Start: Sospel (430m)
Trailhead: Col de Braus (1002m)
Finish: Larvotto Beach, Monte-Carlo (0m)
Riding distance: 30.7 km
Height gain: 849m
Height drop: 1847m
No. of timed “special stages”: 2
Highlight: lofty views high above the med, as a backdrop to the Côte d’Azur’s rocky, adrenaline-fuelling trails

The contradictory feeling of sadness at the ending of  a long journey , but happiness that you’ve succeeded and that the end is just 30km away is a  constant push and pull inside from the first pedal stroke of the morning ’til the salt sting of the Mediterranean against scratched and tired skin in the afternoon.

These journeys have been different for each person, for some it’s been a chance to find out how far they can ride and what they can ride down , for some people it’s been a journey to far , and there’s those who have raced.

With the racers, whether pro or expert, they have all, regardless of position, given their all. Don’t think that the battle between the top five expert racers has been any less fought for than the top five pros. The battle for 18th and 19th may well have been a bloody tussle since day one for those two riders and down to the last loose drop on the road above Monaco.

The riding today is less hard than most of the others – but still after the first small climb to the start of Special stage 23 you’re heading into a 600m drop over only 5km. Initially quick but a reasonably straightforward singletrack drop leads inevitably  into the loose cornered switchbacks that have characterised the last couple of days riding, interspersed with sets of unevenly spaced small steps, it’s a  mini 1000 press ups to test the arms one last time.

The special ends in the valley of the dogs – not the real name, but we left to the howling of hundreds of canines  staying in kennels nearby awakened by squealing brakes and the noise of a winner or loser in the tyre and traction game high above them , the noise does not encourage lingering and the urge to finish is strengthened.

The final climb proper leads the way to the to the final stage of this year, Special Stage 24. Before you get there it’s a 12km road climb – but not just any road climb. Nothing but the infamous Col de la Madone. Made famous by countless Tour de France riders but especially Lance [Armstrong] and the bike named after it.

After the carrying and pushing up near vertical slopes the competitors have been through over the last six days it ‘s a joy to gain altitude via constant gradient and tarmac. From the top of the road proper the route leads through the distinctly eery military base that marks the summit, with skull and cross-bone signs all over the place we hope it’s  not a portent for the final run down into Monaco.

The final stage itself looks down straight into the hi-rise offices and flats of some of  the world’s richest people while we’re still on the gas for the final timed section. Special Stage 24 is an odd combo of woodland loam initially, turning into fist-sized marbles on dust, before one final dusty rush of singletrack (watch out for that drop off hidden by the tree!) and it’s done – the last time the timing chip will bleep, the last time you have to worry about how long you took. It’s still a fair descent in to Monaco proper including plenty of urban step riding, but the clocks stopped ticking.

Beers on the jetty followed by more beers along the sea front on the way to the campsite for the night, and even more with dinner, ended a perfect week. Some of us slept under the stars before starting our journeys home on Sunday – and the countdown for Trans-Provence 2012.

Video highlights

Trans Provence Day 7 from Trans-Provence on Vimeo.

Results – men

1) Jerome  Clementz FRA – 03:25:54
2) Nico Vouilloz FRA – 03:26:40
3) Fabien Barel FRA – 03:27:28
4) Mark Weir  USA – 03:36:58
5) Matt Ryan  AUS – 03:37:09
6) Marc Beaumont GBR – 03:42:27
7) Rowen Sorrell GBR – 03:47:54
8] James Richards GBR – 03:57:25
9) Steve Jones GBR – 04:00:27
10) Sven Martin RSA – 04:01:00

Women

1) Tracy Moseley GBR – 04:16:02
2) Anka Martin RSA – 04:35:38
3) Ingrid Hohermuth SUI – 05:02:06