This post is a long overdue return to the Mestrelab World of Sports. We started the company in the first place because we were very interested in NMR peaks, then we added an MS plugin to Mnova as we were very interested in MS peaks, and, to carry on the same vein, Carlos and I undertook some close-up studies of Pyrenean peaks last week. In fairness, I think these peaks where the first ones we became interested in, many years ago, before either of us knew NMR even existed.

The fact is, we have followed cycling all our life, and when it comes to cycling the biggest event is the Tour de France, a gruelling 3 weeks of excessive exertion with a fascinating 108 year history which can be traced to the Dreyfuss affair and which you can read here (it is a truly interesting tale of human enterprise and courage, even if you are not interested in cycling, I really recommend you read it).

This year, La Grande Boucle, another name for the Tour de France, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first inclusion of the Pyrenees in its course, by spending longer than usual riding over the mountain chain which separates Spain from France. To us, lifelong cycling fans, this meant a combination of beautiful scenery, fantastic cuisine, great wines, hopefully good weather and many legendary climbs, so Carlos and I, with our childhood friend Nacho, headed for the Pyrenees with our bikes and our new Mestrelab Cycling Kit (One small confession, they headed out a couple of days earlier, I joined them a bit later)
For a week, with 2 bases at Arreau and then Luz St Sauveur (great place for an adventure or family holiday, BTW), we followed the Tour and took on some of the most famous, legendary, evocative and terrifying climbs in World cycling. Nacho and Carlos did Col d’Aspin, Aix 3 Domaines and Col de Peyresourde, I then joined them for Col d’Aubisque, Luz Ardiden and, leave the toughest for last, Col du Tourmalet. Last day, on the way home, I went over Tourmalet again on the way to the airport (nearly managed to miss my flight!!!) to compensate for the initial climbs I missed.

I could not recommend this area more. The scenery is beautiful (if you are ever there make sure you visit the Cirque de Gavarnie), you can have some great food (check out Hotel des Templiers in Luz St Sauveur and Viscos in Argelles Gazost, at the foot of Soulor/Aubisque, but in both cases book the previous day) and all kinds of outdoor activities can be undertaken (trekking, rafting, canoeing, abseiling, bungee jumping, rock climbing, etc.). If you are into cycling, then it is as good as it gets, with both the huge mountains or easy accessible rides on beautiful cycle paths!

So, after many hard climbs, and weather that ranged from good to bad to terrible, the main lesson was that starting and running a company is not really very hard and, whatever our customers and users expect from us, it has to be easier than climbing the Tourmalet on a bike in the driving rain!

Santi Mestrelab, Reviews and Publications, Trips and business development Mestrelab World of Sports, Tour de France No comments Leave a comment