stats of the previous week: cycled 393 km
The Santini Gran Fondo Mont Ventoux is a professionally organized event for more than 2,000 participants. There is an option of two routes you can choose during the race. The decision comes after 42 km. My own option was clear in advance. No more than the short route of 78 km and 2,400 altitude meters should be possible for me. The long option had 130 km and 3,300 am, including the far more challenging ascent from Bedoin to the top of Mt Ventoux.
My short route went to Ventoux from Sault what was a surprisingly easy ascent with grades of not more than 8%. Only the final 2 km to the summit were tougher with 11%.
My goal was to ride with a sub 130 b/min heart rate. I successfully kept to this strategy and enjoyed the whole day. There were no problems with my repaired heart, I even felt stronger than before the incident. However, I hold back myself in respect and kept a gap to my limit. Surprisingly this performance was strong enough to finish in the middle of the pack (450 of 860) and within the first half of my age group (17 of 41).
