MADONE: Nice, France -TOUGHEST STRAVA LEADERBOARD ON EARTH?-Worst Retirement Ever Honeymoon Edition

For two weeks, my wife and I are traveling to some of the biggest cycling destinations, riding our bikes for fun. At each location I'll get a one-day "hallpass" to film a KOM attempt.
After a great trip to Girona, including a crack at the hardest KOM I've attempted, we head to Nice--for an even tougher one. The Col de la Madone is where the pros from Nice and Monaco train and has hosted a race in recent years, making it quite possibly the toughest leaderboard on Earth. To crack the top 10, you just have to beat Chris Froome...
Big thanks to ‪@TheColCollective‬ for the filming and commentary, and check out azurvelo.com/ for your own trip.
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Outro Music: @brooklynduo
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[@Greg.Sutton]

Brilliant - this got a like just because it has Mike "Col Collective" Cotty in it. Love his channel. Great honeymoon Phil. Glad i am not the only one looking to get day passes when on holiday with my good lady wife.

[@edlaverack]

Loving this "honeymoon series" 🥰😋Got me itching to travel down south to these famous climbs!

[@shaylorcyclingwahoolecol8313]

I want to see that one ☝️

[@sexandtheswiss]

You can always propose this as your honeymoon idea, see if you get a yes or a hell no!

[@shaylorcyclingwahoolecol8313]

I hear Tenerife is nice too 😉

[@yosoypatrick]

So great to see Mike, his videos are so good.

[@worstretirementever]

Agreed

[@willgd6666]

11:40 At first I read this as "The ride back was descent" and thought that was rather obvious.

[@matthewterry29]

If it’s any consolation, you’d crush 2023 version of Ritchie Porte!

[@magicknight8412]

ooo Tenerife, Mount Teide i guess?

[@chriscook4130]

Mike should commentate more of your climbs! Good to have great friends. Congrats on Madone. The Mimosa comment was the best part. Cheers from cold STL.

[@andycook7162]

Phil, the pigeon speaks French. No wonder it didnt answer.

[@mathewrose2951]

I love the second music change when it suddenly goes into "Frere Jacques," because that's what the internet provides when you ask it for French music . . .

[@BryenGraver]

Wow. Been thinking about my next vacation spot, and thanks to you and this series I know exactly where to go. Cleveland it is!

[@arichison]

The honeymoon series is excellent! My wife even watched an episode with me. Phil , you are so strong and fast, retirement or no retirement, so motivating. Love the channel!

[@worstretirementever]

Thank you! Xo

[@MitchBoyer]

Lol the music change halfway up was great 🎶

[@kubackjeee]

Lol you hating on lance. He is the goat and that's the fact. All of them where doped you included... Or maybe you didn't as you did not achieve anything

[@worstretirementever]

You’re not just a sports fan if that’s how you see it. Have a look at pro wrestling if you prefer a fun show to a sporting competition.

[@kubackjeee]

@@worstretirementever In pro wrestling they are faking fights. Lance kicked asses for real

[@nickbrownbill3413]

Unbelievable effort Phil. Loving this series, croissants instead of cookies really gives it a European flair.

[@Eric_Luke]

Rode the Madone from Nice (and after passing through Monaco) last summer before the Tour started. It was stunning, especially seeing the medieval village towards the top and a bunker where the French held off Italians during WWII. But the best part was seeing all the pro riders flying by, up and down the climb. Absolutely epic experience for any cyclist.

[@999NINE99]

2 seconds from Froome is quite an accomplishment. Not to mention being less than 2 minutes off the top.

[@ClassicCyclingCC]

Next time you are on the Côte d’Azur you have to climb the col de la Bonette, it is the highest road in Europe.

[@cipher.u.justice]

Seeing Porte 2016 time standing up against Pog 2020 is pretty remarkable, Porte was on a monster year before crashing out the TdF, it's a shame what could have been. I like these videos when Phil goes for stacked Strava segments, puts a lot into perspective at the level the WT is on

[@JoelsTastyRide]

KILLED it with the "Ferrari" comment, even by accident :) :)

[@brianmessemer2973]

Haha yeah that took me a second, I thought he had some issue with the car company then I was like Ooooh! 😂 That was VERY funny

[@JeremyLawrence-imajez]

If anyone here ever does this climb, the [longer] descent back down to Menton via La Turbie is an incredible ride.

[@worstretirementever]

Agreed that’s the way I went. You can see a couple clips from that

[@FaiscaaaH]

Come on Phill after that warm up, go for the KOM 💪💪 Mike and the lady are a gem 🙌🙌

[@kimrice394]

Sorry for keeping Phil out playing so long Mrs. Giamon.

[@Rocketogre]

I believe you meant to say "The ride back was descent."

