Always seeking new challenges the club's randonnee specialists opted for Sportcommunication's Les Trois Ballons this year. Rated as one step down in terms of difficulty than the truly monstrous La Marmotte, the 205 km and six significant climbs seemed no less daunting. Held in the Vogses mountains of eastern France close the German border, the climbs were less intimidating than the Alps or Pyrenees. Warm up rides on the two days previous to the event revealed that the longest climbs were about 10 km and only the very tops were above the tree line. With few exceptions the road surfaces were good, the gradients only occasionally exceeded 10% and there was little traffic. In summary, a superb region for cycling.

The event itself started right outside our hotel and the papers reported that there were 1600 on the start line covering both the 205 km event and the shorter 104 km ride. Mike Harris , Peter Hubert, Chas Knight and Peter Glendawar had opted for the full distance with Colin Perry, Steve Linney and Trevor Bertram deciding that 104 km would be enough for them. Torty Hubert did the 57 km ride which covered the final part of the two longer rides including the final 5 km sting in the tail.

After the first climb, the Ballon de Servance, the steady line of riders broke up into smaller groups on the descent the surface of which made the effectiveness of braking a matter of anxious probability rather than confident certainty! With the climbs and descents coming at frequent intervals the pattern for the day was one of small groups forming, breaking up and reforming. The high point of the 205 km ride was the run up to the Grand Ballon along a ridge at just over 1000m with stunning views to both sides.

As the day wore on the temperature climbed and there were really only just enough watering stations. It was also useful to have ridden most of the final 70 km in the warm up rides the previous days as 205 km is longer than the randonnees that we normally ride particularly as we had to ride past our hotel with 17 km to go. With the ride seemingly nearly over the organisers sent up the final vicious climb to the finish. The lower part was similar to riding up Bonne Nuit; OK on its own but put 200 km in the legs, raise the temperature to 30ºC, remove all shade and it becomes diabolical!

Fortunately Torty was on hand at the finish to look after team members as they got off their bikes, guiding them to the pasta and water, sitting them in the shade and getting their finishing times and placings. We all appreciated the support. So engrossed was he the role of team manager that he failed to hear the tannoy calling him to the podium to receive his trophy for his valiant efforts on his bike earlier in the day!

The success of this event for CCC riders is reflected in the fact that for the first time in a major randonnee the majority of members achieved the gold standard for their age group. Furthermore Mike Harris and Peter Hubert were inside the gold standard time for the fastest age group.