Le Loop 2023: Stage 6 Tarbes – Cauterets Cambasque

Cycling summary

Breakfast: 06:30

Transfer: None

Start time: 07:58

Distance: 144.9 km (we rode 159.2km – annoyingly short of a century in old money but I think I’ll add it to my list anyway!)

Terrain: Mountains (3,786 metres climbed)

Climbs: 1 HC (Col du Tourmalet), 2 Cat 1 (Aspin, Cambasque), 1 Cat 3

Finish: 18:52

Time in saddle: 9h21

Temp: 13-18 degrees mostly. Felt colder in the mist and drizzle, especially on the descents

Drinks: Probably 4 litres. Lost track.

Suffer scores: 8

Local lowdown

We are climbing the Tourmalet from the east this time around – memories of when I rode it as part of the Etape du Tour in 2014. It was ok going up even though it rained the whole way, but freezing coming down and so bin bags were being given out to help keep riders warm! Yet again I didn’t see the scenery from this side. So that’s four ascents of the Tourmalet in total, with good views only once. OK for me, but a shame for those who have travelled from afar to witness the beauty of these mountains.

Tale from the Tour

At first I thought there was something wrong this morning because my bum felt comfortable in the saddle! Normal service was resumed later (much later) but it wasn’t as bad as yesterday when I had to keep getting out of the saddle to give myself some respite.

Easy roll out as usual as we all made our way to the first feed stop at 40km in. I had just passed this wall painting when I asked myself the question I often ask on these rides “would I regret not stopping to take this photo?” The answer was “yes” (I really only have a few seconds before the moment has passed). So I stopped, and am glad I did!

Opportunity to get a Bigfoot team photo with Ken at feedstop 1. Sad to say that Ken let the club down by being awarded the frog for an act of ignominy, namely that he took a wrong turn and rode way up the wrong mountain! Some would say he deserved the chapeau for the extra elevation but life isn’t always fair! Readers of past blogs will know that I was awarded the blog for kit choice in 2019, which I thought unfair at the time. All part of the fun though!

Riding up the Aspin was lovely. It’s a steady gradient – a regular 6% with no naughty bits (i.e. pitches of 12% or more) until it rose to 7 and 8% towards the top, though again with no naughty bits. The last few km were shrouded in mist, so we only had views from lower down the mountain. This was to be the main factor of the day.

What was true of the Aspin was also true of the Tourmalet, as the photo from the top will attest. Actually those who know will be saying that this is not the top. True, it’s where our feedstop was but I had first ridden the final 200 metres to the official finish and which was just as obscure as the photo below.

I was properly dressed for the descent (unlike 2014), wearing all available clothing that I had stashed in my day bag) so did not suffer from the cold though it was chilly. Was able to remove some of that lower down.

I just loved the sound of the water coming very fast down the mountain – generally a very glacial blue.

From the last feedstop we had 16km fro the top, though we did get very close to our hotel with 5km to go, so stopping early was an option. But I took a brief pause just before that on seeing the Tour decorations that have been prepared already (appropriately wearing rain jackets!) ad that was another photo I wanted for the collection. An excuse for a rest really!

The final 5km to the finish line felt savage, though thankfully not as savage as the Marie Blanque yesterday. Started out with a few km at 10% average, then 8%. I had calculated that the final 2km should average 6%, which they did (doing the maths based on the road signs helps take my mind off the effort!). I was right in that, but the penultimate km which was advertised as 4.5% included some pitches at 20 or 12%. Proper naughty bits indeed!

Still, I made it to the top where I met up with Nobby. We put on all available clothing and descended back through the mist (some of it might have been actual rain but I’m not sure) until we got to the hotel. I was cold at the end, but not too cold in that I was still in control. I was, though, happy to strip off all the wet stuff and get myself sorted. Hopefully the kit will all be dry in the morning. I shouldn’t have any more kit washing to do now though, as I have enough to see me through to the end now.

Suffer score has to be an 8 on account of the amount of climbing and lack of views. A hotter, full sun day would have undoubtedly tipped it over to a 9 or 10. On the plus side, the score is perhaps tempered by my bum not hurting, not actually missing the views too much (I’ve been here before) and the general sense of achievement. A job well done, and had I bailed out of the final 5km and gone str to the hotel then I would have regretted it (though would have had an earlier dinner).

Long coach transfer in the morning to the start of tomorrow’s ride.