Riding down towards the official starting point in Bedoin , the group gathered and we were under way. I stopped when we passed the hotel because I had put on my clear sunglasses and the altitude sun demanded shaded spectacles. So the adaptive Specialized sunglasses came on. I had put on suncream this time, factor 50 for my nose, factor 20 for the rest of my face.
The climb is hell, as most of those who have ever done it will gladly testify. We were lucky because in the forest part - the steepest kilometers are to be found here - it was relatively cool. Only that gradient. Kilometers of 9.1% on average. I saw the gradient go to 10, 11, even 12% at times. When I reached the Chalet Reynard, in my mind I had given up so many times already. But I decided to keep on pushing, to the next corner, to catch up with the guy who seemed adrift, to pass that guy, mumbling 'Bon Courage' to him. Then I was being passed myself. A clean-shaven gladiator, bound for glory on the steep slopes of the Lonely Mountain. I looked at my front wheel and concentrated on my own pace. 
Reaching the Chalet Reynard I took some time to eat and drink, go to the lavatory before I embarked on the last 6 kilometers. The first kilometers are easy, with gradients of 6 to 7%. Compared to the forest it almost seems to be going downhill. Almost.
The wind, what can I say . Each time you take a turn to the right it bangs in your face. The higher you get , the more fierce it becomes. With the snow on the side of the road and an ambient temperature close to O degrees it's almost as if you are entering a freezer with a couple a large fans in it . The Col des Tempetes, I have to reach the Col des Tempetes. After that , its a breeze. Reaching for  the Col des Tempetes I pass several cyclists who have been stopped by the slope and by the wind. Some with their shirts open, chest bared. In these temperatures? My picture gets taken by several photographers who make a good living selling these at 17EUR a pop. I grab the cards they give me. I will order some when I get home. Proof.

Past the Col des Tempetes, I am passed by a young couple. I hook myself into the girls' rear wheel and ride the last couple of K with that as my bait. Being angled in by the big tower on top of the mountain. My heartrate goes up 10 beats, passing 145. I will not fail.

When I arrive on top I hear the cheers from my fellow teammates and the support team - Jan and Babette - and I am glad, relieved, elated, happy and feel like an icycle. the wind blows from the Alps and I need an extra layer of clothing. I put my bike against the camionette and hide inside to get out of the wind. We have to wait for all members of the team to come in. My bike drops on the floor, thanks to the strong wind. I put it against the side of the tower and check out the store. It's warm in here, let's stick around. I buy a ridiculously expensive 'Mont Ventoux' windbreaker.
When the last member of our team comes in, it's time for the pictures. Well done guys.

After warming up and catching our breaths, plans are made for the rest of the ride. We decide to descend to Sault , with a group of 3 cyclists. Others decide to ride down into Bedoin and call it a day.
The descend is an icy affair. Speeds going up to 60kph and only past Chalet Reynard does it feel as if temperatures are above zero. The long descent takes its toll on hands, arms, neck muscles and brakepads. Down in Sault we gather for some warm coffee on a terrasse. Bliss and Joy .

From Sault we ride on downwards to Monieux where we follow the Gorges de la Nesque down into Villes-sur-Auzon. A long swooping descent going on for 20K or more. Great. From Villes , a difficult climb awaits us, wind full in our faces, towards Flassan. From Flassan its only a couple of kilometers further to reach the hotel at Sainte-Colombe. Yes. Great ride with another victory on the Mont Ventoux. My second time and the second time from Bedoin. A victory on the mountain - who couldn't care less - but especially a victory against my doubts, helped by the fantastic members of the b.strong team, who kept on believing in me, and kept pushing me to have a go. Thanks girls and guys, I dedicate this to all of you.
  

Temperature was low  - 4 or 5 degrees, no more - when we straddled our bikes and started the long downhill past Remuzat and Sahune. Following the river l'Eygues we could enjoy magnificent rocks and hills surrounding us. No vautours in sight but we passed their domain when we passed St-May. The further we rode, the more the high rock outcrops seemed to give us a wide birth. The valley broadened and when we reached Nyons, a whole different terrain greeted us. Wide open space, with the occasional outcrop or hill. We made good pace, the wind more or less blowing in our backs and the sun shining in our faces. Before long we were in Vaison la Romaine, where we stopped for a break. The looks on the faces turned grim when we saw the Mont Ventoux, to our left and above, with its head encircled by a dark cloud and with snow on its flanks. The snow seemed to go down even below Chalet Reynard. Not looking good !

Malaucene was next and it was soon learned that the road leading up to the Mont Ventoux, was closed. We took the Col de la Madeleine and I took a picture past its crest with the Mont Ventoux and Bedoin on it.

When we reached Bedoin, we took another rest stop and talked about how we would continue our day. Some decided to ride up the Mont Ventoux to the Chalet Reynard, to check out the conditions.

We decided to roll on towards Flassan and have a go at the long ascent along the Gorges de la Nesque. A miracle of nature I had seen last year but did not mind doing again. The sun was out and I felt it burn . Damn, forgot the sun creme. The Gorges where their usual magnificent selves and we leisurely rode to Monieux. 

