Determination

Feeling strong back at the hotel

Determination, it has been said is all about showing how much you want something. Do you have it within you to do, within reason, whatever you have to in order to achieve your goal? 

Well today was the day we would find out. At least as far as this challenge was concerned anyway as today, Day 9, was to be the hardest day - by a long way. But we knew that before we started: in fact at 9pm last night when we all slipped off to bed early you could cut the apprehension with a knife.

After having already endured 8 hard days, and got further already than most people that take this challenge on, could we do the infamously difficult day 9? Could we climb the 6,000+ feet we had to do today over the 77 miles of cycling? Could we “monster” the 6.4 mile constant uphill Col de Pavezin which would present itself to our exhausted limbs right at the end of the 77 mile ride day? Did we all have what it takes? 

Of course we did!!! We killed it: we were all on fire and every one of the team that cycled (sadly Tony’s injury prevented him from cycling) did themselves incredibly proud. It was an awesome day for this group and back at the hotel we are positively buzzing.

But even the hardest of days for this team would not be complete without our share of adventurous mishaps and today was no exception.

Mid-morning, the rear wheel of Antonio’s bike lost two spokes rendering it unusable. As Antonio had not brought any spare spokes with him he had no choice but to either pull out of the challenge or use Allyson’s bike which Allyson had discarded earlier in the week as the gears slip. Whilst the gods had not treated Antonio well in this unfair mishap, this amazing man whom everyone loves to bits didn’t moan or complain at all but moreover shrugged his shoulders and just got on with using Allyson’s broken bike. But what an amazing turn of events - on this bike Antonio proceeded to absolutely murder the day. Today Antonio sprouted wings and positively flew – climbing the 6.4 mile monster at the end of the day as if it was not there. It was an amazing site to see and just rewards for a true gentleman. Even though the gears are still broken !!

But the day’s mishaps did not end there. Shortly after Antonio’s accident with his spokes, Allyson missed a sign and ending up going the wrong way. Under normal circumstances this would not be an issue but this wrong path involved Allyson climbing another additional hill. And a big one too. Not the day for this to happen. But this lady personifies “Determination” and despite being upset just got on with it and together with the increasingly strong Renata proceeded to climb all the hills today with incredible success. Frankly the comparison on day 9 of Allison and Renata and the two ladies that started the challenge 9 days ago is utterly unrecognisable. They both improved beyond recognition.

Nigel too had a horrible mishap day. Around mile 43 Nigel had his second rear tyre puncture of the challenge but this time it also damaged the wheel (warping it slightly) and break pads (locking one into a permanently semi-on position). The upshot was that Nigel had to cycle miles 43 to 60 with his rear breaks partially on and then do the monster climb at the end with a rear wheel that did not “roll” properly. Nigel's determination carried him through however to the top of the climb with pride.

The reality is that everyone was strong today. Everyone "wanted it." Lisa (definitely the team’s queen of the hills) was immense and strong throughout and just gets better every day; Keiron rose above his injured Achilles and just got on with it topping out in great speed; Matt, despite having to cycle the entire journey with only one functioning clipped pedal (as one is not working properly) made it back to the hotel as one of the first as did who George killed the trip despite a worsening tightening of his back.

Today was a day that anyone who had the privilege to be part of this amazing adventure will never forget (just ask the French neighbours who could hear Allyson and Renata miles away when they topped out the climb).

Determination? This great team has it in spades. 

Do we each want to be one of the very few cyclists that successfully manage to get all the way to Monte Carlo?

You bet we do.