Big day!
3:50 …just woke up
All the riders should meet at 5 am on the Washington Bridge for departure planned at 7am.
Weather was very wet with a dense fog but fortunately not too cold, even stifling I would say, which would not make the race easyer.
Ready and dressed, Iget out the hotel and joined the lot of riders allready waiting !
This was crazy !
So many people from all around the world : Americans, Colombians, Mexicans of the Belgians, Asians were also very numerous.
93 different nationalities were announced on the start line !
As the day was not yet raised, police escorted us to the meeting point.
Safety and control remains essential in such a crowd, on a labirynth of roads !
The more we near to the start, the more riders we were !
I was so astounded !
There were cyclists everywhere ! Thanks again to an incredibly efficient organization, I joined very quickly my starting area so far from the start line that i couldn’t see the race head from where I was.
Each cyclist had to respect the start areas, no cheating was possible!
Atmosphere of sheer folly
45min before departure I savored this amazing moment, talking to riders waiting with me about Haas Cycling traveling business project, getting a great positive feedback!
The stress was rising up…
Wet weather made the pavement slippery.
I knew first kms of undergrowth road would be difficult !
..3…2…1 …… Let’s go !
Minutes and seconds that separated me from the front riders seemed to me like an eternity but I finally started…
Just as I feared, the ground was slippery !
I started carefully first, but knew I had to take a risk more than ever.
I was preparing this event for a long time and knew I had to give full throttle on this day, without fear !
I as I learned in selfdevelopment seminars “behind fear, there is happiness” !
Miles went throught, I passed hundreds of riders but the race front still far behond.
Without asking myself any question, i continued my climb up through the pack believing in myself more than ever.
Km 15
beginning the first climbing of the day, I finally saw the italian defending champion just in front of me, a top form cyclist trained for the mountains !
I can hardly believe I was reaching the leading riders …first victory for myself !
I observed my competitors…many of them were shaped for mountain
Knowing the course it would not be simple !
As I trained on this very same road 2 days before I knew I had to get some advance before the climb to Bear Mountain to ensure a good place for next part of the race.
After several unsuccessful attacks, I finally get to the front with another runner.
2, 3 an 5 joined us in this break.
Each of us took part in the advanced of this early breakaway, but I realized I was the best climber.
We had 1 minute advance at the halfway point, when I decided to leave the group and get the rhythm wich would allow me to go to the top.
I had such great sensations, seeing people and cameras on the sides of the road broadcasting live the race.
All of his gave me the amazing energy to arrive alone at the top with a 45 seconds advance after 7km of steep ascent.
During the descent I feed myself and waited for the group of leaders.
We had 70km left to ride in a windy weather, I had to do this intelligently.
14 riders joined me, including the bests.
One of these, a Mexican professional cyclist, who was obviously not there just to take part, made us suffer !
My legs were on fire, more and more…
We were only 12 left when we reached a terrible 20% slope.
At this point I left my companions in order to pace myself to carry on and not collapse further.
I was alone to perform the last 40 kms against the wind.
The longest 40kms of my life !
After all efforts made, I refused to get back and finish beyond the 20th place.
This was a very hard time for me
Riding alone approaching the last terrible climb before arrival.
I was 3km from it, when I saw a group of 15 or 20 cyclists not far behind me !
I gave everything I had to finish in front of them …
The game can be cruel, you can ride 40 kms alone and loose everything in the last meters !
But I kept my 12th place till the end !!!
Here I am .. dirty and exhausted !
As soon as I passed the line, president and event organizers came to meet me and told me that the performance I made was exceptional !
A rider wearing a beyond 1000 race number who finally reaches the head of the race…that had never happened before so they offered me a anti-doping control !
They also checkeck my equipment to ensure that an electric engine had not been installed on my bike.
… of course I was perfectly clean so they finally congratulated me with great respect.
Challenge accomplished !
Result is beyond expectations !
The only thing I wanted at this point was to find my wife and son waiting for me.
We enjoyed this great meeting place! Amazing atmosphere to end this sunny incredible journey!
I couldn’t dream better way to communicate upon my business project.
I save the date in 2019 ! I will come back and fight for the podium !
No excuse as I will start with the leading riders!
I know I can do it !!…
Now it’s time to go back home and climb Vosges mountains again !
• On 27th of may “Les Marcaires”
• 9th of June “Les 3 Ballons”
and of course “L’alsacienne” which will take place in my city of Cernay !
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