Members of the MeadWestvaco Mont Ventoux Challenge

  • Jan Theelen, MeadWestvaco Venlo, Netherlands, Racebike
  • Sylvain Thibaut, MeadWestvaco Deols, France, Racebike
  • Celio van Gerwen, MeadWestvaco Uden, Netherlands
  • Santiago Casado, MeadWestvaco Hemer, Germany, Walking
  • Georg Reinhard, MeadWestvaco Trier, Germany, Mountainbike
  • John Sturkenboom, MeadWestvaco Uden, Netherlands, Racebike
  • Martijn van Diepenbeek, MeadWestvaco Uden, Netherlands, Mountainbike
  • Mark van der Cruijsen, MeadWestvaco Uden, Netherlands, Mountainbike
  • Steve Cooke, MeadWestvaco Bristol, England, Walking
  • Julien Rayée, MeadWestvaco Roosendaal, Netherlands, Running
  • Twan Beurskens, MeadWestvaco Venlo, Netherlands, Racebike
  • Peter Theelen, MeadWestvaco Venlo, Netherlands, Racebike
  • Chris Schuts, MeadWestvaco Venlo, Netherlands, Racebike
  • Jeroen Evertsen, MeadWestvaco Enschede, Netherlands, Mountainbike
  • Dick Klein Egelink, MeadWestvaco Enschede, Netherlands, Racebike
  • Ramil Nigmatullin, MeadWestvaco Moscow, Russia, Running
  • Patrick de Laat, MeadWestvaco Uden, Netherlands, Racebike
  • Michel Tanguy, MeadWestvaco Troyes, France, Racebike
  • Christophe Raby, MeadWestvaco Troyes, France, Racebike

Non MeadWestvaco members

  • Ronald van Heertum, Uden, Netherlands, Racebike
  • Marcus Gluth, MWV Contractor Hemer, Germany, Racebike
  • Heiner Korschewski, MWV Contractor Hemer, Germany, Racebike
  • Thomas Nicolai, MWV Contractor Hemer, Germany, Racebike

MeadWestvaco's Mont Ventoux Supportteam

  • Daniel Westphal, MeadWestvaco Hemer, Germany
  • Michael Hofer, MWV SHE SBS Europe, Austria

