Torino Nice Rally - Day 7

13 Oct

The final day of our Torino Nice Rally was a total breeze. After sleeping on Col de Braus, all that stood between us and Nice was 30km oF descending on tarmac. It was slightly sad to know that my time conquering mountains with Tim was coming to an end. We’d never spent 7 consecutive days together before this trip. Throw in the most challenging terrain, emotional and physical exhaustion and food uncertainty…it could have been a recipe for disaster. Instead I’m 100% sure I’ve found the best adventure partner I could ever have hoped for.

We had fun, we looked after each other and we pushed each other to go further and harder than we ever could on our own.

As we wound down some incredible switchbacks, we passed through towns as they slowly began to wake. Roads got flatter and wider, traffic got denser and the temperature began to heat up. It wasn’t long before we were at the finish, Cafe du Cycliste in Nice. There was no fanfare, or dramatic finish. Just two weary (and a little bit smelly) people enjoying a pastry and a coffee with smiles on their faces.

It still boggles my mind that we completed this trip. The views didn’t seem real when I was taking them in, they seem even less so now I’m back home. If you are considering the Torino Nice Rally, don’t be under any illusion, it is hard. If you stick to the route, it’s a tough, TOUGH ride. If you decide to take the hike a bike sections (like we did) and maximise your time off road, it’s really hard going. But for all the suffering, the gains will be greater and you will have an unforgettable adventure.