DAY 5: 100 Miles. Today was a day of cycling that I will never forget, it was challenging in the extreme but worth every moment. Anticipating a long day, we got up half an hour earlier than usual at 5.30 AM, had breakfast and loaded the tents into the support van. We began by winding our way up the first mountain pass of the day, El Canto (1720m). This was enjoyable as it was not too hot under a cloud covered sky. We then worked our way up Col d'Aspin (1490m) as the clouds cleared. This was more arduous but exeptionally scenic. After some super French food we began the third and by far the most testing climb of the day, Le Tourmalet (2125m). Climbing for more 16 kilometres, the road zig zagged up to a ski resort. With high heart rates and burning legs we heaved our way up for several hours. Mercifully we climbed through the cloud which kept us relatively cool for mist of the ascent but afforded us a clear view from the top. After climbing over 10,000 feet in all today, the final few hairpin bends were really tough. It was a great relief to reach the summit and we all admired the view - a blanket of clouds covering the valley below. We refuelled at the top before blasting downhill, getting soaked and shivering through the now thick cloud. Stormy weather seemed to be building. We now had to face a further 45 miles to the campsite. Although mostly downhill, this was tough on our tired legs. We made it to the site at 9 AM, 13 quite gruelling hours after we began the ride. I had energy only to put the tent up, shower and eat before collapsong into bed. Soon after dark a huge storm began and we slept fleetingly due to the thunder, lightening and torrential rain. I willed the storm to pass as the prospect of downing tents in the rain at 6.30 AM and setting off on day 6 - another 90 miler - did not seem very appealing at all!
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