Friday, 30 May 2008

Mont Ventoux, Cinglé, 24-05-2008

At last, the day has started where it has to happen. I will go up three times the “naked mountain”. I’ve got a good night sleep, what the self-confidence helps. If I look back to all preceding trainings, with 2800 km in the last 4 months, then can in fact it cannot go wrong. And the 8 kilo’s of weight that I have less than 4 months ago will help me today very well. But it is still 3 rises on one day, and that is 68 kilometer uphill with 4360 meters height on a mountain that I never have seen before.
The legs feel good en Twan, Chris and Peter will ride also the Cinglé ( that’s how they call this and it means “crazy”) so I’m not alone. Our hotel is in Sault so we depart at )815 in Sault after we got our stamp on our Cinglé card. This is the easiest route of the 3 (26 km, steepness of 4,7 % in average, and 1180 meter of height difference) So I think let’s start easy.
One’s on the road Twan has some troubles like falling of the chain and getting his jacket in his front wheel, but after a while this is solved. It’s warm and the humidity is high but after we did the half way it gets less warm. We are riding in a tough speed to the Chalet Reynard and Peter who was a little behind us comes and overtakes us. He rides so hard that my heart rate gets above the 165/min. Let him go I thought, we still have two climbs to go and I have learned to listen to my heart rate meter. It is getting colder, foggy and the wind starts to blow. Where on 5 kilometers from the top and my temperature meter tells me that it is 9 degree Celsius. I don’t see Peter anymore and a few kilometers its only 7 degree and more wind, I’m really surprised of the change of weather conditions and with the idea that it only gets worse I’m afraid to get my heart rate above the 155/min. Just a few kilometers to go and Twan Chris and myself are not so far away from each other, but I can not see them the vision is only 10 meters and then everything is white, not from the rocks but from the clouds where we are in all the time.
I see some bikers who just started the descending, well descending it is more shivering with the teeth and max. 20 kilometers an hour. I really had imagine the descend differently. It gets colder only 6 degree left and I’m passing a Dutch guy with a cramp at about 1 kilometer from the top. Your OK? I should and he should I’ve got it cold and a cramp. I tell him to keep drinking and felt my self strong that I had no problems when I saw him. I said shouting because then wind drowned out every other sound. What came up in me in those last meters was very impressive. Yes I read about the wind but those clouds and the cold brrrr, I even didn’t see the Monument of Tom Simson. Suddenly I saw in a hairpin to the right all people standing on the left side of the road. I was thinking what are they doing there and I found out very short after that. I turned in to this hairpin and was almost blowing of the mountain with my bike under me. I crawl with my bike up against this wind in the direction of a white building and got in to a corner where the wind was less hard. I’m standing next to another crazy biker and ask him where the top is, well your there he says and I look up but I couldn’t see the tower. On the other side of the road I see our bus and Ronald call’s me to come with my bike but I didn’t dare to walk on my slippery shoes with this wind up to 150 km/hour. He helped me and ones in the bus I thought Wauw what an adventure.
Ones we are complete we descend with the bus to Bedoin to go fro the second climb (it was not safe enough to descend on the bike). Ones again I keep checking my heart rate and even that this was the hardest climb it goes very well. Twan Peter and Chris struggle more with these 21 kilometer, an average of 7,5 % and 1610 meters of height difference. This gives me a strong feeling. Ones again I almost get blowing of my bike on the top and at 4 degree Celsius I jump quickly in to the bus. From the bus I see that the shop is open and I buy a t-shirt with the three climbs on it. After an hour we are complete again and descend with the bus in direction Malaucene to start at the last climb of the day. After about 4 kilometers the weather gets better and I decided together with Peter to take the bike and drive down on the bike. Sometimes the wind pushes us almost of the bike, but this cannot stop the fun of descending.
Getting in to Malaucene we see a lot of bikers who started there climb in a summer outfit, “it is 24 degree down here so no problem” we now the real true. Having a plate of spaghetti in Malaucene, because this is good for the morality says Chris and then we go for the last time to the top. It is 16:30 as we leave the parking and with my 36 years of age I still feel good. In the beginning I’m struggling to find a good rhythm but when I at least found it nobody could stop me. Chris Twan and Peter struggle a little with the spaghetti, but still can ride the bike.
This climb has a difficult degree as the same as the one from Bedoin, while it is the last one it gets a total different story.
Almost on the top and 20 degree colder then in Malaucene is Jan next to the bus waiting for me. He says “stop other wise will blow of your bike after the last corner”. I was happy that he was there, I walked the last 50 meter true the bizarre weather condition to the top and could only think on one thing “Yes I did it and nobody is going to take this away from me”
The weather condition getting even more worse and we are getting worried about the others. We decide to drive to them and pick them up, it is really madness what we are doing. Just started driving down when we meet them on their way up. Come in the bus Jan every time said “you made it”” he said every time and I was 100% agree with him because it was irresponsible to continue the last 100 meters. “Safety first” was Jan’s devise.
From this side I want to thank everybody for this unforgettable day, and Ronald in special, can you imagine to be a cyclist and due to a injury sitting the whole day in a car looking to others beautiful moments. Also thank you Ronald for the great pictures you made.

Patrick de Laat.

Thank you Patrick great story and even a greater achievement. Who is next to tell something about his experience?

