Piste to Plage for Help for Heroes Day 1

What an insane day. Set off up the 35k climb to Col d'Iseran at 2950 metres in the pouring rain. Totally ineffective wet riding gear meant I was wet though in minutes. An ominous start. Conditions deteriorated from there and a blizzard came in as we hit 5k to go to the top. Driving snow and stinging horizontal sleet created the most insane cycling conditions I've ever experienced.

With hyperthermia setting in, awful conditions, icey roads and numb hands making a 70k descent treacherous we all had to be bussed off the top. Day abandoned. Never been so cold in my life. The guy who lent me a beany & ski leggings is a star. As is the german couple who allowed 15 frozen, soaked cyclists to cram into their campervan until we could get taken off the mountain.

And utter respect to the injured service men who did it with us. Unbelievable.

All good now, and we're all set for day 2, the Galibier and hopefully much better weather. It is summer after all!!

Enjoy the pic!