All roads to recovery lead towards this Swiss bliss
SWITZERLAND doesn’t always spring to mind when you consider the list of great places to cycle in Europe. The more favoured alpine passes of the French Alps or winter miles in Spain are where you tend to find most Lycra-clad enthusiasts on two wheels.
Switzerland is more famous for its cheese and chocolate but it is a hidden gem of incredible sweeping Alpine roads.
Swiss routes lead you through breathtaking mountain landscapes and over mythical Alpine passes but there are not many cyclists riding these incredible passages.
When you mention Switzerland and cycling the obvious connection is Fabian Cancellara and the Tour De Suisse, but apart from that I can’t recall hearing too many of my friends say they are off to cycle in Switzerland.
I decided to move on this week from St Moritz as the summer season is coming to an end there, and my goal was to head towards Lake Annecy for some heat.
The drive was incredible and it took me over the Furka Pass, one of the most iconic roads in Switzerland.
Those who have seen the movie Goldfinger might remember the car chase with James Bond which was filmed on this pass.
As I dropped off the pass, I can’t deny the only thing on my mind was I have to come back and cycle in these surroundings.
Next to the Furka Pass is the Grimsel Pass and it is like something from Game Of Thrones.
As I was coming off the Furka all I could see was this road snaking up the side of the mountain with endless switchbacks. A cycling heaven.
I decided to stop at the bottom of the pass in a small village called Obergoms.
It was a hidden gem nestled not far from the Eiger in a valley that runs 127km long to Martinay.
It was also, incidentally, where the UCI World Cycling Championships were supposed to be this month.
I woke up on Monday morning to what can only be described as perfect cycling weather.
I could feel every bone in my body wanted to cycle.
However, I know from my attempt last week that I am not really ready.
As I walked outside my hotel, I wandered into the local bike shop and before I knew it I was sitting on a mountain bike.
After a bit of debating I knew this was the perfect place to get my confidence back.
Three hours later I had managed 42km, mostly offroad, with a short flurry on the road.
It felt amazing to be riding again but I knew it would be short lived.
The main issue is that the position on a mountain bike with my arms means my paralysed shoulder is permanently dislocated, this is pretty painful and after three hours I felt completely broken.
I was in pain for a few days after that ride, but as my body recovered the clouds over the mountains cleared.
Before leaving this area I wanted to return to Wegen to take the Gondola up to get as close as I could to the Eiger.
I haven’t been to Wegen since I worked with the British Ski Team.
Wegen poses one of the toughest downhills on the World Cup Ski Tour and is referred to by some of the racers as the essence of downhill racing.
It is the longest race on the circuit and some racers say that they feel like they are about to black out when they