[@timw9024]

Bro I'm from Cleveland. This is bullshit

[@worstretirementever]

Haha did I hopes up?

[@DanTuber]

Do you prefer shallow rims over deeper rims for climbing?

[@Peakabike]

Did that very ride back in October, we did start with the Eze climb first so I was already pretty tired when we hit the Madone climb out of Menton. That was one of the harder ones I've ever done...so quiet though compared to the awfully busy roads between Nice and Menton, and after St Agnes, you feel like you're on the moon. A few editing problems, like at 9:36 where you back before St-Agnes ;-)

[@BGWF]

"A few editing problems, like at 9:36 where you back before St-Agnes" - > well spotted

[@themaestro7922]

Did you have a salad nee-swawz??

[@sawdust1994]

Well done, looking good. That bike looks light as hell. You really prepped well. Great video, Thanks and Enjoy every minute.

[@colindewolfe3647]

Memories. But when I lived there, I always tackled it from the Nice side via Peille or La Turbie. I'll have to go back some day

[@xMaggostx]

Cotty is such an amazing person! glad you worked with him!

[@BrettinLux]

Well done 👍 I stayed in Menton in 2021 and rode many of the climbs around there.The Madone was a bit disappointing when I reached the summit.The views to the left after the tunnel is awesome,but you never stopped😃

[@jakethesnake9340]

Wow great climb Phil! I guess I need to do this climb someday since I just got a Trek Madone, bought the bike when it was -11 here in NH and it's up to 30 here now, so warm days are coming!

[@jabokd574]

Is it a newer Madone or did you find a nice one second-hand? Nice bikes, although I can't say I'd be too interested in a Madone that has BB90 involved.

[@jakethesnake9340]

@@jabokd574 it’s new last of the gen 6 with a praxis bb closeout sale before it’s only the new generation with the “butthole” now. Saw one in person at the shop and just looked weird.

[@vktravellog1242]

You need to take some ketones

[@zaphod_beeblerox]

1:15 alien finger, be careful Phil you don't get reprogrammed in your sleep while she phones home

[@worstretirementever]

This is Emily speaking. Phil has been reprogrammed.

[@martindoyle5505]

Little Ring Collar Dove.

[@super8hell]

I experienced the worst headwind on the way between Antibes and Nice. Killed my legs.

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

REALLY miss the Col Collective, nothing out there has replaced it.

[@ecycled3d]

Another fantastic episode. Thanks Phil (and Mike).

[@Velodan1]

“I thought you said we were going for a Mimosa” (drink), not the climb said Phil’s girlfriend 😝. Also there’s 6 guys ahead of you that did it as a group. Individually you’re in the top 5. Congrats old man you still got it.

[@worstretirementever]

She was apparently allergic to those trees. Antihistamines if you go 😂

[@shmoejoe1]

My Giant Revolt E+ could keep up for sure, even flog it. Probably do 27km/h avg up the climb. Great work tho!! 👏

[@filippo2769]

Loved the Ferrari joke

[@davidsullivan7290]

Mike Cotty saying Phil doesn't get out of the saddle much. Ha ha. Mike stands about 60% of the time when he's climbing. Go watch the Col Collective videos. They're great.

[@hernanhernandez3861]

Interesting to see big Dylan van Baarle with a 26:47. What a beast! Great vid. Great time. Thank you.

[@worstretirementever]

You can tell how hard he trains. Next video he’s up there as well

[@hernanhernandez3861]

@@worstretirementever Nice! It's amazing to see these big guys with top times up these climbs. The new generation....

[@matchinu]

Richie used to go take the KOMs around Monaco and Nice from the guy who was just below you at number 12. Mad Strava beef with him 😂 good to see you at least got him!

[@alanrigby8110]

For one heartstopping moment I thought this was filmed from Jar Jar Binks' head, uh, I mean that Fiat Multipla...

[@brianmessemer2973]

No way, it's Mike Cotty! Super cool dude. Love his outstanding videos of many famous climbs on his Col Collective KZbin channel. Loving this honeymoon series Phil 💯

[@dennisdownes9319]

Nice scenery! Great job Mike....I mean for driving and filming and operating a smartphone on a cliff at the same time! Hahahahahahah! DD

[@leon97764]

have you ever raced the Dirty Dozen in Pittsburgh?

[@ethangodridge6833]

What a climb Phil. Chapeau!

[@ricoheff]

I've made a few friends (pigeons) in the Canaries! Very good confidence while drinking some beer!

[@matthewcole4823]

“On the Côte d’Azur … uh, from Antibes. We had a croissant … ” *jump cut to the Croissant Pronunciation Meme*

[@jjjj041]

Don’t you dare besmirch Cleveland like that

[@mototaco2132]

0:50.... Same breed of doves nested in our patio... be aware of ticks.... I was itchy everywhere, and the bites comes 3s.

