March has been a very wintery month. We have had icy cold nights, hail storms, strong winds and especially for Easter Weekend – Snow.

Yesterday, we went to a VTT Randonee at Breuilaufa just to the east of our favourite spot, the Monts de Blond. When we got up at 7am, there was a sprinkling of the white stuff in the garden. As we drove towards Breuilaufa, the scenery changed and there was a good layer of snow lying all over and it felt noticibly colder.

On arrival, there were lots of folk milling about. As usual, everyone turns up whatever the weather. We set out about 9am and the first descent was a long trail of really slippy mud. There were riders everywhere, sliding sideways, some were off and walking. I managed to get down in one piece although with a fair few comedy moments along the way.

This was pretty much how all the trails were for the whole of the 32 km circuit as the ground wasn’t frozen. Very slow going in places and you couldn’t make fast progress. All in all though, it was a good ride and it got you out there and all done by lunch time.

It didn’t warm up at all during the morning and I had no feeling in my toes by the time I’d finished – about 2 hours 15mins. There was the usual drinks and snacks at the end and we had a chat with everyone before returning home and spending the afternoon washing…. the bikes, cycling kit and shoes!

Let me set the scene:

After being pursuaded to join the Beauvallet Cyclo Club recently, I was also pursuaded to race in the Departmental Championships at St Leger de Montagne.

Now my problem is that I don’t have a nasty streak (like Steve!) and am probably the least competitive person you would meet. Also, training is hard and I have this conflict of interest with mountain bike training and working hard in the garden (which I love). With 4 weeks to go I made the effort to up my riding a bit and take on board tips from my trainer (Steve of course).

Also, the 2 weeks before the event hadn’t really gone to plan. Steve had been ill with the big ‘D’ and then caught a chest infection and although I didn’t catch it myself, I felt generally “under the weather”.

On the Day:

Although we had been having lovely spring weather, we awoke Sunday morning to rain and grey skies. We packed the van and set off at 11am, raining hard now!

Arrived at the Stade in St Leger de Montagne and there were already plenty of people there – still raining. Got signed on and sat in the back of the van – made a cup of tea and listened to rain. In the usual French way, we all had to be called up number by number so we were instructed to be at the start arena by 1.30 – the first race was at 2pm.

All kitted up with waterproofs, we headed to the start and spent a good 30 minutes warming up and getting very wet. Finally we were all gridded up and I watch as Steve’s category went off – more about him later. As we sat on the start line, they announced our laps had been reduced from 3 to 2 because of the deteriorating conditions. I took off my waterproof top and completely forgot that I had my overshoes on. I only wore them to keep my feet dry during the warm up, I didn’t want to race in them.10 seconds and then the gun went off. I was on the 2nd row and as we sprinted across the field, a ‘yoof’ rider behind me came past cutting across my line and knocked me into the rider next to me. Thankfully, we stayed upright but by this time, the world and his wife had gone past.

Out of the arena I was trying so hard to keep the pace high it felt like someone was cleaning my throat with a wire brush and my lungs were screaming at me to stop.

We came to the first climb, but the conditions were so bad, it wasn’t rideable and we were all off the bikes pushing them hard up the hill whilst our feet sank into inches of goey sticky mud. Remember those overshoes I forgot about? They had slipped off my shoes and as I re-mounted they were catching in the chain rings. All I could do was undo them and throw them to the side of the course.

On the next climb, the conditions were so hard. It felt like riding on a matress with all the brakes on. A young rider came past me like I was standing still but I kept on, determined to finish the climb. Over the top and down into a really muddy section. The young rider in front suddenly stops and throws his bike to ground and runs to the side of the course to throw up forcing me to go around it, off line and getting stuck into the gloop.

I get going again, and come to the first main descent, really rocky but great as finally I could get the bike going. Frustratingly I was getting held up by a younger rider and I couldn’t pass him until some minutes later. Managed to get clear and onward to the top of the course.

Riding fast down the descent, trying to gain some time, no steering front end all over the place but somehow I manage to get down. Near the end of the first lap, it’s a sharp muddy climb into the arena which is now not rideable and someone shouts me to dismount. I feel like I have weights on my feet as I drag myself to the top.

Jump back on the bike and out for a second lap. The commentator shouts, “Deuxieme Feminine” but I’m feeling so tired now and asking myself why I’m doing it and am past caring. Everything seems like 100 times harder and I’m trying to concentrate on getting it finished. Whilst I’m slogging up the next climb I can hear Steve’s voice in my head “anyone can ride when they are feeling good …”, suddenly being 2nd matters. I’ve no idea where 3rd place is and I tell myself “I’m buggered if I’m going to be 3rd” and try to keep it going as best I can.

I reach the last but one descent and my concentration is lapsing. The front end slides out and I’m down. Swearing, I jump back on and make a slightly steadier descent – confidence knocked a bit.

Finally, I reach the last steep climb into the areana. Horns blaring and people shouting. I make it to the top and get back on, don’t know how. Over the line, Theo is there cheering, “Bravo, tres bien”. I can’t speak, I’m dribbling, want to throw up, collapse in a heap. Theo’s telling me about Steve in the lead and I want to hang on to see him over the line but I’m starting to get cold and I’m so exhausted.

I get back to the van and would be quite happy to curl up and die, but I remember the other words of wisdom that Steve is always telling me. It’s important to get cleaned up and warm clothes on as the immune system is weak at the end of a race. In auto pilot I strip off and get myself sorted. All I can think is – God that was hard!

At the presentation ceremony, I was so pleased at getting my trophy for 2nd Female, and although I vowed never to do anything like it again, that sweet talking Theo (Mr Beauvallet) has pursuaded me to do the Regionals and the Nationals – it’s a love hate thing!

Steve’s Story:

What bad luck he had. It was in the bag until the last descent when he punctured and the 2nd place man came past him whilst he was fixing his puncture.

I felt desparately sorry for him but “c’est la vie” as they say, though I’d call it “Sod’s Law” – probably the only the 2nd time he’s ever punctured in a race and it had to be the Departmental Championships! Read his story here.