Pyrenees Challenge Blog

STAGE 8 - Friday 3rd October
Prades to Banyuls Sur Mer - 120 kms - 1310 metres

(To download Zipped clip, click here)

We did it!  It’s finally over.  The end of an amazing and testing 8 day cycle over the Pyrenees.  It was a huge relief to reach Banyuls.  The day started in positive spirits as we departed Prades.  We all thought the last day was going to be more of a gentle spin down to the seaside but we couldn’t have been more wrong (as usual).

We had a long 20km climb once we got started.  It was not the steepness of it, just the long distance and the fact that on day 8 our bodies were getting set up for a relaxing weekend already.  We reached the 1036m summit of Col De Palomeres in good spirits as everyone then thought that was the hard work over.  Lots of photos and a bit of food then on a further 40km’s to our lunch destination of Ceret.  From here we had what was thought to be a simple 50km road cycle to Banyuls.  However, after being led into a Mediterranean housing estate with what was said to be the steepest climb of the challenge, approx 18%, with a stomach full of food we had thought wrong.  We took a testing way down to Banyuls which was hard but equally rewarding to us all. 

We got to Banyuls where the Pyrenees meets the Mediterranean at approx 6pm to a beautiful evening with the sun just setting.  A crowd welcomed us into Banyuls with many of the family and partners of the team there and even the mayor of Banyuls showed up.  It was Port all around and then into the freezing cold sea for a swim. 

No time was to waste this evening as we had an official end to the cycle event hosted by Gondola’s Harvey Smyth, the man responsible for coming up with idea of this 8 day challenge.  Awards were handed out and then it was onto a Court Jury headed up by Damian Hopley, Simon Hunter and Nigel Garfitt.  Many penalties were handed out and hardly any appealed against.  There were some funny ones and some we cannot mention for security reasons.  The Channel XXL offense did seem to carry the most controversy!

We both want to say thanks so much to all of you that have supported us throughout this gruelling ordeal by donating to the Bliss Charity that this cycle is in aid of.  The cut of date for donations is 30th November so if any of you want to donate you still have time.  Just click on our names below:

   Lawrence Dallaglio and Warren Smith 

STAGE 7 - Thursday 2nd October
Ax Les Thermes to Prades - 90 kms - 3027 metres

(To download Zipped clip, click here)

Today started with fancy dress.  There was a mixture of anything from stockings and fish net tights to traditional French attire!  We got straight into it today with a serious 14.5km climb to Port de Pailheres at 2001m.  It was hard but we had good banter with a red arrows styled display or synchronised cycle demos timed to perfection (watch video) organised by Mr Simon Hunter. 

Col de Moulis was next for 2km up to 1099m at 8.5% and then we continued on to our lunch destination at Col De Garavel (4km, 1256m, 3.9%).  Lunch was amazing as ever thanks to Jo and the support team.  After that we got into downhill mode for about 8km before hitting the last climb of the day up to Col De Jau (10km, 1506m, 5.1%).  This was not nice at all. 

However, we were welcomed at the top by a good group of supporters cheering us on.  We rode through the medieval town of Mosset which was built by the King of Majorca as a fortress.  We stacked up on chocolate and drinks here and went onto a massive 25km downhill.  It was awesome and speeds got up to the 70km mark again.

There were a few close calls on some blind bends with cars and farmers machinery.  We all got to Prades safe and sound to a unique Faulty Towers styled hotel.  Food was interesting and there was plenty of drinking penalty’s handed out by our leader Harvey and our guide French Fred.  Everybody has head out now to find some real food. 

Last day tomorrow.  Everybody getting quite excited about the thought of not having to climb mountains again but at the same time we have grown real close as a group real quick so there is a feeling of ‘this is the end of the road’ so a bit sad at the same time.  Massive party tomorrow to look forward to.  There’s a rumour that the BBC news crew will be waiting for us at Banyuls tomorrow afternoon so you might see us on TV tomorrow night looking a lot different, minus 10% body weight, than you knew us before.

STAGE 6 - Wednesday 1st October
Oust to Ax Les Thermes - 123 kms - 3100 metres

(To download Zipped clip, click here)

Today it got ugly.  This was the day they said our sanity would be tested and they were so right!  It all happened today. Firstly Wrong directions added an extra 18km’s to our already 123km cycle, bike chains broke and being stuck up at the freezing cold Col D’Agnes and then our guide getting a puncture ending up in the group heading the wrong way.  Overall, the hardest day for sure.  I think we were losing it mentally at some points in the day!!

We started with Col de Latrape which was 5km up to an altitude of 1111m on an 8.5% gradient passing through a remote village named Aulus les Bains which we were told is one of the most stunning locations in the Pyrenees amd they were right.  It is said to have been once famous for it’s bear trainers but we couldn’t see any bears, only more cows.

We had four major climbs today, two of which, Col D’Agnes and Col De Marmare were 11km’s.  The Col D’Agnes was an 11km stretch up to 1570 m at 7.4%.  There was some pretty amazing scenery including Niaux where you can see prehistoric caves and famous black outlines of horses and bison from 10,800 BC.

We passed through Lordat which is guarded by an 11th century castle and hit another two cols, Marmare at 1361m for 11km with an easyish 4.4% and Col de Chioula which was another easyish 2km up to 1431m with a 3.5% gradient.

The most difficult of the day mentally and physically had to be the really steep climb at Cazenave–Serre which was 14%.  It was extremely hard, one of the hardest days of sport in any of our lives.  Tomorrow is the last tough day.  Back, Knee and Neck pain is now common place amongst many of the team. 

Right now we’re so looking forward to Friday and arriving in Banyuls-Sur-Mer.  Bring it on!

Lawrence + Warren