Thursday, 29 May 2008

My personal story

Thursday evening, 23:00 hour, driving away from home to pick up two other colleagues to go direction Mont Ventoux. I wandering how I'm going to make it, because 33 day's ago I had a second hart surgery and my doctor said that it was OK to bike the Mont Ventoux. But in my head there was a little voice that told me that this was not a good idea. Well if I want to test my heart this would be the perfect occasion.
So we picked up the two colleagues and started to drive to France. In the early afternoon we saw the Mont Ventoux for the first time and during the ride to it we got more and more impressed about the height of it. Because the weather forecast was not so good for the rest of the weekend we decided to drive up to the summit so that we could already enjoy the fantastic view.
It was fantastic and after a quick visit at the monument of Tom Simson we went down to Sault where we had our Hotel.
During this afternoon and following evening all the members dropped in and at 19:30 we enjoyed our first meal. Her a lot of people started to tell what there challenge would be, some wanted to climb ones and some wanted to climb it several times, 4 of them wanted even to climb it 3 times in one day. But for me was my challenge to climb it ones from Bedoin.
Saturday morning, the weather is OK, no rain, only a little fog. the Mont Ventoux was covered in clouds and at 8 o'clock several people started to drive up the mountain. I decided to join the group to do a ascend from the easy side. I was able to join the group over about a 5 kilometers and then I kept behind to ride my own speed, I didn't want to over stress my heart to much because I still was not sure if this was OK what I was doing. After a break in the Forrest a Deer jumped in 2 meters front of my bike and ran down the mountain, this was a good test for my heart I felt it knocking in my neck. The fog got thicker and the temperature got down when I came out the Forest and started in to the naked part of the mountain. The slope got steeper and steeper and my speed dropped down. "My god what am I doing here"was my thought "taking two day's of vacation, driving with 5 people 12 hours to France and 12 hours back and hurting my body on a mountain" I must have something wrong in my head. But I kept still going on and was thinking that I could make it to the top. When I came to the Tom Simson monument I knew that I was getting to the top, and I thanked Tom for this great moment. 1 Km to go and my complete body was screaming for rest. The wind got stronger and stronger but still it was to do. Last straight part, the wind got even stronger but still no problem, then the last corner, I knew this is it just 40 meters and then I'm on the top. I turned in to the corner and got hit by a enormous wind. "What is this? O god I can't hold my bike" I was blowing to the edge of the road and I clicked out of my pedals. I could grab a fence to hold me with one hand, the other hand had to hold the bike which started to fly in the wind like a flag. I just couldn't do anything as holding my self in this position. Then there was a Dutch men who helped me straight up and to the summit. I was so happy that I forgot to thank him and when I looked for him he already left the summit. This was the moment that I was breaking, I was thinking about the period of surgery that lay behind me and the emotion got to much at this moment. I will never forget the great feeling I had on this particular moment where I could share this with a lot of good friends, colleagues and my son Peter.
Thanks to the Doctors, my Colleagues, Friends , Family and specially my Wife Annemie who supported me I was able to climb the Mont ventoux again after this hard time. THANK YOU ALL!
My experience from the Sunday when I climb the Mont Ventoux from Bedoin, will be on this web log on a later stadium. From this side I want to ask the other members of the group to write down you personal experience and tell us on this weblog. Send it to me and I will publish it as soon as possible, please send also some picture with your story that shows what you experienced.

Tuesday, 27 May 2008

Some figures

  • 36 Climbs
  • 836 Kilometers climbing
  • 52ooo Meter in height
  • +/- 70 Liter of energy drinks
  • Several kilo's energy bar's
  • 72 Hours of fun
  • And a lot more!

From Ventourist to Ventousiast

This weekend the MWV Mont Ventoux Challenge 2008 has took place in the South of France. We where with 25 members who had all there own challenge. The forecast for the weather conditions where very bad and as specially on Sunday so that a lot of people decided to climb on Saturday and eventually on Sunday. There where four people who attempted to climb the Mont Ventoux from all the three routes and they started also on Saturday because to achieve this challenge in perfect conditions is a challenge on his own. The weather in the valley was good but the top was covered with clouds and the wind was blowing with wind speeds up to 150 km/h. But our members went on and at he end of the day several people climbed the mountain 1,2 and four of them even 3 times under terrible conditions.
Sunday did several people an other or there first climb, it started raining short after the start and the top was still in the clouds. The wind speed was a not so high as Saturday but still above 100 km/h. On Saturday it where the cyclist who climbed but on Sunday we had 3 people who walked, and one who was running the route, they all got to the top and by that they for filled there challenge. Several bikers started to and at the end we had a best time from 1:38 on the bike and a 2:05 by running. After our sports achievement we came together in the hotel and had dinner where everybody got a certificate. Here the first voices came up to do this on a yearly base, and the first idea's got born all ready. The weekend was a 100 % success and this due to all the members, we as "MWV Mont Ventoux Challengers" where a great team on the slopes of the Mont Ventoux. My thanks to all of them.
I went as a "Ventousiast" with 24 Ventourists to the Provence. I think I affected several people with the Mont Ventoux virus and a lot off them changed during this weekend from "Ventourist to Ventousiast", and will come back to him in the future.



