ETXEONDO MAGAZINE, JULY 2022 - It is not a cycling club, but a group of like-minded people, a community. The Amsterdam Windjammers have been riding together and organising cycling trips since 2006. This year's 2022 camp is special. Forty riders from all corners of the world and backgrounds came together in the French Alps to conquer the mighty Alpine cols and experience the Tour de France in real life. Diversity of nationalities and cultures epitomise the composition of the Windjammers Camp; Americans, an Australian, British, a Dane, many Dutch, a Frenchwoman, an Irishman, a Welshman and also two Basque riders. They found each other through the love of cycling. Together they ride and together they make memories.

The opening stage of the camp was a ride from mountain hotel Saint Roch, 20 kilometres southwest of Briançon, the base camp for the week, and the group headed for the nearby Col du Granon (2413 metres altitude). It is on this col that the Tour riders arrive two days later with an uphill finish. Not a very familiar climb, but make no mistake, it is a tough one. With an average gradient of more than 9% in the last 11 kilometres, Tour de France riders have to be alert. Today's riders were also on alert; with many coming from the Netherlands, where hills are far away, this mountain was a slap in the face for some. The "hors catégorie" classification did not lie. Steep hills and boiling hot tarmac, acclimatisation was in full swing. Some riders were heading up the mountain to go for a good time, others were preparing for the coming days. 40 people, 40 climbs, 40 stories; that is the beauty of these group events, the amount of impressions and experiences shared. The breathtaking views, the narrow road uphill (what will it be like when the Tour comes through?), the buzzing flies halfway up the mountain, that last bit of shade below the tree line of the mountain, the many other riders also checking out the Granon, the paragliders skimming past at eye level, the names of the pros on the tarmac, the unzipped jersey to cool down, the tasty lunch at the summit organised by hotel hosts Anne and Simon, the group photo on the roof of the world, and the thrill of descending from the fresh mountain air back to the hot valley.

What makes this bundle of people a group? There is no membership or monthly contribution, it's about a willingness to put your best foot forward. Enjoying each other's company and lending a helping hand when needed. A bike breakdown was fixed by the local Intersport, the unlucky rider was joined by two others to keep him company. A bike belonging to one of the American riders was missing after fleeing to Europe and so someone conjured up his spare bike and was adjusted to his measurements; handy guys in the group, that's how they solve it.

And then there is the gear. A team jersey connects the group. A logo adds personality. It's the crisp white socks that make all the difference. Putting on a brand new pair of socks before the big day of cycling is a strange and satisfying sensation. Nick, one of the Windjammers' veterans, told how they rode with a group of five to the local ice cream shop Mastro Gelataio in Briançon, all in the same gear and four of them even on the same bike. A team feeling accentuated by the team equipment; the ice cream only tastes better.