Curious on climbing Mont Ventoux ? So was Steeve, a golfer who’ became a cyclist by mistake last year when challenged with Alpe d’Huez. After a long winter it was time for a new challenge, an even bigger one. We choosed Mont Ventoux since it’s the queen stage on this years le Tour de France. Could it be possible for Steeve to climb a mountain in this caliber? And during a heatwave with temperatures climbing towards 40 degrees celsius? This time he prepared with an own bike and six times of training which is five times more than last challenge,
During the attempt he meets a living legend, Christian who has climbed Mont Ventoux more times than one could imagine. And the best thing: he is 84 years old and still enjoys climbing the mountain, several days in a row!. We got the chance to have a talk with him and it was great fun. Join along and learn the road and the challenges a cyclist going up Ventoux meet..
#letourdefrance #roadbike #cycling #montventoux
With english, french, german and spanish subtitles.
No 1. Steeves first challenge, Alpe d’Huez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wf0dHSdeiA
No 2. A professional bikefit at Paris Bike Co https://youtu.be/eGbezg57grM
Climbing the Ventoux and meeting a legend. 228 climbs here? Yes. 228 times today. I’m doing my first. Oh really? Yeah. This is Steve, stretching his way up to Alpe d’Huez last year He’s an avid golfer, and I’ challenged him to climb Alpe d’Huez with me. He doesn’t bike, and this was the second time in his whole life he tried a road bike. Against all odds, and despite all pain, he succeeded to reach the top. This year, I challenged him with climbing Mont Ventoux. Of course he accepted the challenge. Although the climb is 21 kilometers long an ascend 1,600 meters, where the steepest part is at the end reaching more than 13 percent. So this climb is both longer and higher than Alpe d’Huez that he did last year In order to improve his chances of success, he immediately bought himself expensive confidence, a high-end road bike. He also visited a world-class bikefitter to really get everything right this time. We’re going get back and make all your pain go away and make you faster on your bike Well, good morning to everyone. It’s six a clock. This day we had to leave early because there was a warning of a heat wave coming Up there she is. It looks like it’s going to be a hot day today as well. It all depends on how long time it will take, if we manage. The feeling is? The feeling is a bit of stress When I look at the top, just here you can see it, I don’t know. Yeah. It’s yeah, it’s a bits stressful. It’s a big monster. Yeah. But we’ll see. Yeah, but look at that confidence. Yeah. So, it should work, but it’s like 50 percent more distance than the one before, so let’s go. It is. It’s the third time I think I use them with the cleats. I hope I’m not gonna fall, again. Wow, wow, wow. There it is. The sun is slightly coming out behind the mountain. When I see the top here, I feel like, wow, we have a big day in front of us. Yeah, we have. And hot. Yeah, it will be hot. You can feel it already. Yeah. I cannot imagine I’ve never been to this place before. It’s so beautiful. Yeah. Now, you can see why we always come back to France. I understand. We already did four kilometers. Yep. Okay, that’s fine. Yeah. And when you’ll see it’s just four kilometers left, I promise it doesn’t gonna feel the same. Now it starts to steeppen up a little bit. Yeah, I can see that. So now it’s time to find your pace. Okay, now it is starting for real. Yep, le Virage. Okay, now. We are on. Lucky you. Bonjour. Bonjour. I think you should slow down a little bit. Sorry? I think you should slow down a little bit if you can. Okay. I’m happy to slow down. So, now we’re up in the forest. It’s like 10 km in the forrest. and it’s steep the whole way. And nothing else happens. It’s, this part is a little bit like a mental game. It’s just steep and hurts. I have put an alarm every 20 minutes to remind me to snack on something. Yep. Bike. I’m sorry They are sneaking up on you. Yeah. Shit, it’s hard now. Ooh. You can see he starts to get a little bit tired. He’s a little bit all over the place now. You should try to stay at this side. Huh? You