Some of you may be wondering why I have ferret stapled to my upper lip. First of all, it is not a ferret and it is not affixed with staples. It is a glorious moustache grown with my own living tissue. I had to divert considerable physical resources to its development. I could have used the cells and energy required to improve my brain or to shore up my abused liver, but instead I chose to grow this impressive facial fresco in tribute to one Octave Lapize.
One hundred years ago the Tour de France went over the Pyrenean mountains in France for the first time. The Tour had begun in 1903 and the organisers were worried it was getting a bit boring. Something had to be done to maintain interest. It was proposed the route could go over the high mountains between France and Spain. The Tour Director Henri Desgrange thought the idea was crazy. The man who suggested it, Alphones Steinès, was dispatched to scout it out and report on whether it was practical or even possible. He had to abandon his car four km from the summit of a pass called the Tourmalet and was found by a search party dazed and almost frozen at 3am that night, but he had made it over (by car and on foot). The summary report he sent by telegram is now famous in cycling circles. "CROSSED TOURMALET. VERY GOOD ROAD. PERFECTLY PASSABLE."
The Tourmalet at 2115m is the highest pass in the Pyrenees. Octave Lapize was the first to reach the summit back in 1910. His assessment is also famous amongst cyclists. "You are all Murderers! Yes, murderers! Do you understand me? Tell Desgrange from me that men shouldn't be asked to take on a challenge like this. I've had enough of it!" He hadn't really had enough, though, and went on to win the stage and that year's Tour.
Now, 100 years later, Stage 17 of the Tour de France will finish atop of the Tourmalet. I will be riding this stage -- not with the pros, admittedly, but with 9499 other cycling fanatics four days before the pros come through. The ride is 181km long and a tad hilly. It starts in Pau at an elevation of 165m. Then it climbs the col de Marie-Blanque at 1035m, then drops back down to 325m, then climbs up the col du Soulour at 1474m, then drops down to 457m before climbing back up to the top of the Tourmalet at 2115m. To put this in perspective, the summit of Ben Nevis is 1344m. Or, for those of you who may have done the London to Brighton cycle ride, the Green Monster, Ditchling Beacon, is 248m.
The thing is, though, that today's route is a piece of cake compared to what Octave had to contend with in 1910. The stage that year was 326km and went over four mountain passes including the Tourmalet. Much of the road was dirt and gravel and mud. The bikes they rode had one gear and weighed three times what a modern racing bike weighs. Because the route was so long they had to start at 3 in the morning which meant that when they were descending down the other side of the Tourmalet (on dirt roads remember), they did so in complete darkness except for the light cast by a single candle in a glass lantern strapped to their front fork.
Yes, Octave was quite a guy. In addition to his cycling exploits, he signed up as a fighter pilot during World War I. This proved even more dangerous than cycling and he died at the age of 29 after being shot down in Northeastern France.
I decided if I was going to do this epic ride held on such a momentous anniversary, I should pay tribute to Octave and the riders and styles of 1910. I considered trying to recreate the full 326km route on an antique steel bicycle wearing woollen clothes. But I'd never be able to get it exactly right. The roads are paved now. Jerseys are different. Bikes are different. But one thing I could control is my facial hair. You may think this is only a token nod to the past, but in terms of aerodynamics and, indeed, weight, it is quite a sacrifice.
This ride is a big deal for me. It's something I've wanted to do for years and I've put a lot of work into it. In addition to the moustache, I've been cycling 100 to 200 miles a week and have lost 10kg since I signed up in October. I'm riding as part of a team supporting the Multiple Sclerosis Society and have committed to raising £2000 for them. This is where you come in. MS is the most common disabling neurological condition affecting young adults. The Society funds MS research and provides support in the form of care centres, helplines, and education. Please show your support and donate. Do it for the MS Society. Do it for me. Do it for Octave.