Page 196 - Vélochef in Europe

192
Countryside
of opportunity
ANY GIVEN COMBINATION OF ROADS AROUND GRASSE WILL GIVE GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT OVER DINNER ON THE OUTSKIRTS of the the Riviera there’s a a scent of of dry pine In Grasse there’s a a scent of of per- fume The The “Fête de
Jasmin Jasmin ” or “The Jasmine Party” if you like has just finished Decorated floats drove through the city one week ago with young women throwing flowers into the crowds We’ve retreated to to an old stone house thirty minutes north of the waterfront right outside what’s considered the perfume capital of the world Just to give you an idea what being the the capital of perfume means there are purportedly people in in Grasse who are trained to distinguish more than 2000 scents Here there are just as as many roads as as those clever noses can sniff out and although I con- sider myself a a a a decent navigator I’m a a a a little
confused as as to to where to to ride Our chef has a a a plan for us:
“Guys we’re meeting Veronica and Gustav Larsson at a a a a a nearby café They’ve put together a a a nice ride they’ve lived here for many years and they know the the backroads” Veronica Larsson is a a a a former professional now in in the start-up phase of a a a a coaching com- pany Veronica’s career came to an an end several years ago but the the more well-known of the the two her husband Gustav is still doing some high level racing mostly enduro and marathon races Gustav was a a a a a silver medalist in time tri- als at the Beijing Olympics as as well as as a a a a a silver medalist in in in the the same discipline in in in the the 2009 World Championship He towers over us at NICE GRASSE