Official Ride Day 4: Col du Galibier & Col du Telegraphe Return

Summer has returned to the Alps, coinciding perfectly with our attempt at the first of the Tour de France Big Daddy's, The Col du Galibier, not once but twice. Our planned course would take us up the difficult side of Col du Galiber and onto the climb of Col de Telegraph where we would turn around and head back, this time up the even more 'harderer' side of Galibier (words cannot describe).

That was our plan.. It pleases me to say we achieved it, but what a day! In short we peddled off at 9am and got back at 6pm.. yep, that's close on 9hrs to cover 125km, which pretty much means cycling straight up, twice!

How to explain today's ride... the word epic is often over used, but it was uttered a lot today.. Probably best to ask each of us for our personal account, but the day can perhaps best be summarised by a 2015 12hr Three Peak Finisher, and I quote '.. That made 3 Peaks feel like a walk in the park ..' Putting it in perspective, during an Ironman I burn on average around 5800 calories, today's caloric total 6772! That pretty much sums it up nicely I'd say.

More than half the day was spent in the lowest gear with average climbing speeds hovering in the single digits,
CB 10.2km/h TL 9.0km/h PW 8.3km/h.
The reward for effort.. A final flat out 30km descent back to the lodge. Whilst yes, it can be said that all things that go up must come down.. it's just a shame the going up component is so, so, much harder. But that's what we came for.

Jersey Update:

White Jersey and Prix de la Combative
Phil Whitehead: With his 'what do we say to death?.. not today!' attitude and the philosophy of the little engine that could, Phils survive at all costs 2nd summit of Galibier more than justifies the Red Number of the most determined combatant. 'I don't care if it looks like I'm not moving, I'm upright and the peddles are turning. Being the youngest of the three riders the best young rider white jersey will most likely not be moving for the rest of Le Tour.

Green Jersey (sprinter)
Tony Loneragan: Hoovering up all sprint points on offer with his 40km/h average speed descent back down to Briancon off Galibier and maxing out at a top speed of 73km/h. It's fair to say that this gravity racer has enjoyed the just rewards for the hours and effort spent gaining vertical altitude. His Royal Highness of the Hairpins is without peer on the descents and this sees the Green Jersey firmly ensconced on his broad aerodynamic shoulders.

Polka Dot Jersey (climbing)
Chris Brown: Probably surprising nobody more than himself, his determination to keep the Garmin in double figures on the steepest gradients of Galibier has provided great satisfaction for the time spent training in the 0oC, frigid environs of Melbourne's Mt Dandenong. The 'Southerner' is proving to be Melbourne's Mountain Goat early in the tour, and has taken quite a liking to the red polka on white.