Breakfast was quiet as forty like minded cyclists (read masochists) prepared themselves for the very first stage of the inaugural Cent Cols Challenge, 194km from Thônon les Bains to Albertville, 4,700m of climbing and 8 Cols (the main protagonists being the Col de Joux Plane and Col de la Colombiere). With these credentials the ingredients were firmly in place for a tough (read TOUGH) day in the saddle.

As we rolled out of town it was anyone’s guess what lay up the road ahead. The Rapha boys, including Portland based custom frame artist Ira Ryan, were happy to bring the group up to speed and it wasn’t long before the heavy breathing had started.

I was looking forward to the Joux Plane, I’d ridden it from the other side a few years back and on that occasion had the pleasure of a slick descent to Morzine in the wet. Today the weather looked all the better, scattered cloud and sunshine helped lift spirits early on and as we climbed an eerie layer of cloud rolled up from the valley until we broke through. It was at this moment I had my first glimpse of heaven. The lake glistened peacefully at the summit, whispers of cloud and a wash of blue behind the mountain range on the horizon. That was all I needed. For me, the job was done. It couldn’t possibly be a bad day.

Sweeping the hairpins on the descent is what riding a bike is all about. Suffering as you climb to the stars and then free falling with weightless elegance back down to earth. I am in love and will never get enough.

The Colombiere was deserted, a climb that needs respect and a steady rhythm or you could come up short. The km's were clocking by and with two final climbs, described as rollers it looked like a gentle run into Albertville. Wrong. Let me set things straight from the beginning, a roller isn’t between 10 and 14km, especially with over 130 (ok, if they were described as rollers, I’ll describe these as hilly) kilometres in the pins.

OK, it wasn’t that I wanted to race today. I am here for the ride, to take some photo’s, enjoy my holiday and I’m suffering from serious muscle soreness after an hour of 5-A side footy just two days prior to the start, but since I’m sharing a room with two other guys the focus was the race to the the shower. Pleasing to be first rider home, and boy oh boy was that shower good. Double result.