On Saturday the 14th of July last, the French once again celebrated a pivotal moment in their history with their annual marking of Bastille Day. For the Curlieu Wheelers however, it was a day when they would write a new chapter in their young history by taking part in the L’Etape Du Tours 2012.
Club members Joan Gardner, Enda Madden, Brian Supple, Brian McMahon and Gavin Brennan, along with honorary member Dessie McLoughlin, joined forces with other cyclists from Galway and Dublin to make up Team Freewheelers, and pedalled their way through the Pyrenees in order to raise funds for Cancer Care West, the West of Ireland Cancer Charity.
On the day, the local paper ‘La Republique Des Pyrénées’ ran the headline “8,000 a l’assaut des cols mythiques”, and at 6:20am Team Freewheelers immersed themselves in a sea of cyclists with a common aim. The route chosen for this years Etape event was what would become Stage 16 of the Tour de France, which is regarded by many as being the greatest cycle race in the world.
Beginning in the southern city of Pau, and winding its way through 200km of Pyrenean countryside, the route took participants up and over 5 major summits, namely the Hors Category Col d’Aubisque, the category 1 Col du Soulor, the Hors category Col du Tourmalet (the highest paved road in the Pyrenees), the Col d’Aspin and the Col de Pereysourde, the final two ascents both being listed as category 1 climbs.
The final 14km was a welcome descent into Bagneres de Luchon, where a tremendous effort by all participants was rewarded by a welcome dinner at ‘L’Hotel de Paris’ (only 10km from the Spanish border!).
Of course, when in France on Bastille Day, it would have been very rude not to venture down town and quickly undo a period of relative abstinence which had prevailed during the weeks and months leading up to the event.
Team Freewheelers/Curlieu Wheelers wish to express their appreciation to all who gave generously to the Cancer Care West – Family Support fund in the lead up to the event.
Until the next challenge!! – A bientôt.
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