I have a poor history in riding L’etape over the years. My first in 2001, Tarbes – Luz Ardiden over 145kms, involved struggling over the col d’Aspin and then the col de Tourmalet from the La Mongie side. I was still in time over the Tourmalet but abandoned on the descent due to freezing extremities and general exhaustion. I had high hopes for my second foray in 2002 with another shorter stage of 145kms from Aimes to Cluses. The tour operator mis-judged the timing of the coach transfer from the hotel to the start. We were caught in a traffic jam at 6.30 in the morning and were forced to assemble the bikes by the roadside and go eyeballs-out to the start where we arrived twenty minutes late. To make matters worse my derailleur had been damaged in the melee and I abandoned after 2kms into the event. High hopes dashed!

I missed the ride in 2003 but my next attempt in 2004 from Limoges to St. Flour began with a logistical headache: I stored my bike at the B&B near Limoges, drove the car to St. Flour and returned to Limoges on three separate local trains: The next day I covered 178kms of the route and abandoned at the summit of the Col de Nabonne, so exhausted that I couldn’t face the descent.

In 2005 l’etape was 179kms from Mourenx to Pau. It was a very hot day and I thought I was going well. There was tremendous congestion after 50kms on the Col d’Ichere, so much so, that hundreds were forced to dismount. Most were fit enough and strong enough to recover the time lost here; but I was not. I struggled on the Col de Marie Blanque and lost even more time and about ten kms into the ascent of the Col d’Aubisque I was caught by the elimination squad. Another failed mission!

The next year 2006 brought a longer stage: 191kms from Gap to finish on L’Alpe d’Huez. I started very well averaging nearly 50kph with a huge peloton to the foot of the col d’Izoard. There was great congestion at this point with hundreds stopping at the water station. I managed to fight my way through and set off to tackle the 32kms to the summit. Temperatures were rising and I used all my water, refilling once in a mountain stream. At the summit the water station had distributed all of its water. I had nothing. There was a 14kms descent to Brançon where I refilled my bottles in a horse trough, despite it being occupied by a fully submerged American woman. The heat was telling: Now over 40º with 29kms to the summit of the Col de Lautaret still to go. Like many others I stopped several times; for some shade; to refill bottles in streams. This proved fatal. Within minutes before arrival at the summit a line of crossed-armed gendarmes spread across the road. They would not listen to the pathetic pleas that the next 40kms to the foot of L’Alpe d’Huez was fast downhill. I was out. Time barred again.

I entered the 2008 version; Pau to the Hautacam a distance of 169kms (13kms further than the Tour de France version) and repeating the climb of the col du Tourmalet of 2001. On this occasion I entered with some resolve. Hitting 70 years of age may mean fewer chances remaining in the future. I therefore decided in March to manage my miles and my meals: seriously. I was still over 17 stones and I worked at it, changing my eating habits and riding harder, and further. On the day, I lined up in a fine drizzle with 7,500 others in Pau feeling well prepared and weighing in that morning at 14st 12lbs (94kgs). The start was fast and furious, and a bit dodgy in the wet. For the first time in an “etape” I didn’t find myself alone, as in the past. It was wet most of the way to Sainte Marie de Campan after 103kms and the start of the ascent of the Tourmalet. I was an hour inside the elimination schedule: Another first. I rode the 17 kms to the summit without putting my foot on the ground; yet another first. I was now an hour and quarter inside the devils schedule. The descent to Luz St. Sauveur was dry, but unlike some I reigned myself in: There was time in hand. No point in risking life and limb. Turning down the Gorge du Luz, a further eighteen kms downhill on a wide main road with sweeping curves, the reigns were released a little, in fact, rather a lot. At the foot of the Hautacam with even more time in hand the rain jacket was removed, a Power bar consumed and now 14kms to the end. The higher we climbed, the wetter it became. A fine drizzle with a chill in the air. In the clouds the visibility greatly reduced. Four kms to go, a bit of cramp in the quads but then a final push and it was all over. An etape done at last. 8h 46m 26s for 4,763rd place against the winning time of 5h 38m 04s. Sitting on the wet tarmac at the summit I resolved,” that’s the last mountain for me, ever!” On the descent to the foot of the climb and the waiting coach and warm clothes I began making plans for 2009...........