Update: I think I love climbing? I've been getting stronger every day and more confident in both climbing/descending. I've thoroughly enjoyed this trip, I've preformed way better than I ever would have imagined; I'm enjoying the majority of our group; and the rides are amazing. I've set various 20min, 30min, and 60min power records while climbing, granted some of those were on the end of Marie Blanque where the last 5km averaged over 10% and it was necessary to keep moving forward. Tourmalet almost broke me because of how long it stretched on for and how hot it was getting; every time I looked down a river of sweat came out of my helmet.
Day 0: Hondarribia - 18 miles / 2008 feet - Jaizkibel (2)
Day 1 - Hondarribia -> Saint-Palais - 59 miles / 4551 feet - Cote de Saint Ignace (4); Col de Baigura (4)
Day 2: Saint-Palais -> Oloron-Sainte-Marie - 65 miles / 6732 feet - Cote de Pagolle (2); Col du Soudet (1)
Day 3 - Oloron-Sainte-Marie -> Lourdes - 65 miles / 7858 feet - Col de Marie Blanque (1); Col d' Aubisque (HC); Col de Soulor (4)
Day 4: Lourdes -> Bagneres-de-Luchon - 78 miles / 11217 feet - Col du Tourmalet (HC); Col d'Aspin (2); Col de Peyresourde (1)
Day 5: Bagneres-de-Luchon -> Sort - 66 miles / 6942 feet - Col du Portillion (1); Puerto de la Bonaigua (1)
Currently on day 6... the rest day. Got some laundry taken care of. Did some yoga out in the hotel's courtyard. Massage in a little bit. Just recovering and eating.
Random ass pictures that I felt like uploading:
Starting to climb Soudet...
Not much visibility at the top of Soudet...
Heading towards Aubisque
Preclimb espresso before Aubisque
The top of Aubisque
The top of Tourmalet
Riding the 1km warm up before Portillion
Heading towards Bonaigua
On top of Boniagua. Had a traditional Catalan lunch of sausage and eggs with french fries mixed in somehow.
Relaxing in a mountain river after the end of yesterday's ride and starting the rest day.
Day 0: Hondarribia - 18 miles / 2008 feet - Jaizkibel (2)
Day 1 - Hondarribia -> Saint-Palais - 59 miles / 4551 feet - Cote de Saint Ignace (4); Col de Baigura (4)
Day 2: Saint-Palais -> Oloron-Sainte-Marie - 65 miles / 6732 feet - Cote de Pagolle (2); Col du Soudet (1)
Day 3 - Oloron-Sainte-Marie -> Lourdes - 65 miles / 7858 feet - Col de Marie Blanque (1); Col d' Aubisque (HC); Col de Soulor (4)
Day 4: Lourdes -> Bagneres-de-Luchon - 78 miles / 11217 feet - Col du Tourmalet (HC); Col d'Aspin (2); Col de Peyresourde (1)
Day 5: Bagneres-de-Luchon -> Sort - 66 miles / 6942 feet - Col du Portillion (1); Puerto de la Bonaigua (1)
Currently on day 6... the rest day. Got some laundry taken care of. Did some yoga out in the hotel's courtyard. Massage in a little bit. Just recovering and eating.
Random ass pictures that I felt like uploading:
Starting to climb Soudet...
Not much visibility at the top of Soudet...
Heading towards Aubisque
Preclimb espresso before Aubisque
The top of Aubisque
The top of Tourmalet
Riding the 1km warm up before Portillion
Heading towards Bonaigua
On top of Boniagua. Had a traditional Catalan lunch of sausage and eggs with french fries mixed in somehow.
Relaxing in a mountain river after the end of yesterday's ride and starting the rest day.
