Photo courtesy of Aubin Laurent
After a very wet first edition last year, I decided to line up again at the start of the Wish One Les Monts du Morvan, hoping for both better weather as well as a better result. The 130km race borrows its format from the world of enduro, with 4 timed sections that are used to determine the winner.
Photo courtesy of Aubin Laurent
You can ride whatever pace you want for most of the course, chat with other riders, take breaks at the resupply points or even stop for lunch in a restaurant somewhere if you fancy. You can make whatever you like of this day on the bike – as long as you give it your all during the four timed sections.
Last year I was unlucky enough to puncture during the second section. This, paired with horrendous weather, made for a mildly enjoyable experience. But this year, the Morvan had different plans for us. Blue skies, warm sun and dry trails. And when this hilly, little known part of France shows you its good side, it’s truly a gem.
Photo courtesy of Aubin Laurent
We left early from the tiny village of La Grande Verrière. Eighty of us in a tightly packed peloton, enthusiastic and eager. I had no desire to ride hard straight off the bat so I gently paced myself to hang at the back of the peloton and chat with other riders that were not in a hurry to finish.
Photo courtesy of Aubin Laurent
After 50km, it was time to push hard on the pedals for the first timed section. As an ultra-cyclist, this is not something I do often. But if I have to, I can dig real deep. That first segment was the easiest, with half of it uphill and the rest completely flat on a wide trail through the forest. At the end of the segment I enjoyed a resupply (thanks to the many volunteers that help with the race) and reunited with friends that had ridden a bit faster at the start.
As the day went on, I kept pacing myself between timed sections and going all out during the gradually harder segments. The final one, known as the Mont Beuvray, led all the way to the finish. A gnarly climb with a 9% average gradient and up to 16% inclines towards the end. It took me several minutes lying in the grass to recover from this effort. Then I could hang out with old messenger buddies from Paris, veterans of last year’s race and new friends I had made during the day.
Photo courtesy of Aubin Laurent
A few hours later we were all back in La Grande Verrière for the podium ceremony and a boeuf bourguignon, the famous local dish of beef stewed in red wine. I was happy to climb on the podium in second place, behind the winner Alois Falenta. After dinner, we shared a couple beers and hung around with some locals who had gathered on the village’s main square for a regional pétanque tournament. All in all, an awesome day on the bike and just a great day in general.