Testimony - The Step of Tour 2022
Anthony Calvet, local cyclist, shares his experience of his Etape du Tour equipped with the products Matchy !
My race kit for this stage of the Tour is a Pure jersey and one Premium bib shorts Matchy.
A story full of twists and turns
Before telling you about my day on the bike, I'll give you the context in which I'm starting.
From January 2022, I set myself the Objective ofStage of the Tour. I then begin my preparation for this goal, but unfortunately everything does not go as planned.
In March 2022, an accident left me with a fractured pelvis and a vertebra… I don't know when I'll be able to get back on a bike and if I'll be able to participate in the Etape du Tour this year.
But after eating my black bread for a long time, a clearing appears, the rehabilitation progresses, I resume “training” in June, I find some sensations, but the preparation for this stage of the tour is far from optimal.
July 10, 2022, I present myself at the Departure
I'm still lining up for the start of the Etape du Tour in my current form, not knowing if my body will allow me to finish. Having a "guest" bib, I'm starting in SAS 0 and I'm motivated for the day ahead!
A quick start.
7:00 a.m., it's the big start, after all these struggles since the beginning of the year, here we are, it's the start of this 2022 stage. After a fast start, I make the effort in the Col du Lautaret to get back into a good group which includes a few friends with whom I switch to the summit of the Col du Galibier, a few minutes behind the race leaders.
Still in good shape, I enjoy the magnificent landscapes at the top of this legendary pass in the heart of our mountains.
I lost contact on the descent towards Valloire and the Col du Télégraphe.
The day of “potato hunting” begins!
I reach the top of the telegraph 30 seconds behind my morning group, unfortunately, I won't be able to catch up with them on the descent and the valley which brings us to the foot of the Croix de Fer!
The Croix de Fer, a legendary climb in the Alps, 29 km of slopes that hurt the legs, that wear you out and Mr. Sun beating down on my helmet, I have the feeling of being glued to the asphalt for the entire pass. I struggle to stay with a small group that had reformed, a mechanical problem in the first part of the descent forces me to stop and let them go.
Fortunately, a group of runners who must not have done the same race as me given their freshness catch up with me and take me to the foot of the last pass of the day: Alpe d'Huez!
The myth of the Alps and the end of this epic
At the bottom, I'm told that I'm five minutes away from my morning friends, so I could have stayed with them! There are still 21 bends to climb, 21 hairpins to reach the end of this Stage 2022! From the first ramp, I feel that the climb is going to be long, but I'm still in the race.
Despite significant fatigue, the adrenaline and the atmosphere allowed me to regain some semblance of strength along the Alpe to finish the last three kilometers with dignity.
A positive assessment!
After 6 hours and 40 minutes in the saddle, I crossed the finish line at 1:40 p.m.! A top 200 that would have been unimaginable just a few weeks ago after complicated months and far from optimal preparation! I'm proud, happy with my race, and I'm still hopeful for the future!
