The Macmillan Jersey Cycle Challenge is not for the faint hearted. We follow the progress of the team of brave cyclists through the sun-kissed fields of central France.
We follow the team courtesy of Adrian Rowland, one of the cycling team, who is documenting the experience for Macmillan.
The alarm went off at 6:30 but wasn’t needed as I had been awake since probably around 4am with excitement and anticipation (similar to that of a 6 year old child waiting for Christmas Day), as the start of our Challenge had really arrived.
Incredibly the guys in our Logistics team had managed to get all the bikes out of the vans, wheels fitted, tyres pumped up, just like the riders. and by 07:30 everyone (other than Trevor who was still tucking into his full breakfast) was ready for the off.
The start of any ride through a major city is always going to be challenging, especially on a Monday morning at rush hour, but Discover Adventures had done an amazing job with those ‘Petite fleches oranges’ marking the route out of the city and into the countryside. Well that would have been the case if only he person leading the ride (not me this time) had followed these arrows. Within 3k we were lost and had to carry our bikes down flights of steps to get onto the river cycle path. In our ‘clippy-cloppy’ cleated cycling shoes this had potential disaster looming, but we survived and all managed to get out of Lyon and into the hills.
Our first climb was relatively easy and took us to the first watering stop after which the countryside started to get really interesting with fields full of apple and olive trees and grape vines all laden with fruit. There were ghostly quiet towns full of nobody and roads littered with gravel setting potential danger traps at every corner. Gladly none of us fell for it.
The scenery and wildlife were brilliant, especially the huge kite (the bird type not the one on a string Nina) that flew in circles just above us.
All went well for the riders. Less so for our support crew. Nick PR drove past us on one of the climbs with his van making horrible hissing noises, zero power in his engine and hazard lights flashing at ten to the dozen. Something ain’t right we all thought. He found a garage in a town in the middle of absolutely nowhere and using his very best pigeon French, and probably bribing the mechanics he managed to get the turbo hose reconnected and was on his way. The words ‘relief’ and ‘happy endings’ come to mind!
Lunch by a lake followed by a couple of thimbles full of beer (who has ever heard of or seen 15cl beer glasses!?!) we left the town of Annonay and started several more climbs before being presented with the most magnificent view of the Rhone valley down to Vallence.
Our hotel was one of the biggest disappointments of the day. It has no bar. Or more precisely it has a bar but won’t serve guests. Yes it’s true. Problem solved, get on your bikes and ride to the Centre Ville and find a charming bar serving fabulously cold beer…or stay at the hotel, go to the supermaché and buy you own!
Dinner called Us back and a quick return to the hotel proceeded the walk to the restaurant (as the hotel didn’t have one) where we ate salmon and chips. Just what I was not looking forward to after nearly 150km in the saddle. I’m not so sure the rest of the team felt much differently, but as there was zero menu choice we put up with it and eat up. Ummmm!
The day has finished and apart from the rather wired ending it was amazing. Our disappointment with the hotel and food was offset by the joy of such a great day’s cycling and hats off to DA for planning and sign-posting such an awesome route. I understand tomorrow’s is even better.
Click here to view the Macmillan Jersey Cycle Challenge page
