Day 6 Valley of the Kings and Queen of the Mountain
Signature Tour 2014
Day 6 – Wangaratta to Eildon
Total riding: 207km, ascent 2,700m
I made it! The longest day ever on my bike! 208km, 2,700 metres climbed and 8 hours in the saddle..
……but, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s quickly recap on the Wangaratta community dinner last night. The dinner was great with around 200 guests from the area many travelling long distances to attend. The local real estate auctioneer kept things moving with some initial trivia questions and prizes, various auction items including local wine, signed posters and a mini iPad all raising great funds for the TdeC cause. We donated a $5000 cheque to the local cancer council who told us there are 180 people being diagnosed with cancer in Wangaratta every year and often have to travel a long way to Melbourne for treatment so our donation will help…
……and then it was 5:15am..again
I had to sneak out v quietly as my room mate was leaving later. I managed to dress in the dark without any wardrobe malfunctions which is always a risk with that strategy and in fact one of the riders turned up on the first day not only with last year’s tour cycling shorts but his wife’s!
I rode in the first group today which was great as despite the early start we knew we had a chance to get in before dark and possibly the predicted rain. Not sure any of you watch Sunrise but I haven’t been on it much – there are a few people that can’t help jostling for it everyday whilst I’m usually more concerned about breakfast and coffee. However today I decide to take pole position and I lined up in the front pairing with Phil Anderson ready to send us off. After pics for the Wangaratta Chronicle Mark B gave the signal and Phil waved us off. I hadn’t really thought through this plan as I was expecting to move back through the group immediately after my TV performance instead I got stuck on the front. The front six riders are called the Engine Room and are the strongest riders in each group. They stay on the front rotating every 5kms or so pulling the rest of us along. 50kms later I think I have done my bit in the Engine room possibly for this tour – it was fun but with 200+kms ahead I was concerned my legs may give up somewhere later on this long stage. Fortunately, it was a gorgeous virtually flat 50km through the King Valley past the vineyards with another stunning sunrise over the mountain range.
We stopped at Whitfield for a school visit which promised big things with a band set up in the playground but we had arrived early – before the pupils in fact so with such a long ride ahead we had a quick refuel and rolled back out leaving the support crew to do the fun stuff with the kids. As soon as we left the terrain changed…..yes, you guessed it, we started to climb. We climbed for about 20km. It was hard but not too steep and the amazing scenery helps. The road wound up the hillside very like a European climb with amazing views but also steep drops and few guard rails.
We reached Mansfield after a long descent and had a fun time with kids from three different schools who had all come to Mansfield Primary to welcome us. They had made fantastic posters and drawn pictures for us too. I have a lovely bicycle drawing from a v sweet girl named Jess. The children had all come in mufti bringing a gold coin donation which totalled $500 and was given to us. In addition one of the kids, Matty, a keen cyclist and bidding champion of the future, had spent Monday night riding around the neighbourhood for two hours and raised $225 for us – well done Matty!
A new group of guest riders joined us in Mansfield and will ride with us to Melbourne. It was nice to have new people to meet and hear their stories of how and get they are involved in this crazy stuff.
The first 30k after lunch was mostly flat but that soon changed when we turned onto the Eildon road. It wound up and up and we all climbed at our own pace. I managed to get into my usual steady rhythm which involves a slow start winding up as I go and often passing riders who take it too fast from the bottom. We had lots of TdC support cheering, playing music waving banners etc along the way which was great but also gave us several false hopes at the actual summit being nearer than it was. One of the guests riders I know from Sydney passed me early on claiming her fresh legs advantage but I tucked in behind and kept pushing along. At the sight of more tour crew I realised this was the moment to take the honour of bring the first female up so I pulled out around Cathy and sprinted for line with all I had after 5 days of long rides and a morning in the Engine room but … just as I claimed the victory I heard the words ‘only 1.2km to go! Devastating, but I had gained a fair bit of ground and pacing up with Peter a guest rider from Melbourne and in my team I did manage to hold on to the Queen of the Mountain at least for the front Peloton! We were welcomed with Queen blaring out ‘we are the champions’ and one of the truck drivers Dave Duff dressed from head to toe in bright orange lycra running up the road. Fantastic. This tour is really not about racing or line honours but we do have a bit of friendly competition when appropriate.
A quick feed and drink and we continued. We still had another 4km uphill with views through the Eildon State forest on either side. We had been promised a long descent into Eildon all day but it never seemed to come. Every time we tucked in ready for a long downhill stretch the road just kicked back up on and on for about 40kms, The road surface was lumpy and jarring and the rain had arrived making the descents pretty hairy but we all got down intact and made it to the Golden Trout Motel just after 5pm, 208km and over 8 hours ride time – wet and starting to get quite cold. Big day done, 6 days with 4 to go. Tomorrow we ride into Melbourne.
Hope the rain doesn’t come too.
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