should try to be at this side. Yeah. Because if a guy like Samuel comes. He comes above one hundred km/h. And it’s just say boom. Yeah, you’re right. I feel like it’s harder on this side. Yeah, it is. It’s a bit of a interesting sensation to know that it’s going to be difficult. To look at it in the eyes and to say, okay. I’m not going to turn my back on you. Let’s go. and see what we can do. A little bit like a mental illness, but there is some fun in it. For sure, a lot of happiness if you manage to the end. Yeah. But force yourself to do this at least once a year Yeah? Yeah, that can be. It makes you, well, you know why you have to try to stay in decent shape. Exactly. Otherwise… No, it’s a good challenge. Yep. Bonjour. 11 km to the top. Nine percent. Yeah, so now you only got Alpe d’Huez left. Yiiih… Do you remember why you’re doing it? Yeah. I have this sentence in my head since you said to me Because I can Yes. That’s good. We’ll see if I can this time. Just being able to do it is a blessing Yes, absolutely. I feel so happy for that. Yeah. After my heart failure, not being able to do anything. Yeah. Well, this is pure joy, even if it hurts. Yeah, you saw so many older person going up. Yeah. It’s very impressive to see them. I think it’s incredible. You’re seeing these guys at 75, almost 80. I’ve sen a lot of couples yesterday. Going up. Yeah. Well, the benefit of moving is uncomparable. It’s what my heart doctor told me. She said, “You have to move all your life, but please, don’t push too much.” Yeah. And I said, “No, I promise, I will push only once a year. Yeah. It hurts. Yeah, the butt a little bit, actually. Yep. start to wonder if I didn’t put my underwear upside down. It is true. It was pitch dark when I put it. Now I start to have a doubt because I don’t feel protected under the butt. If we have a little bit of a flat curve in the shadow, I’m gonna check that. Yep. You can take it here, you can go straight out in the road from the gravel here Yeah. It’s quite hurting in the butt. But so far, We’re getting longer than we, I thought. I didn’t expect to have the main pain in the butt. Ouch. I think we should keep warm It’s painful to stop almost That’s a hard start. Yeah. Let’s try without falling Yeah. Yeah. No biker no car? Nope. One, two, three, go. Ah! Yes, yes. There you go. I did it. That’s the professional style. Okay. That was probably my quickest time ever. Yeah Whooa, it’s gonna hurt in the butt I can tell. Wow. I didn’t expect this muscle to be the most painful. And you didn’t have any chamois? What is that, chamois? Yeah… That’s scream. Ah, no, I didn’t. No. It’s start to be quite painful in the muscles. But I have the objective for Chalet Reynard. First, you get happy when you see Chalet Reynard and then you realize that it’s sunny. Yeah. So mixed feelings. The Chalet Reynard is like one kilometer away? Two? Something like that. Like 500 meters Ah, it’s here. Yep. Hurray! That’s a very nice feeling when you feel like you still have two kilometers to go. and then suddenly, no but it’s just here. Oooh. Thank you. It doesn’t look much, but it feels good to see it. Yeah, exactly. When you’re there, you know you have done a big part. Yeah, yeah. The hardest is still to come, but you have done a big part. Oh, do you hear that? Nope. 84 years old guy He’s doing his climbing for the 284 times Did I hear well, you’re 84 years old? You say? I heard you’re 84 years old. Yes. It’s incredible. I’m 84 years old and that’s my 228 climbs today. 228 climbs here? Yes. 228 times today. I’m doing my first. Oh really? Yeah. There’s a slight difference. When did you start? Well, 40 years ago. No 44 years ago. I was 40 when I rode it first. Okay. The first time I rode it, you know what gear I was in? 42-25! I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what does that mean, but I don’t know anything about cycling. 