Allan and Peter's Raid Corsica

Photos and stats are at the end of the report

Allan (Taylor)and Peter (Leonard)'s Raid Corsica 15th to 22nd June

Wednesday 18th June about 3.00.pm., thunder, lightening and torrential rain in the central mountains of Corsica - about 5km from Ghisoni. The door of a small cafe opens and Allan and Peter push their way in. Dripping water all over the floor they order coffee and tea. When it arrives neither of them can drink, hold the cup, stir the sugar as they are shivering and shaking with the cold. 18 kms of descending from 1,300 metres elevation in the pouring rain has had it's effect.

After about half an hour they are starting to warm up - the support van arrives with the courriers, Dave and Wendy Bond. Putting on all the wet weather clothing they have in the van Allan and Peter set off on the remaining 50 km of the route, riding hard now on the flatter roads and remaining climbs to generate body heat and warm up. The courriers leave to rescue other riders still on the mountain. Later that evening at sea level Allan and Peter are in maybe the best hotel of the trip with a buffet meal fit for a frozen cyclist.

So just one event on the Raid Corsica - but what is this Raid Corsica any way?

The Raid Corsica (like the Raid Alpine, Pyrennean, Dolomites) is organised by the Audax Club Parisien. It consists of a near 1,000km tour of the island - with17 "controls" or places which must be visited. For this Raid there is no time limit (see the ACP site for the full rules) - just visit the places on a bike. The trip organised by Sporting Tours covers the tour in one week - with support from courriers and baggage moved from hotel to hotel.

So- here is the diary of Allan and Peter's Raid Corsica.

Sunday 15th June

Bastia to Maccinaggio 57km - 484 M of climbing

Arrival at Bastia airport was not smooth - but after one aborted landing we were on the ground in a heavy thunderstorm. Met by the courriers we assembled the bikes and then changed into cycling kit. Bike boxes and luggage into the van - we then waited for about half an hour for the rain to ease a little. Off into the centre of Bastia - lunch and the rain had stopped - so along the coast - a sample of what was to come - either up or down - no flat bits! Basic hotel but OK and we met the seven other riders.

Pete purchased the isotonic wine for the night (pichet de vin rouge) for the princely sum of 4.5 euro.

Monday 16th June

Maccinaggio to Calvi 159km - 2,300 M of climbing

The time for the start was 8.30.am. As Peter and I seemed to be the only ones ready we were off - straight into a 500m climb. A good road surface for the climb was not followed by the same on the descent - nor for the next 30km or so! Packed lunch from the courriers at St Florent on the sea front was followed by the climb across the Desert des Agriates. Coffee at L'Ile Rousse and then a climb inland to avoid the coastal road - a route which still seemed to be a main tourist coach route. Threatening heavy rain just avoided (we just got a bit wet) and arriving in Calvi, a very pleasant town after a long descent. OK hotel with great views from the Restaurant Panoramique on the fifth floor. I was on wine which was 5 euros for a pichet.

Tuesday 17th June

Calvi to Evisa 124km - 2,200 M of climbing

Breakfast in Calvi was notable for the fierce waitress who guarded the cheese and ham table (not for us cheap people) and controlled the croissant (one each only). So off along the coast with the usual up, down, up, i.e no flat bits but great views. Coffee at a shack apparently in the middle of nowhere - but with quite a few customers - where did they come from on foot? Peter had a slight moment as he checked his gears and did a litlle off road thing - the bush and the rock were OK but his leg was a little grazed. Reaching Porto we needed to visit Piana to get a stamp. This was our first there and back just for a stamp bit -the scenery and landscape were fantastic on the 11km 500M climb - just spoiled (as was the descent) by the coaches and cars on a narrow road not designed for the heavy traffic. Coffee at Piana was very pleasant. The day finished with a 20 km climb of 800m (with some ups and downs) to Evisa and probably the most disappointing hotel of the trip from a food point of view. They fed us "wild pork" which we were to encounter much more of later. Weather was good all day - which was nice for a change. Pete's turn on the wine was an astonishing 14 euros for a 500cl pichet!

Wednesday 18th June

Evisa to Marina Viva 192km - 2,800? M of climbing

Breakfast in Evisa was early to give us a start on the longest day. Regretably the boulanger was not persuaded to do his thing early so yesterdays bread and croissant were the starting fare - one croissant only please - and the owner seemed to be on guard on the coffee machine. Anyway out of the hotel and as we finished yesterday with 20km of climbing - yes you were correct - we started the day with12km of climbing up to the highest point of the Raid. the Col de Vergio at 1477m (as per the map) nice and sunny very pleasant. A long descent broken for coffee at Calacuccia and then continuing down the spectacular Gorge du Tavignano. Control in Corte and then south along the central spine of the island. Peter and I decided we needed food before the last big climb of the day so stopped at Vivario. As we were eating we could see the clouds gathering rapidly. We had one climb left - just 600M - before the next cotrol at Ghisoni. Thunder lightening etc. see the opening for what happened next. (The figure for the climbing is from my Garmin - a bit low I think as it got a bit waterlogged and recorded some funny readings for the day)

My turn on wine which turned out to be free - but we only found out after we had drunk a measerly 500cl bottle.