Here yo see some first pictures which I had available, more will follow as soon as I have them. So keep regular looking on this web log!

Thursday, 22 May 2008

Ready to go!

At this moment I have everything packed on and in the car. We will leave our house in a few minutes to France. There is no way back, the challenge has started. From this side I wish everybody a safe and good travel, and I'm looking forward to see you all.

Saturday, 17 May 2008

Last week before the challenge

Yes, tomorrow starts the last week, the weather conditions have changed at the moment, it is raining in the region and this could mean that it is snowing on top. On the next website you find a forecast for the weather over the coming 10 day's in Bedoin http://www.weer.nl/nc/nl/home/weer/wereldweer/actueel_en_verwacht_weer.html?cityID=33X2655&cityName=B%26eacute%3Bdoin or in Carpentras (Near the Mont Ventoux) http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/tenday/FRXX0146?from=36hr_topnav_business At this moment it doesn't look so good but I don't care, I'm really excited to go for it. Today I've got some spare parts for my bike and prepared some materials that we will need. I also called for the shirts and it will be tricky if I get them on time. They are still in Portugal and will hopefully arrive next week. So don't forget to bring warm clothes with you, we could have wintertime next weekend.

Tuesday, 13 May 2008

Good conditions at the moment

Hello,

Good news from France, an employee of MeadWestvaco Venlo was on holiday in France last week and visited the Mont Ventoux by car. He was on the top and he told me that the conditions were very good, there is still some snow on the slopes below the top but the road was clear and in good condition. There were also a lot of bikers who where trying to get to the top and it looked like they where suffering. I will ask him some pictures from the top to show you.
Yesterday I did some training in the hill from the Netherlands (yes even we as a lowland have hills) together with Chris and Peter. I would say we should be ready for it, it will not be easy but that should not be the problem. I hope you all are ready too.

The first pictures is fro a webcam near the Mont Ventoux and shows you the Northside.

Wednesday, 7 May 2008

Nice picture

Hello all,

If you look on http://www.alexpages.net/mventoux/mvhome.html You see on the right side the picture of the week "foto van de week" here you see how the road and mountain looks at this moment. The picture is taken on the 2nd May so 5 days ago. If you click on the picture you get it bigger.

Looks great isn't it?

Monday, 5 May 2008

Less then 20 day's to go

Do you get nervous to? Well I am. 10 Months after my first idea was born it is now only 20 day's to go. I personally had several challenges to go until now, but today I decided to take my bike with me to France and I will try to climb the Mont Ventoux. The doctors had no doubts about this and they even told me to do it, it would be a good test for me and it would give me my the trust in my body back. My time is no point for me I just want to get up, that is "MY CHALLENGE".

At the moment I'm working on a kind of agenda. As specially for the Sunday because what would it be nice if we all could get up in about the same time and have some nice pictures of us as a group. Some of them will then go for there third climb and others will be happy with the one they did (including me). I will send you all the agenda at the end of this week including the address of the Hotel in Sault.

At the moment we have also in France good weather what could help to get the snow back to water. Last week there was still some snow on the North route, this is the one that only the people who will go for three times will do. Yes nice sunny weather with little or no wind would be perfect. Let hope for that.

Here is as a bonus a picture of a sunrise on the Mont Ventoux, who would not like to see this with his own eyes? Well if the sky is clear and you don't mind to get out of your bed at 4:30 on Saterday we could go up to see the sunrise at 5:53. this is the time that the sun will come above the horizontal on the top. This actually means that we have be at 5:30 on the top latest. Of course just for them who likes to do so.