42-25 isn’t made for climbing? No The pros, they don’t have that. Okay. And from Bédoin it took me 1hours 30 to the top. Oh yeah, So you’re a force of nature then. Well, at the time yes. Now it’s not the same, At 84 years old I hope to be like you! I rode it yesterday and the day before. It’s my third day in a row. Oh yeah. What do you have for breakfast in the morning? You’re scaring me now. Black coffee with tartines. That’s all. OK. And then I eat fruit jellies, a cereals bar at les Bruns before Saint-Estève. Okay. And after that, you are fine? Yes I’m good. Then in the afternoon, you go to the pool and you sleep? No, after eating, I take a nap. That’s it. Well done anyhow. And do you ride your bike every day? Not every day, but almost. So you do stretching, flexibility? Do you keep going up or do you go back down there? I’m going up there. Well, we’ll meet at the top then. What? We’ll meet at the top! Oh well, I don’t know. Me neither. I’m Showing of but I’m not sure to make it. Today I’m tired. I understand. I shouldn’t have gone up yesterday. I should have climb one day out of two. Three days in a row is to much. Don’t get hurt. What’s your first name? Christian. Christian. Christian, be careful don’t get hurt. OK, It was nice meeting you. That’s a living legend. Yeah. Really. Ready for the last big one? Yep. Feeling good? Yeah, I think so. It makes you feel very humble. Yep. You want to You cannot complain about your pain now. You can’t complain about anything. You always meet people that are inspiring in some way or another. That twas actually what we’re talking about before. Keep doing it. Getting older, being able to do it. You talk about it virtually and then suddenly, you have a life proof of it. Yeah, in front of your eyes. Yeah, that’s amazing. And this is what steep looks like. Ah, there is a professional photographer. Yeah. Waiting for us I don’t have my makeup artist. And there she is again. And she looks close. Yeah. But she ain’t. A motorcyclist is coming and it’s coming pretty fast. Motorcyclists. Well, a little bit too fast. a little bit too close. People that you meet going down, they have such a big smile on their face. I don’t think we look that smiley now. Look at the view. It’s such amazing, this mountain. It just rises from nothing. It’s quite crazy. Yeah. Ooh lala! Ooh lala! Not so good. They’re gonna kill someone. Yep. There’s a high chance or risk of it. But here’ an advice. Don’t try to rest yourself into shape. It doesn’t work. Bonjour. They say electricity is the future. Meeting Christian, is proving the opposite. Yeah. That’s Tom Simpson. A hot day like this. Not a good story. Not a good story at all. Wow. Yeah, so it’s like the last almost kilometer. And how does it feel? Now, it’s very painful. Yeah. Oh shit. Yeah. Look at the view. Yep. It is. Another place. Something special. If the moon was like this I could concider to move. Ah, it’s beautiful. Ay, I have a cramp coming on the left but, ich! Oh, in the but? Aaoh. Stretching. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Let’s try to do the last part. It seems very close, but it’s like a never ending feeling. Oh, it’s gonna be painful. One, two, Let’s go. We’re not allowed to give up here. Too close to the goal. But the body is telling you to stop. Yeah. The sun is hot now. I feel it in my backhead. The view is beautiful. but who cares about the view right now? It is steep. It’s so shitty steep. It’s hard to keep a straight line. But it’s only a few hundred meters left. After here, it get’s steep. Ayyh. Allez, allez, allez. Ayyh. Ayyh. Allez, allez, allez, allez. Ayyh. Merci beaucoup. Ayyh. Ayyh. This is pain. at it’s clearest. Ayyh. And have a go! Ayyh. Yeah! That’s the last part! Ayyh. Ayyh. Putting in the big numbers. Up on the pedals! Yeah. You got more! A little bit more. Aaaaaaahhhh! Now you’re there! That’s the face. Ah, come here. That’s the face we we’re looking for. Good. We did it. Yep, we did. Ooooh. Ooooh. Now it’s only two left. Whaoh, Oh, shit! You did not expect that to happen. Honestly. Well, now we have the right to enjoy the view. Yep. That was probably not healthy at all. Don’t tell my doctor. She will forbid me forever to go back. That’s so fun. I never thought I would do that in my life. Whoa! Okey? Beautiful. Yeap. Congratulations. Oh no, that’s for me? Yeap, that’s for you. That’s a big effort. Good done! My reward. Yep. And I think that’s all for today. Like it’s like the biker Please subscribe. New adventure is coming, much harder.
1 Comment
phenomenal video! I wish this channel future success