Ben's new blue tyres

A shorter distance today but the Team faced its first big climb – over the Jura Mountains and then downhill into Switzerland.  No rain today, which was welcome; the preparations for departure were made in warm sunshine.

These followed the familiar pattern except that Ben had got up early to fit his new blue tyres. Pearsey also fitted the matching rear tyre he’s been angling for and even Doug seemed to have fallen for the need to be trendy ion the wheel department.

And speaking of trendy, Tom must have quietly decided that his new girlie shades were a bit to girlie and he bought himself another pair of really cool white framed racing shades.  And he gave his bike a thorough cleaning before today’s ride too.   The Reflon pair which I chose for him have been relegated to the car and Tom announced that he would make a present of them to his girl friend Natalie.  The bad news, if you’re reading this Natalie, is that not only is Tom planning to give you a second hand, not-trendy-enough-for-Tom pairs of shades as a present – I was kidding about the free powder puff too.

Spirits were high as they set off, although privately they must have wondered how they would cope with the climb which faced them – a mere rehearsal of the climb they face on the last day but it is nevertheless to over 1100 meters, so higher than Britain’s biggest mountain, Ben Nevis.

Tom's even cooler shades

The first hour or so was level or gentle climbing, then the pull uphill started in earnest.  I needed only to buy baguettes for the picnic lunch and fuel the car before I set off after them so I soon caught them up, they had only done 10 miles or so.

Ben’s plan was get to the top of the first big climb, after which he expected the road to plateaux before climbing again, so roughly two hours after they started.  In fact the drinks stop was further along the route than they anticipated, such was the steady climbing pace they achieved, and they were soon through the Swiss Border and then at the summit of the Col, from whence it wopuld be downhill all the way.  Arriving at this point ahead of expectations (they all thought they were little more than half way up) was a real bonus.

Sun cream instead of waterproofs

The downhill ride to Lake Geneva was a pure delight, taking the hairpin bends in their stride.  I had gone ahead to find a picnicking spot and ended up grabbing what seemed to be the only unoccupied space on the lakeside.  The picnic was a welcome break but they were all keen to get to the Hotel early for a change and indeed we did so, by about 3pm.

The 13 mile ride along the lakeside should have been pure pleasure but sadly Ben took quite a tumble when his front wheel lodged in a tram track.  His cycling helmet took quite a blow but he suffered no head injury.  No broken bones either, which there could have been, just grazes and probably some bruising.  Nothing to worry about too much at home; he climbed back on the bike and rode it to the Hotel.

Onwards and upwards, ever upwards

As the Team arrived I had already fallen lucky again with (an illegal) parking space right outside the Hotel and I had also started the check in process because I had their passports.  However this process turned out to be incredibly protracted and bureaucratic – due apparently due the legal requirements, which was surprising given that the Swiss Border had been unmanned when we passed through it.  Lots of form filling, home address supplying and duplicate signatures – in stark contrast to the previous night when all the lady hotelier was interested in was being paid the balance of the accommodation charges, no paperwork at all.

Doug breaking the speed limit downhill

Eventually however the bikes were safely stored, we had our room keys and the bags were unloaded, leaving only the problem of where to put the car.  Even without the roof box and roof rack it was too tall for the Hotel’s garage.

We took off the roof box and put it inside the car, which would at least allow it to get into an alternative car park some streets away.  Ben also needed to get to a cycle shop to get his front wheel sorted out so he decided to take the car to try to find one.  There is an option to park cars in the street in Geneva between 7pm and 7am, so that might be what happens.

Ben taking a downhil bend at speed

Ben’s fall has put a cloud on an otherwise exhilarating day for the Team but he’s not seriously injured and he’ll be riding tomorrow.  We’ll be having a final picnic lunch en route then I’ll divert to Ben & Hily’s Chalet to unload the car so that as many people as possible can be transported up to the finish line.

There are more action picture of today’s ride and I’ll post them later.