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| The summit of the Col de Marie-Blanque. |
Length: 9.5km
Altitude: 1,035m
Height Gain: 700m
Average Gradient: 7.4%
Maximum gradient: 11.0%
Category: Category 1
Back in motion, I found myself heading along the D934 towards the
delightful small town of Bielle. From here it was only a few kilometres through
the magnificently unspoiled Vallée d’Ossau to the beginning of my first day’s
climb, up the Col de Marie-Blanque. And boy, did I love it. It was a perfect
introduction to riding up a mountain in the Pyrenees, though I didn’t realise
until much later that I’d climbed it by the easier route. I didn’t like the
thought of doing it the easy way. It was a bit like tackling something
half-heartedly. But it certainly didn’t detract from the spectacular scenery
and the overall experience. Nor was it dead easy.
The hardest part of the
climb, just below 9%, began suddenly. The series of switchbacks was a rude
shock and continued for the next 4 kilometres. Though it was still morning, the
heat was already stifling and no shade was on offer. The only recompense was
that I was not the only cyclist, though I might as well have been given that
the three riders who passed me were soon out of view. Then suddenly, without
warning, everything changed as I turned left, then right, and followed the
road’s contour through the beautiful Plateau du Bénou. The lush, open
landscape, dotted with small huts and fat, grazing cows was a stark contrast to
the earlier part of the climb. Surprisingly, it and the flatness that
accompanied it, continued for most of the way, to the point that I doubted I
was still on the right road. But I was, and as the gradient picked up a little
I soon found myself gliding over Sweet Marie’s 1,035 metre summit....
Lycra, Lattes and the Long Way Round
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| The N134, on the way to the climb. |
Connecting the valleys of
the Aspe and Ossau rivers, the road up the Col de Marie-Blanque, from
Escot, is a different proposition; far more punishing
and significantly less rewarding.
Unlike the rude but not-long-lastingshock from its eastern
approach, the first few kilometres from Escot, between 2 and 6%, lull
you into a sense of false security. The easy-going gradient, dappled sunlight
and even the occasional cow along the road, provide no hint whatsoever of
what's further up ahead.
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| Cows along the road near the bottom of the climb. |
A little before half way, the climb reveals its true colours; a brutish
and persistent gradient, around 11%. By now, you're dripping with
perspiration, exacerbated by the stifling heat and the claustrophobic
combination of the tall leafy forest and the
narrow road. With few bends to temporarily camouflage the
increasingly steeper slope ahead, the remaining 5 kilometres become nothing
more than a long, slow grind to the top.
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| A tough climb from Escot but a beautiful descent. |
Close to the summit, I approached another rider who was leaning over his bike in the middle of the road.
Laden with more baggage than a Himalayan Sherpa, he looked
exhausted. While difficult enough to climb with just water bottles
and a handful of energy bars, the remaining 500 metres
suddenly didn't seem quite so oppressive.
But for the relief of just getting there, Marie-Blanque's summit
is something of a disappointment. Little more than a small
green apron next to the road that goes over the top, there's few views to be had, hidden
by the tall canopy of trees that like the cyclist, have continued up the
mountain.
Finally through the trees, just a few kilometres into the descent, the magnificent view down the other side opens up before you. Forgetting your hour of pain, you might even have a reason to return.
Books by Mark
Krieger:
‘High Spain Drifter’ is available on Amazon , Barnes and Noble, Booktopia and other online bookstores.
Both books are also available at local bookshops on the Mornington Peninsula: @ Rosebud Bookbarn and @ La Brocante
“The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.”
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