Both my followers needn’t fear! Radio silence has not been driven by disappointment or injury, but predominantly apathy.... and lack of WiFi access at Chalet La Source in Villard Reculas last week. As you are both aware, all went well on the 2nd July.... hoorah!It appears that my rather amateur approach to training was successful in achieving my main goals – to keep my chip and pedal all the way... I did it. In fact, I even managed to really enjoy the ride although the final climb up Alp D’Huez was a little tiring.
Not only did I finish, but all of our party finished despite Al’s increasing fear that he’d be abandoned somewhere high above the ski station of Valloire on the way up to the summit of Galibier. Rich managed a silver medal time that we were all mightily impressed by. As I was coasting down through La Grave thoughts of silver glory were in my mind but the scheduled loo stop at bend seven of AdH my have been an unwise move.
My total ride time was 11h07mins, well inside my 12 hour expectation. I suspect I could have shaved quite a bit off this had I not:
(a) Stopped to eat so many pieces of baguette avec jambon / fromage at the (rather disappointing) feed stations
(b) Spent such a long time admiring the view of Mont Blanc at the top of the Col du Glandon ... must be one of the most spectacular al fresco pee spots in the world and certainly an opportunity not to be missed
(c) Battled with sweaty lycra at the well located public loo on hairpin 7 of the AdH ascent to ensure that I was “comfortable” as I crossed the finish line
However, time was never important to me. Finishing the ride was the first goal and enjoying it so much was a bonus. I can thoroughly recommend this to anyone who has recently discovered the joy of sportive riding in the UK. The scenery is outstanding, atmosphere great, weather was perfect and the hills are long .... very long.
Just to give you an idea of the event goes, it’s something like this:-
· 1 week before the event: crap yourself as you don’t think you’ve done enough training
· 1 day before the event: crap yourself as you hear a combination of the following stories as you chat to people at the (rather well organised) registration: deaths on terrifying descents; high speed blow outs caused by excessive breaking overheating rims; snow on top of the col’s leading to life threatening hypothermia; feed staions running out of water at the bottom of AdH in temperatures of 40 degrees; entering pitch black tunnels on a 60kph descent, trolls on hairpins 12, 7 and 5 of AdH that knock you off your bike and steal your last energy gel; people weaving all over the road and throwing up on AdH.... While all of these have some grain of truth (apart from the trolls), it seems to me to be a bit like a right of passage for Marmotte alumni to terrify Marmotte Virgins
· 1 hr before the event: freeze your arse off as you descend AdH to get to the start in Bourg, trying to balance the need to minimise what you carry and maximise internal body temperature prior to the start
· 30 minutes before the event: obligatory wee in the Isere while waiting for your wave to be released
· Start: Ride along the valley with 7500 other excited riders, passing the start line to music and cheering locals
· First 30 minutes: Great ride along the valley floor the start of the first climb. People chatter excitedly, there are a few unfortunate punctures and lots of chains falling off as people change down gears as the first hill arrives
· Next 1½ hours: Silence as the first of 4 big climbs happen, but steady pace up to the top of the Col du Glandon, rewarded by stunning views & a stale baguette and lump of camenbert
· Next hour: thrilling descent followed by bunches of riders hiding behind a single brave soul breaking the headwind on the dual carriageway section (the only really unpleasant part of the route .... although the scenery remains fantastic).
· Spend the fourth hour riding up Col du Telegraph, looking for shady patches tp provide relief from the midday sun... it’s about here that you see people dropping out.
· Next 5 minutes: descend to Valliore – if you blink you definitely miss it
· Hours five and six: slow trudge to the summit of Galibier.... As the road double backs on itself after about 10k you can see the train of riders above you, snaking slowly up the mountain side. Having ridden it a few days before I knew that it would be hard at this section but had the fromagerie (about 5km short of the summit) as the point at which it gets a little easier... that is until you hit the last 1km where the road goes over the top of the mountain as the cars get to sneak through a tunnel a couple of hundred metres below the summit. As the road winds it’s way to the top, you pass an increasing number of walkers as well as a few “broken souls” lying in the meadows awaiting either rescue or a second wind.
· The next hour: no need to peddle here ... downhill all the way to AdH! Just need to watch out for overtaking cyclists and dark tunnels making sure that your sun glasses are safely attached by not blocking out the rather flimsy light.
· Final 1½ to 1¾ hours: final ascent of the day up the 21 hairpins of AdH. Pelenty of support at the bottom and the top but in the middle it’s a bit sparse... however, at this stage, you are so close to the finish you just keep spinning and thinking about the end. I saw a mixture of people on my climb: A few that flew past me, chattering away (Italians mostly); a few that I rode past with best wishes exchanged; one man sitting on the wall, head in hands and another crying; one man lying flat on his back on the side of the road (I did check he was still alive before carrying on up the mountain)
· Last 30 seconds: weave through the crash barriers and feel like a pro as you ride past the advertising hoardings ... a brilliant feeling but definitely well deserved.
Overall a great day of riding and a sence of achievement in completing Europe’s hardest sportive. One thing that gives even greater pleasure is that when the tour visits this part of France in a couple of weeks, the so-called pro’s do an easier stage that La Marmotte.... but it does only take them 3 hours!
So, it’s now time for me to sign off, but not before saying thanks to all those that have helped me along the way:-
· Adam at Citrus Cycling in Spain for the training week in March
· Al & Gerard for coming up with the idea
· Dave, Brian and Al for being great company and especially to Dave for driving our training plan
· Miranda for being so supportive and being interested in something that she really doesn’t see the point of
· Al, Gerard, Dave, Rich and Matt for a great week in the French Alps
.... thankyou all.....
So is that it? In terms of my blogging career, I think so.
In terms of cycle challenges, probably not. I’ve been back from France for a week and already feeling the need to get back out on the saddle and into the sunshine.... worryingly, the Haute Route event is looking (for some reason) strangely attractive......La Haute Route: the world’s hardest cyclo sportive....
http://www.hauteroute.org/en/
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