East Java Tourism News

Mount Bromo - monster Volcano

September 11th, 2006

Mt Bromo - this is hard to describe as I’ve never seen a climb like it. Rising 2300 metres out of the sea, someone had hung a road straight up this monster Volcano. When I looked at Yakolev’s back wheel and saw a 32 sprocket on there (he had previously trained up Mt Bromo) I was more than happy that I was no longer in GC contention. If one took the hardest Tour de France pass and added another 700 metres of climbing at the end in just five kilometres it would be something like Mt Bromo.

Again we attacked from the start and again Oggi got away, this time getting a 12 minute lead which seemed pretty substantial with just 30 kilometres of a 136 kilometre stage to go. Behind him constant attacks saw another group with Eddy and Robin go, but also Yakolev and Ahat!
Behind them the peloton crawled along, everyone to scared to put an effort in as the lower slopes of the climb were beginning. For most riders it was now 2 hours of all-out suffering on the 23/25 and 27 sprockets if they had them. However, Mizbani showed his true talent, riding out of the peloton and past everyone in the race to win by minutes alone from Ahat and a surprising Paul Griffin, who finished third. Robin also did a great ride to finish fifth and Eddy was 10th to put them into third and seventh overall. With gaps of minutes between just about everyone the GC seemed over. There was one reward for the effort of getting up to the top - the torrid crowded atmosphere of the plains below had been replaced by clean mountain air and a surreal volcanic landscape above the clouds.

We still had plans to attack on the last day but with an almost circular circuit and being only 34 kilometres long the final criterium was more a circus than a race, with a 48km/h average - Samai of Wismilak again won easily. It was a little disappointing for us all after the hard battles the days before but credit must go to the Giant guys who dominated us pretty much throughout. On our side it was also a very satisfactory performance as we are basically a road race team with no specialists either for the mountains or criteriums and this was very much a specialist’s race. Also we were practically the only ones who challenged the lead (although the Poloygon Kazaks did their best) which made it extra difficult, but left us with second in teams and third overall on individual GC.

As for Tour of East Java, they are already planning for next year and the dreaded Mt Bromo will be back!

Entry Filed under: East Java News