le grimpeur

Climb like a badger4
Guy WR posted in Climbers, Climbing Skills on May 30th, 2007

In the bucolic British children’s fable, ‘Wind in the Willows’, the character of Mr. Badger is a rather gruff fellow, a no-nonsense practical type, rather solitary in the winter off-season and sticks close to home, but generous - if not somewhat paternal - to his friends, but sometimes prone to outburst. “Now the very next time this happens,” he scolds. “I shall be exceedingly angry.”

In the somewhat more recent French version the Badger, le blaireau, is not an entirely different character. (more…)

On the wings of a prayer1
Guy WR posted in Climbers on May 9th, 2007

It was the first of two tough mountain stages in the 2005 Giro d’Italia. Stage 13 through the Dolomites from Mezzocorona to Ortisei was 218 kilometres over 6 major climbs, including the Passo di Sella at 2,224 metres and two more passes over 2,000 metres. The final stretch to Ortisei climbed 800 metres to bring the total for the day to over 4,900 metres of ascending.

An early break of mountain men chanced their legs on this daunting stage and stayed away from a peloton reluctant to chase too hard. Whittled down to four on the final climb, one rider jumped away. Standing up in a spirited acceleration, he opened a small 10 second gap, no more than 100 metres. The chasing riders tried to close it down, but could not bridge.

As the climb continued, this rider continued to accelerate, alternating between a rhythmic seated pace and more standing attacks. The gap widened to 13 seconds, and by the finish it was 23 as the rider raised his arms in triumph to win the stage. (more…)