Col de Peyresourde

One of the most hard to climb mountains on your bicycle is the Peyresourde in the French Pyrenees, some people told me. Somehow that's always a big motivation for me to try out something. A couple of old cyclists told me the night before I've planned the trip terrifying stories of guys who didn't made it and had to stop on the so called "Field of Death", stranded just with the pass in sight. Well, as you can imagine, that aren't the stories you like to hear before what is supposed to be a nice ride through the countryside!
Anyway, I must admit I was a bit scared the more I reached the "Field of Death" only to find out it's a nice green field and I was almost whistling when I drove by. So far, so good. The climb turned out to be a long, but manageable one. Although I was a bit worn out when I reached the top. It's just a pity that this years edition of the Tour de France don't pass this pass...

Tourmalet

One of the prettiest climbs I've ever made, was the climb to the top of Col du Tourmalet back in the summer of '96. It was the last day of our stay in the French Pyrenees and the weather was just perfect: sunny, no wind and nice temperatures. Although I'm not a great climber on the bike and will never be, I enjoyed every bit of it. I can even remember a great part of that day. For instance the paragliders who've started on one of the slopes near the top. That was the first time I saw paragliders and I felt immediately for that sport. Or the fellow cyclists I spoke during the climb. There were even Americans from California, trying to ride the famous mountains of the Tour de France: Peyresourde, Col du Menton, Aubisque, Tourmalet, Portillon and so on and so on. A bit to much, I guess, but that's what Americans are known for ;-). At least they were cycling their way to the top. Unless the numerous guys that passed by in cars with their bikes on the roof, only just to make the descent. Cheaters!

Illustration Friday Unfold

I find it always one of the greatest rewards about reaching the top after climbing a mountain, by foot or by bicycle. The view you get when you're almost completely exhausted: a landscape which unfolds to a breathtaking panorama. That is: if the weather cooperates. Mostly the top of the mountain is hidden in clouds, so you're lucky when you get to see the tip of your nose through the fog. And it's so freezing cold that you're only thinking about one thing: the quickest way to get down into the warm weather in the valley below.
Once I climbed the Col d' Aspin in the French Pyrenees, by bicycle. One thing I remembered about that climb was the great amount of campers passing by on my way to the top, leaving me behind in their exhaust fumes. Struggling to reach the pass and for some fresh air. So the drawing is a bit more romantic than reality was: no campers in sight, only a clear blue sky!

Col d'Aubisque

As I was looking through some old sketches and photographs, I found a set of photographs I took in 1996 while touring the French Pyrenees by bike. As a sort of reward after a long and hot climb upwards, I made photographs of the signs that are standing on the highest points.
We were riding through the Pyrenees on our bikes and tried to climb all the famous cols the riders of the Tour de France have to take. Of course we weren't as fast as the professional cyclists ride, but I'm sure we had much more fun during our "Tour de Force"!
Just a few weeks and then the Tour de France starts again. I can hardly wait.