In perfect weather, although getting rather warm (270C) by the end of the ride, 29 riders from CCC and VSJ enjoyed the closed roads of La Pierre Le Bigaut 2011.  All routes headed North to start, with the shorter 100km and 60km routes looping back round to the West, whilst the 155km route then headed East almost as far as St Quay-Portrieux before turning back for Callac.   The routes were very hilly and it was generally agreed that this was the hardest PLeB for a number of years, both in terms of the hilliness and the poor state of a number of the descents. Those of us who knew what the sign saying ‘Chaussée déformée’ meant, had some warning on one of the worst descents – those who didn’t soon found out anyway. It really was a case of ‘shake, rattle and roll’.  The final 25km of the 155km route were the hardest, and many riders struggled to complete the event.  Several riders were seen walking up the steeper hills, and with 1685m of climbing altogether, many of us were struggling by the end.  Overall, 7025 riders took part in one of the four distances on offer, 200 more than last year and the most ever, raising  a vast sum for cystic fibrosis research.  Jersey ladies Laura Chellingworth and Vicki Stammes received ‘Le Fond pour La Vie’ – Passion for Life Award, on behalf of all of the Jersey contingent.  

Ride of the day in the 155km event was definitely by Mike Keighrey who stayed with the leading group until about 20 miles from the finish.  Mike finished in 70th place with a time of 4:02:32, under 6 mins behind the fastest finisher, Vincent Rouxel.  During his ride Mike’s peloton had encounter with a stag (or possibly a goat?) which initially brought down one rider, and then three others a few moments later.  Mike escaped unscathed, but whether the stag/goat was equally lucky is unclear !  Four other riders, Martin Smith, Paul Millar, Lorenzo Nardone and John Derrien, along with Mike, achieved Platinum Standard, taking under 4½ hours to complete the ride. Paul and Lorenzo were the fastest of the CCC riders, and John was the fastest ‘supervet’.

In the 100km event Carol Knight produced the ride of the day, to finish in 2:58:01 at an average speed of 33.7kph, the fastest time by a Jersey rider.  She was also in the top 10 women and was in 206th place overall out of over 2400 riders, achieving Gold Standard.

Gerry Le Vannais was the unfortunate victim of a speeding Frenchman when he was run into from behind. Despite being pushed into a ditch, and suffering a puncture (as well as a slightly sore rear end!) he got back on his bike and finished the ride, having more bad luck with another puncture only 1km from the finish.  Fortunately there were no other reports of untoward incidents affecting Jersey riders .

Many thanks to John Derrien for doing an excellent job of arranging the hotel accommodation at the Noz Vad (Breton for Bonne Nuit), coping not only with some last minute cancellations, but also an even later addition to the party, who only decided to come on the previous afternoon.  All in all everybody had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and any rivalry between CCC and VSJ was firmly put aside, both during the ride and at the meals, talking of which, thanks also to Tony Moffa for booking the restaurants, both after the event on Saturday and also on Sunday lunchtime at Dinan. 

Hope to see you there next year – à l’année prochaine.  (JduF)

Report by John du Feu

Pierre Le Bigaut 2011
Pierre Le Bigaut 2010
Pierre Le Bigaut 2009
Pierre Le Bigaut 2008
Pierre Le Bigaut 2007
Pierre Le Bigaut 2006
Pierre Le Bigaut 2005
Pierre Le Bigaut 2004
Pierre Le Bigaut 2003
Pierre Le Bigaut 2002