QF Focus Magazine “Get on yer Bike.”


Monthly cycling tips / advice and routes by Gary and Lynn, “Cyclogical” Quesada. La Sufrida 2016 (The Suffering).


The ‘La Sufrida’ Sportif (The Suffering) or ‘The pain in Spain’ as it is more commonly called is a very long, hard cyclo-sportif in the Spanish Andalucian mountain range, (this year covering a distance of 205kms with 5000 metres of vertical ascent) and is one of Spain’s biggest and toughest Sportifs and usually takes place on the first Saturday of June every year. The route started and finished in the picturesque town of El Gastor. Over 205kms cyclists are pushed to their limits as the combination of a long route, the temperature and the tough Andalucian mountain climbs take their toll.


We, (Gary and Martyn) left


Quesada on a


warm Friday morning to travel 6 hours south to El Gastor the


headquarters of


La Sufrida. When we arrived at the sport centre we met Oscar Pajares who was a Lieutenant Colonel of the


Spanish Legion,


which is the equivalent of the French Foreign Legion. For 18 years he has organised Ultra marathons and Ultra sportifs which are not for the faint hearted. This year’s course was what he called his best route to date, only a handful of the entrants were from outside Spain and Oscar made us feel very welcome. Oscar had arranged a brutal challenge and knew that 50% of the starters would not make it to the finish line. The Suffering started in the picturesque hilltop village of El Gastor where potted geraniums spill from most balconies and windows. Martyn and I arrived at the start line at 7am and there are already 100 of us assembled ready for the off. The PA system started and one of the riders started singing a soprano by Pavarotti which got a round of applause from everyone waiting to go. As if the distance and elevation weren’t fearsome enough, there were very strict cut-off times, the next 8-9 hours were going to be a fine balance between keeping something in reserve and avoiding being eliminated at one of the regular checkpoints. Before we started Martyn and I had thoroughly scrutinised the route card to ensure we did not get lost and that we know where the water stops were. It soon became clear that Oscar had organised a very tough route, however he had made it as enjoyable as possible by providing water stops every 25k should you wish to take advantage of them. It was certainly one of the best organised, slickest and friendliest sportifs that we have participated in. Oh – and the toughest. We started sharp at 8am and the first test came after 18k this was a 12k climb at an average grade of 7% to Puerto De Las Palomas. This climb was relentless and was switchback after switchback after switchback however the views on the way up were absolutely spectacular. Once at the top we had a fantastic ride downhill at approx 70k per hour to the town of Grazalema, after which we emerged into a fantastic valley, by this time the riders had all thinned out to groups of 4 or 5. The roads were fantastic but not closed, the Guardia Civil motorcyclists and volunteers did an excellent job of stopping oncoming traffic and manning the junctions, we passed through village after village after village with most of the population cheering us on, they were shouting ‘Animo, Animo’ which means come-on, come-on and was an encouragement to the riders. Everyone we spoke to at the registration and at the start of the race was concerned about the dreaded wall of Monte Corto, this came after 107k and is 4.8k long - it had a large section of false flat in the middle which lowered to an average gradient of 5% but the gradients before and after were a nightmare - it was 24%


on the lower section and 23% at the top. Many people resorted to zig-zagging or getting off and walking at this point. After the wall at Monte Corto, it was approx 15k back to El Gastor where you had to cross the start/ finish line and tell the organisers that you wished to continue. 50% of the starters who had said that they would do the full route packed in at this point, this is the 133k mark. Martyn and I crossed the line and pushed on to complete the full course. We climbed up and out of the village to applause from the spectators and proceeded to the next check point, 155km mark, by this time Martyn had blown a gasket and decided to call it a day, the paramedics checked his blood pressure and heartbeat, he was then told that he could no longer continue. Martyn was absolutely devastated and so was I. I left Martyn in capable hands and continued on my own to the next checkpoint which was at the Spanish Legionaires Barracks where my race card was stamped to allow me to continue to the end. The next 45k were extremely hard as the temperature had risen to 32 degrees, however now that I was on my own I passed bike after bike and got to the finish line in just under 9 hours, where I was greeted by my mate Martyn who was recovered and was waiting for me to finish with a beer. Martyn was really pleased with his effort and did really well despite the heat and exhaustion taking over, I was chuffed to bits to stand on the podium and receive my lump of granite which has the seal of the Spanish Legion embedded on it. We met some great people during this event, including an 11 man team from Johnstone in Scotland who every year take part in a cycle


event. They have done


Majorca, Ventoux, Marmotte, Paris Roubaix to name but a few, however they all said that this was the toughest event that they have ever done so far. Well done to everyone who managed to complete the course as I know that there were many who didn’t due to fatigue and exhaustion and also to Oscar and his team who did an excellent job of organising this event, I would recommend it to anyone who is fit enough to take up the challenge. This was a great experience, not just the race but the atmosphere and just been amongst other like minded individuals all with the same objective. Gary and Lynn are available at Cyclogical in Quesada Monday to Friday from 9.30am - 5.30pm and Saturdays from 10am -2pm to assist and advise you on all your cycling requirements. Call in or visit their website: www.cyclogicalcostablanca.com.


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