Here, it was decided to take a shortcut that would save is 10K to ride up to Sault and then back up the Col ND des Abeilles. The shortcut turned out to be quite something. Steep, steeper and steepest, with percentages reaching 27 at one point. When I saw the length of the climb still ahead, I decided to unclip and walk. Not a thing I easily do but the hill was just too steep. Reaching the big road leading up the Col ND des Abeilles, we paused until everyone of our group made it up the climb.

Moving onwards we tackled the Col ND des Abeilles, with its 3 steps, and then zoomed back down a very long descent into Flassan.

There was a thunderstorm rumbling in the far distance but we made it to our hotel in Sainte-Colombe still basking in the sun. A lot of wind though. During dinner that evening the group was together and telling tales from how each of them spent their day.

The forecast for tomorrow looked better, with a forecast of positive temperatures on top of the Mont Ventoux, and the dissipation of the snow on the route leading up to it.

We prepared ourselves for a long journey in the car. We had 3 vehicles at our disposal to transport 13 bikes , all our luggage and 13 people. The group was very well atuned by now and we made the best of it, before, during and after the car trip.

Around 1000 metres of altitude we encountered the snow as predicted. The ride today would not have been possible on a bike. Good decision to cancel it.

We stopped along the way for a bite to eat and some light entertainment on the "flipperkast" Serious World Cup affair it turned out to be. A rematch is already planned !

Arriving in our hotel in La Motte - Chalancon, some of the bikers decided they did not want to waste precious time and the opportunity to ride a few cols and plans were made for a 65 to 75 K ride , looping back to La Motte . This is the ride that is in the Endomondo link below. It is not what was initially planned but just a replacement ride that turned out to be a great adventure with 4 cols and some dizzying descents. The ride started with a long descent towards Remuzat and past Sahune. We took the road to Eyrolles and started climbing almost immediately. Down into Sainte-Ferreol Trente pas where another clim started. 7.5K up to the Col de Sausse. The wind blew in our faces and we did not stay long to enjoy the view on top of the col. Down again along a fast and sinuous road to reach Bouvieres. Here another turn to the rigth and we were climbing again, this time to the Col de Lescou. Each col being higher than the one before, this time we reached 820metres . The group split up into two subgroups. Johan and Jan were doing another 10K while Matthieu, Joris and myself began to a short downhill before attacking the next - and last  - col for today. The Col de Pre Guittard was waiting for us at 919 metres. From here a long and beautiful downhill brought us along a ravine back to the route towards La Motte-Chalancon . Here are some pictures taken during the loop.

Arriving back at the hotel with a very satisfied feeling and ready for the last part of the trip that would bring us to Bedoin and the foot of our ultimate challenge, the Mont Ventoux ! We bedded in the Hotel des Voyageurs, in the Grande Rue. A hotel I would like to warmly recommend to each . It is very well situated, with a very friendly but determined hostess and a cute dog.

After Cremieux , things started to get spicy with hills reaching ever higher. After Saint-Savin, the next 12K would bring us from 285 to 505 metres of altitude. The first 4 to 5K were steep with a couple of swooping switchbacks and brought us to Premins. Here the climb relaxed a bit before entering a second stage  - and a third - leading us ever higher and higher. Km100 saw us back down in the valley and we reached Cessieu where the next climb started to take us from 320m to 580 metres of altitude. It was a long climb with a very steep 17% section in Bouis. We made a segment for it on Strava, calling it the b.strong climb -  . On the top of this climb the group - which had split during the ascent - came back together and some pictures were taken .

The following descent brought us to Virieux where the second rest stop of the day was planned. The sun was out now from time to time and things looked cheery. We ate and drank our fill because we were being told that there was a very steep climb ahead and we would need our strength .

Well, the prediction was right. If you are ever in Virieux, you need to climb the Rue du Chateau. A very steep monster, leading you from 425 to 280 metres in just under 3 kilometers. Zigzagging on the 18% bits, and gritting my teeth when things got less steep, I made it to the top. Some had to walk, one even fell off his bike when the climb became too steep for him and he could not get out of his click pedals fast enough. On top of the climb the group regrouped and we made some pictures with the Alps looming up in the distance, before riding onwards, all together this time.

The rest of the ride was basically one long descent into the valley of the Isere and to the Novotel in Voreppe, to the north of Grenoble. The foothills were looming over us. It had started to rain in the last half hour of the ride and the wind was just short of stormy.
In the evening, we were browsing the local weather reports and the news was not very good. Snow was forecast from 800 metres upwards, and the next day we had to pass a 1300 metres Col. Plans were made to cancel the ride and move the group to the next hotel by car and camionette.
 

Riding onwards the trail brought some more gentle hills, but with the wind in our backs and the sun peeping through from time to time, we did not mind the extra effort. Some gentle drizzle caught up with us before arriving in Bourg en Bresse, but we quickly setlled into the Ibis Styles hotel. The bikes could have a clean and the chains were lubricated before we headed out for dinner in Bourg center.
Today really was a milestone in this cycling journey. We are over halfway and the weather got better. The rain stopped and the wind decided to blow in our favor. The trip was becoming more of a holiday and less of an ordeal.