I thought I had endured some tough days in the saddle but nothing prepared me for this. Whilst 75 miles sounded a short ride(?) especially with the first 39 miles being relatively flat, this was a beast of a day. At 39 miles we were faced with nearly 2 miles of 10% gradient and then another 4 miles of gradual incline, all in 30+ degrees heat.
After lunch we enjoyed a nice descent but we all knew that every descent has to be paid for and we soon found ourselves facing another climb, this time about 7 miles in length to the top of the Col de Cornillon. This was without doub the hardest climb I have ever faced, especially in the heat we encountered.
We were assured at the last drink stop, with 13 miles to go that we faced 12 miles downhill and a 1 mile climb to the hotel. This turned out to be less than accurate, with 11 miles of severely undulating roads ahead of us followed by a 2 mile climb to the hotel. All arrived safely and a very nice meal was enjoyed before everyone headed for bed.
Tomorrow is 91 mile, allegedly an easier day that today. Let's hope so.
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