journey and meet so many new people and visit with old friends along the way.
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