Sept 19 2017 Pico de Veleta

This morning was the day for the assault on Pico de Veleta.   Pico de Veleta is the highest paved road in all of Europe.  The final summit is at 3395 meters. The public road ends at 2764 m and the last 8 kms takes you up a ski service road.   This climb lacks the fame of   Tourmalet, Ventoux or Alpe d'Huez,  but Veleta is longer and tougher than all of them.  In fact the Pico de Veleta at a net climb of 2700 meters has twice the climb of Tourmalet.   Liam has been planning on doing this ride for over 25 years when he first read about this climb in an article in Cycling World, and it had become a bucket list item for him.

 We were up and down at breakfast at 8:00 am all ready to go.  By 8:25 we were rolling out of the hotel and down the streets.  I looked like about 2 kms to reach the edge of town.  In town the route took us up a lot of really steep residential streets however as we were following the suggested bike route we weren’t too excited.  The total climb was  43 kms.  So when the track turned to gravel at about the 8 kms mark we knew we were on the wrong track.  We tried a couple of other directions and finally decided we would head back to the hotel to rework the routes and get them put into our Garmins.  Finally on the road at about 11:30 am about three hours behind schedule.  

At about the 8 kms mark the hills started getting steep and Liam’s bike was not shifting properly.  When he down shifted it threw the chain over the top of the rear cassette.  After a stop to put the chain on is was obvious that the rear derailleur had been bent when it was dropped in the garage that morning.  After a bunch of very dirty work we got the derailleur bent back and on the road. 

Unfortunately we are now about 3.5 hours behind schedule and the heat of the day has set in.  My Garmin is registering around 29 C. Having said that it was actually the perfect day we were just too late getting on the road.  Because of the huge difference in altitude it has to be hot at the base to be reasonable at the top.   We have only climbed less than 20% of the way.  I am sweating so badly I cannot see.  I have to stop constantly to wipe my face and so my eyes are just on fire. 

As we get further along we are getting more and more amazing views of the valley below.  The road is averaging between 6.5 and 8 % grade with not a single flat spot anywhere.   There is just one switchback after another and one amazing view after another. 

We stopped at the 25 kms mark at a little hotel and filled our water bottles and sat in the shade trying to cool off a little.  However as time was not on our side we pedalled on. 

At the 27 kms mark the came across a cluster cafes and there BMW, Porche and Mercedes had a selection of new models all dressed in dazzle camouflage and were testing the new models.  The cars  would come flying past you in a four wheel drift with the tires just whining.  It was quite interesting to see however a little unnerving as you could hear them coming two or three switch backs below you or above you. 

By time we got the ski lodge at the 35 kms mark it was 4:00 pm and I was done.  I was feeling a little light headed as we now at 2764.  My water bottle was empty and my Garmin was dead.  There were a pair of workmen working on a building and I got them to fill our bottles.  I had still made it to the highest paved point in Europe and had a great day cycling.

It was still 8 kms at 8% to the top.  Liam decided to soldier on the last bit and I rode back down to the place where the test cars were.  It took Liam another 4 hours to climb to the top and back down to where the test cars were. By now it was dark and Agnes and Suibhan came up and got us with the car.  However he made it.  I take my hat off to you Liam.  This is an achievement which you have been dreaming of for 25 years and you made it happen.  Congratulations!

 Terry