Day 6: Knight Frank Cycle to MIPIM 2024
Valence to Gréoux-les-Bains
The sixth day of Knight Frank Cycle to MIPIM is when everything about this event gets bigger and more spectacular: the climbs, the views, the food stops - and for this year, the rain clouds.
With 216kms and a chunky 3,600m of ascent to contend with after yesterday’s 267kms, the weather also brings an extra dimension to today's proceedings. The peloton sets off from a rainy Valence, which stays in situ for the first stage. The rest of the day features moments of blazing sun in between torrential downpours and some plunging temperatures - and layers are shed and donned as quickly as the cyclists climb and descend. Stages 2 and 3 serve up more than 1,000m of ascent each, but the Gorges d’Aulan is a treat for the eyes. Meanwhile, mid-morning croque monsieur and a lunch consisting of substantial servings of lasagne keep the riders fuelled throughout the day.
Many cols - and some spectacular rainbows (and drenchings) - later, the group rolls into Gréoux-les-Bain and the penultimate dinner to celebrate the distance travelled so far (around 1,294kms), and the final day still to come.
