The wow moment

July 9, 2023

One moment sums up the two weeks I just spent guiding and shooting for InGamba in the Gstaad region.

We were coming down from the Col des Mosses on a small farm road. Suddenly, behind me, I heard a “wow”. Then another one. And another one. The group all came to a halt to take in the view featured in the image above. They were right: this was a spectacular spot that I was keen to show them.

I must confess: this “wow” moment put a lump in my throat. In a second, my dream was validated: with the support of InGamba, I was sharing an experience that can inspire cyclists from all over the world. In my home region.

This experience is enjoyed on the bike, with quiet roads, breathtaking views and challenging but not too challenging passes: Pillon, Mosses, Mittelberg, Jaun, Croix… as well as a few secret climbs away from the crowds. Gstaad and the Alpes Vaudoises are truly a hidden gem.

But it also happens off the bike: a visit to Alexis and Thérèse, producers of the local L’Etivaz cheese, immersed us in an authentic, timeless lifestyle, far removed from the frenetic hustle and bustle of our daily routine. Taking a bunch of cyclists in lycra and cleats to a tiny farm deep in the mountains to discover an ancestral know-how will remain my personal highlight. 

Traditional cheese-making in the Pays d’Enhaut region

We experienced all this with the unrivalled support of the InGamba team. Thank you Sancho, Sergio, Zé, Joao, Sampaio and Nelson: you are the best guides, mechanics and soigneurs in the business. Sergio is even an Olympic medallist, but he’s too modest to boast about it. Only his lightning-fast sprints to check traffic at intersections ahead of the group hint at his glorious pro career.

Thanks also to the Gstaad Palace, which hosted us during our stay. It’s not just the architecture of the property that made us think we were living in a fairytale.

Living in a fairytale

I was also very proud to welcome our guests at Chalet RoyalP in Villars, just down the road from my home. It was an opportunity to climb the Col de la Croix and share a final dinner at the Refuge de Solalex. On the menu: cheese, of course, with a recipe that won them second place in the very official World Fondue Championship!

Last but not least, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with our guests. Whatever our background, age or level, we’re all equal when it comes to sweating on our bikes. I’ve made new friends and for that I’m infinitely grateful.

To all: I hope you enjoyed this enchanted interlude as much as I did, and that you return home with unforgettable memories. See you on the road!

Alain

For more information, visit the InGamba website or contact me.

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Thumb up from Sergio Paulinho, silver medalist at the 2004 Olympic road race in Athens