Too late to post tonight. Will have to do a double post tomorrow- Ventoux celebrations permitting!!!
51.2 miles, 1407 metres climbed, average speed 10.3 mph
Nigel’s morning briefing.
Apart from the steep ramp from the hotel this was a great day’s ride with long but gentle climbs and a long sweeping descent into the lunch stop.
It took me a little while to get my legs going this morning but was well supported by Trevor, one of our guides. We passed through Saint-Saturnin-Les-Apt with its impressive roadside cacti.
As we continued to climb there were great view off to the left and then we were on the rim of a limestone gorge.
The brew stop came at 14 miles by which time we had climbed about 700 metres. The climb continued after coffee, on nicely surfaced roads, for a further 4 miles eventually topping out at over 2500 metres. A flat section of road provided great views to the right of Mont Ventoux, our challenge for tomorrow.
The road then plunged down for the next 10 or 12 miles on not the best surface so care had to be taken. A great reward for a morning’s climbing. Lunch was taken in a very nice restaurant at Ferme du Pezet just beyond St Esteve. Now came the best part of the day and perhaps the tour – a gentle climb up and around the very picturesque Gorge de la Nesque. The views into the gorge were dramatic with shear drops just beyond the edge of the road. The road passed through several arches carved into the rock. The road eventually decended towards Sault but kicked up quite sharply – yet another hilltop town.
An excellent day’s riding.