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The
Brotherhood of the Crazy
I hear that some of the Southport “hardmen” are planning
an Alpine Raid in an attempt to establish their Ultra-marathon credentials.
Now I would not want to pour cold water on this escapade but really
is it sensible to set a challenge that any reasonably fit commuter
could handle? Surely the point is to push the boundaries of human
endeavour, to do the undoable.
There is such a challenge and best of all it takes just one day. A
day that would never be forgotten. A day about which you could regale
your friends for years to come. In 1988 Christian Pic formed Le Confrerie
des Cingles du Ventoux (roughly the brotherhood of Ventoux Nutters).
To join this elite group it is necessary to make all three road ascents
of Ventoux in one day. Le Geant is climbed from Bedoin, Malaucene
and Sault making a total elevation gain of 4400 metres over 136km.
So far 1200 Nutters have registered and received their leather medal.
But those Southport boys always talk a good ride, surely they would
want to join even more rarefied company.
So how about going for four?
In 1998 M. Pic created a further challenge to become a Galerian du
Ventoux. To the three road climbs he added the “Route Forestiere”
on a dirt road through the largest cedar forest in Europe. This ups
the distance to 190km with an elevation gain of 5922 metres! Now that
is a real challenge. So far just 150 riders have succeeded. I look
forward to learning that the Southport squad abandoned their plan
for an Alpine jolly and instead tamed the Giant of
Provence.
Ray Green, |
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