Day 8 - Col collecting

 

Well, the village of Entraygues was lovely. Originating in Medieval times, it emerged in the 16th century and most of the old village remains beautifully preserved. It marks the point where the rivers Lot and Truyere merge

I tried a few bars before settling in for a delightful meal by the banks of Le Truyere.

I also did a bit of research for Stage 8 and quickly closed the book. It’s 119km; all uphill.

Whilst I’ve got you, I am aware that there has been a lot of talk of Categorised climbs, and you may well be thinking - what?

So, in the Tour de France for example every climb is categorised. It’s a bit (a lot) of a dark art but essentially:

Cat 4: 2km at around 5%

Cat 3: 3km at around 6%

Cat 2: 5-10km at 5-7%

Cat 1: 5-10km > 8%

HC (Hors categorie / without category): based on the judges opinion. Usually Cat 1 climbs which are the last climb of the day. But ultimately, I’ll be the judge.

Looking at the profile, I’d suggest that we might be firmly in Cat 1 & 2 territory…

The festival was still going strong at 2:30am but I managed to get back to sleep ok. After a hearty breakfast, I climbed on my bike and set about the task at hand. The first 30km once again followed the Lot (upstream as if it needs saying). By now the valley was more of a gorge and the slopes more dramatic. Much of the road was in the shade thanks to the rocks to my left and I was able to make steady progress. 

After 12km I stopped at the Chapelle del Dol. Local legend has it that a young lady had fallen in love with neighbours son Lord of Vallon. But her father has already promised her to another. Long story short, her father destroys the bridge which he knows Lord of Vallon is due to cross, he falls in the river and drowns. 

She asks her father to bury the body where he was found and build a chapel on top which he duly does. Shortly afterwards she also dies and the pair of them are buried in the tomb beneath the chapel which - for good measure - they also haunt.

Anyway back to today, I soon passed a huge Super U and took the opportunity to pick up some baguettes and water. I was due to be in fairly remote country for much of the day, and had visions of anywhere capable of selling food being closed due to lazy Lundi.

After 42km climbing, I finally hit a wonderful downhill and swept around many hairpins to the valley floor where I reached the charming village of St Grniez d’Olt. Finding a park next to the river I sat at a bench for a baguette and coke. 

After lunch I set about the next serious climb; 6km at 6% so Cat 2. Rounding a hairpin some joker in a Peugeot cut in close which effectively pushed me into the verge. The ensuing rattling over gravel and ruts somehow caused the bottom support of one of my front panniers to break. On immediate inspection it didn’t look too terminal; I’ll take a closer look tonight.

Before long I was back on the shores of the Lot and continued the more steady climb of 1-2% as I kept tracking its route upstream. I had by now been following the course of the river for 100km over stages 7&8; it had been a good companion however I saw on the map that we were soon to part company. I wanted to say goodbye properly so found a shady spot next the river and enjoyed my 2nd baguette. I think the Lot would have approved.

I had by this stage notched up 80km. That meant 40km to go; 35km of those would be uphill. With the temperature increasing, it was looking like an uncomfortable afternoon.

The next 20km or so passed quickly; retaining the 1 - 2 % gradient but the wind had got up an was blowing up the valley.

 I was however fast running out of water. Thanks to lazy Lundi, all the shops and bars which I passed were very much ferme, however eventually I stumbled across a bar in Marvejois; I collapsed into a chair, ordered a coke and filled both bidons, hoping either that they would last the last 20km or that I would find somewhere else to refill. Both scenarios seemed unlikely.

Shortly after this stop came significant climb no.3; the Col de Goudard. The last 4km averaged out around 10% and it was with some relief that I reached the summit. Quick photo opp. before plummeting down the other side and going straight into climb no.4.

This one wasn’t so bad although the last 3km rose up to around 8-9km. From the top, the road headed straight down to Mende, my planned end point. I had booked in to a hotel here a while ago for 2 reasons: first there’s no obvious campsite nearby, but second it’s my birthday tomorrow and I fancy a treat!!