45 riders and marshals flew into Calvi on the north western corner of this spectacular mountainous Mediterranean island early one Sunday in May. Bikes were rebuilt in the airport car park and riders set off south, straight into a climb to a col in blazing sunshine. Acclimatisation to the heat was one of the first challenges and some experienced riders were soon wondering what they had let themselves in for! The answer was one of world’s most spectacular coastlines as the snow capped mountains dropped steeply into azur Mediterranean.
The coast road took cyclists south past the spectacular Golfe de Girolata through Porto to the first nights stop at a beach Hotel close to Cargesse. Many riders dismounted and immediately crossed the hot sand and dived into the still cold Med. The next day’s route continued along the coast passing to the east of Ajaccio before heading to Propriano and the nights stop at Campomoro. The incredibly hot day had left several riders close to heat exhaustion, and one rider managed a spectacular over the handle bar close call with a concrete drainage ditch, but the marshals made sure everyone was shepherded home safe and sound and the icy bay fortunately had a fine bar on the beach.
The weather started to turn on the Tuesday as the group headed east into the mountains and by the 1193 m Col de Vaccia, the mountainous forests populated with wild pigs had given way to rocky moorland before a hairy, pot-holed, shuddering and cold descent into Zicavo and the hostel. Here, the in one case sixteen to a dorm was at least convivially compensated with over 30 people sitting on chairs in the warmth of the road enjoying a beer as the sun went down.
On up the island over the Cols de Verde, 1289m and Sorbe 1311m and a fabulous night’s rest in a lovely hotel in the suitably named Gorges de Restonica near Corte. The following day saw the mountainous scenery become less forested. The nights stay at St Florent was followed by a tour of Cap Corse before the last day’s ride across more mountains, a skeleton strewn desert, the village perche of St Antonio and the finish line in Algajola, just along the coast from Calvi.
Corsica is without doubt one of the most beautiful islands in the world let alone the Med and it is understandably where the French go on holiday. The mixture of magnificent and varied scenery, long and steep mountain climbs, local food, excellent organisation by the local team and the marshals, and lovely weather meant that the first of the new style challenges was a huge success living up to the charities name. Challenge, without doubt, but everyone made it! Adventure, it was the first time to the island for most of the participants and it wont be the last, and charity, over £50,000 was raised.