[@HugoHocknell]

Nice! I took my pushy on honeymoon and had 1.30hr (max) per day while the Mrs went to a spa. Think it's just yours and my Mrs in the whole World!

[@colins.8253]

Have any pro teams offered you a contract to ride for them since you started this KZbin channel (world pro teams)

[@shaneglackin]

It's my favourite climb in the world, but goodness I wouldn't want to take a ferrari over that surface...

[@dishboy14]

Mike should be yelling Up Up Up! It would make it a real life Wahoo “On Location” ride 😂

[@thomaskuhn6541]

Cafe de Cycliste is a great place, Barney set us up with some nice Cervelo rentals when I rode there in 2022. He also pulls a nice flat white to get you caffeinated for your ride.

[@Driver8takeabreak]

I know it's not your kind of climb, but I was hoping you would pop over and do the Poggio.

[@sandrochiavaro7831]

Nice collab with Mike. Looks like perfect weather . Didn’t realized La madone was so narrow 😳

[@XKsavX666]

Nice one Phil. Hope you come to Ireland sometime .

[@chrisbaum998]

Great series. Like seeing Mike Coty and your other cycling connections.

[@philippepemonge3861]

Phil , je regarde tes vidéos depuis des années et tu as bu un café juste en bas de chez moi avec la tourterelle !

[@michaelpark794]

Mike Cotty... what a nice surprise 😎

[@neil78]

I think you need to help them level up their cookie game.

[@bengt_axle]

Cottydale keeps looking younger and younger.

[@basedgodstrugglin]

Lance Armstrong is my favorite natty cyclist

[@1almendz]

Awesome! Congrats on your wedding !

[@GrouEEf]

Catch you on Teneriffa then :).

[@db613]

Quite amazing 11th overall and you didn't look out of breath or was that clip when you said your time a full 10 minutes after getting to the top 😲🤔🤷🏻?

[@worstretirementever]

We switched cameras at the finish. I was quite empty

[@CEB_80]

What about Rocacorba segment?

[@daniels.2720]

Phil > so it's really presumptuous to think that the doves in France speak 'english'...just saying... ((Haha))

[@worstretirementever]

That is a great point

[@shaunowen5829]

amazing effort phil ,chapeau

[@Avioto]

Nice result 😎

[@hallockstuart7899]

That leaderboard is stacked!

[@davidv6803]

Nice to see you got a haircut for your honeymoon! 😀

[@ritawilkie9986]

Wow! 1st to view! Nice.

[@ippusor]

KOM in Phil!

[@kivriel2660]

Great video!

[@lbyvik]

HEY! Do a ride with Joe Dombrowski! He lives in Nice

[@worstretirementever]

Haha I tried but he was sick

[@ritawilkie9986]

Well almost.

[@jfreck]

7w/kg for Lance right? crazy

[@johnnycab8986]

But even donkeys in todays peleton ride faster than him and they are all clean....yeaaaaaaaah...

[@me-in-MPLS]

Easy to do 500 watts when you drowning in the Peds

[@worstretirementever]

Ha exactly. He saw that as a brag but it’s more of a confession

[@letriciabrowder2942]

Thanks for another great upload Phil!

[@worstretirementever]

Thank you!

[@willemniehorster9836]

I'm going for the third time to Nice in a few weeks. It is a lovely place. Another great ride is along the coast to Poggio in Italy.

[@worstretirementever]

Enjoy!

[@willemniehorster9836]

@@worstretirementever Thanks! I climb like a turtle but I enjoy it a lot.

[@cycliststrainingpartner8877]

Meant to start from the Bus stop

[@worstretirementever]

Does the bus have a bike rack?

[@yanaxiao5107]

can u check email~

[@behindtheboxx]

Bold shade tossed at Lance…

[@worstretirementever]

Really nothing to be afraid of from that creep anymore

[@gshufelt09]

Lance Armstrong the greatest cyclist to ever exist? That Lance?

[@worstretirementever]

The more removed I get from it, that generation feels like a mafia-style criminal conspiracy more than a sporting competition. Like the bike racing was secondary.

[@gshufelt09]

Thats fair. Generation as a whole for sure more so than one individual… even if he was likely the ring leader

[@worstretirementever]

He won the doping contest

[@tbone-ip5fi]

@@worstretirementever And the asshole competition

[@davidlloyd3589]

Am I the first one to say this is an excellent business tax-play? Filming for work while on a vacation could allow someone to classify their personal travel expense as a business expense. One-day hall pass, brilliant.

[@worstretirementever]

You’re hired as my accountant

[@johnduddy2359]

Smash teide in tenerife.....

[@dickdastardly7133]

Good to see the wahooligans together!! 😊