Thursday 19th June

Marina Viva to Propriano 137 km -2,200 M of climbing

Fantastic buffet breakfast at Marina Viva and to make a change we did a route a bit different to the profile - we did a flat bit of 12km first to control at Ajacio and then the climb of 800M to Bastelica for a good packed lunch. Coffee with a group of the other riders was at Verghia in a swanky beach bar with imitation grass and "modern" music (think repetetive). Inland and then on the coast (up, down, up, down etc.) To the hotel Roc et Mare - perched on the cliffs with fantatsic views from the rooms. Evening meal was in the hotel's beach retsaurant (they had their own beach) - a whole grilled sea bass - yummy with a litre of rose for 10 euros! (I bought it to make up for last night.)The TV was set up for the football for us - after the first goal Peter and I left to get some recovery time - i.e sleep. Good weather all day!

Friday 20th June

Proporiano to Zonza 130km - 2300 M of climbing

Breakfast - with strong croissant control - was OK as they had tea pots and tea bags so I enjoyed possibly the best tea of the trip. A relatively flat (well only a 300M climb) start was promised - this however turned a bit sour when presented with a 200m long ramp at average of 17% in Sartene - just made it with lorries grinding past not nice. Then to the southern tip of the island at Bonifacio (where Peter and I bought lunch) before turning north along the eastern side of the island. A relatively flat section to Porto Vechio saw Peter practising his TT mode with me hanging on along with two other members of the group. From Porto Vechio the route follows that used by the Criterium International this year with the climb to L'Ospedale (12.5km 800m) and the on to the Bocca d'Illarta at 991m (As per the map - don't know where that is on the profile?). Now about these wild pigs - we saw them all over the island - just like sheep on the moors in the UK only they are not so friendly - not to be approached especially when they have young ones with them! Hotel at Zonza was the Hotel L'Incudine - nice french traditional room and great food in the evning - lamb cooked "au point" for me and wild pig with pasta for Peter, nice starter and sweet and good wine at reduced price (Peter's turn - 20 euros for a bottle which should have been 30). Good breakfast next day - the best hotel of the trip. HOT!

Saturday 21st June

Zonza to Piedicroce 128km 1,900 M of climbing

Here we go again - last full day - 9km climb to start the day to the Col de Bavella at 1218M (from the map) but then 39km of descent with fantastic rugged scenery most of the way to the coast. Along the coast - flat with Peter in TT mode again and me hanging on to Aleira and then the best packed lunch of the week (supplied by the Hotel L'Incudine) at a concrete bus stop with a bench (you Audax guys know what they are like! but no sleeping!) Now inland and starting to climb which carried on mainly up for the next 40km to reach 800m elevation - fantanstic scenery and loads of pigs. HOT all day and 35deg C when on the coast. Hotel Le Refuge nice beer great views over the valley. Food on the terrace was excellent and good wine at reasonable price. (possibly 2 bottles (one each) but hard to remember!

Sunday 22nd June

Piedicroce to Bastia Airport 39km - 122 M of climbing, 750 M of descent)

Up at 6.00.am and ready to ride at 6.30.am. No breakfast available - so an apple, energy bar (yuk) and water. Arrive at the airport at 7.45.am. Luggage and bike box delivered by Dave. Bike in box, change to normal clothes in the toilets, que for 20 minutes to check in luggage only to be told to go away and come back in half an hour. Eventually check in and then told flight is delayed by 4 hours. Arrive in Manchester at 16.30 instead of 12.45 - thanks Easy jet but at least it was on the way back.

THE VERDICT

Allan - This was certainly harder than the Raid Alpine (in my opinion). It was however a great trip and the island is fantastic. The courriers, Dave and Wendy Bond, were fantatstic and worked really hard to make the trip enjoyable for all the riders.

Peter - I would like to mention how you always seemed to get the best deal when it came to buying the wine. Also the state of some of the roads warrants a mention. Must have done me good as I did a PB for a the 50 of 1.53.50

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 Statistics

If you add the climbing and the descending and divide by the distance the average gradient for the 965 km was 3% - is that a useful statistic or not?

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