Tour du Mont Blanc anyone?

Caroline_ie

Here

330km 8000metres of climbing, 2 weeks after the Marmotte.




mmmm .... Maybe next year.

Lumen

In one day? That's nuts that is.

Caroline_ie

Lumen wrote: »

In one day? That's nuts that is.

Imagine the descending tho!
I am sure that would be nothing for the blorginator on his fixie.

Harrybelafonte

I may have nightmares about that diagram. Bernard Grand looks like fun on the way down, you'd pick up enough speed on the way down to get you up at least half the next climb

Captain Havoc

Everyday for over a year I used to look at those mountains, they are very big and you can still see snow on the top of them in the summer. I'm going to start praying for you now.

k123456

reminds me of the Grimpeur event in Wicklow a few years ago , that was hell, the one in France I think assent is three times as much and the distance is at least three times as long

blorg

It is nearly 2x Marmottes, and that was tough enough. Also, starting at 5:00 and the cut-off is 22:00. 17 hours. So you wouldn't want to be hanging around either.

Lumen

From the participation requirements:

Le Tour Du Mont Blanc Cyclo is open to all participants over the age of 18.
To take part in , it is required :

- To be awe of the difficulty of the race.

There surely cannot be very many cyclists able to complete such a ride within the time limits.

Caroline_ie

The registration also include during the race, the acces to all the interlediate provissioning points and the "Pasta Party" (the day before and at the end of the race).

Then, cyclist who succeed will recive a shirt "FINISHER".


What about cake ...??

Raam

This event must be done... eventually.

trinewbie

Caroline_ie wrote: »

mmmm .... Maybe next year.

:eek: My legs hurt just looking at that. :eek:

Caroline_ie

trinewbie wrote: »

:eek: My legs hurt just looking at that. :eek:

Wimp

Lumen

By my calculations it's like going up and down the Wicklow Gap 20 times in 17 hours.

Except that the gradient is 25% greater.

rottenhat

Might be a good Boards challenge though - who can evade the broomwagon for the longest. If it becomes an annual event, I'd be up for it any year after 2011.

Lumen wrote: »

By my calculations it's like going up and down the Wicklow Gap 20 times in 17 hours.

When you put it like that it sounds pretty doable. But incredibly boring.

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

By my calculations it's like going up and down the Wicklow Gap 20 times

Hmmm...

Lumen

rottenhat wrote: »

When you put it like that it sounds pretty doable. But incredibly boring.

Sure, 20 is not a huge number. Or is it?

You have twenty fingers and toes. Imagine one of them being crushed in a vice. Then imagine that same fate for the other nineteen. Now twenty isn't so small, right? You'd rather just do the one, or none at all.

ednwireland

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Then, cyclist who succeed will recive a shirt "FINISHER".

Class enuff said

rottenhat

Lumen wrote: »

Sure, 20 is not a huge number. Or is it?

You have twenty fingers and toes. Imagine one of them being crushed in a vice. Then imagine that same fate for the other nineteen. Now twenty isn't so small, right? You'd rather just do the one, or none at all.

An interesting analogy, and one that suggests that perhaps you find the Wicklow Gap more challenging than I do.

Lumen

rottenhat wrote: »

An interesting analogy, and one that suggests that perhaps you find the Wicklow Gap more challenging than I do.

Excellent, that's the spirit. I look forward to your report from attempting the Tour du Mont Blanc.

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

Excellent, that's the spirit. I look forward to your report from attempting the Tour du Mont Blanc.

Only if you win it. We want results around here.

serendip

Lumen wrote: »

In one day? That's nuts that is.

Yup, in one day ... on foot:

http://www.ultratrailmb.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-Trail_du_Mont-Blanc

Winning times are usually less than 24 hours. In 2007, the route was 163 km long for a total elevation gain [and loss] of 8900m (Wikipedia).

I know the area well. Parts of it would be excellent on a bike (good paths, super views), but other parts would be awful (just carrying a bike up hill for hundreds of meters, and then sometimes even downhill again on the other side -- I'm thinking of the Val d'Arpette). [Edit: Ahh, I see now, It's a different route; oops.]

rottenhat

Lumen wrote: »

Excellent, that's the spirit. I look forward to your report from attempting the Tour du Mont Blanc.

Well, don't hold your breath - I have another French ride to attend to first.

The closest comparison I can come up with from personal experience is that it would be like doing a 300 with three ascents of the Ventoux and some miscellaneous foothills over the course of the day. I think that if I trained specifically for the event, I could probably manage it. I'd give somewhat lower odds on managing it within 17 hours. But therein lies the challenge.

lyders

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I don't know what to fear more...the massive climbs or the ridiculous declines.

jwshooter

i will give caroline.ie 50e to a charity of her choice, if she does it next year or the year after.

where the hell would you train for it.

Caroline_ie

jwshooter wrote: »

i will give caroline.ie 50e to a charity of her choice, if she does it next year or the year after.

where the hell would you train for it.

LOL do you think I will do that for 50 euro? hahaha!

jwshooter

Caroline_ie wrote: »

LOL do you think I will do that for 50 euro? hahaha!

we have established your mad to think about doing it , we just have to find out how mad now.

chakattack

I've just found my goal for next year...thanks

Caroline_ie

jwshooter wrote: »

we have established your mad to think about doing it , we just have to find out how mad now.

ah now ... I was being a bit sarcastic when I said 'maybe next year' - I am not a climber. I am doing the Grand trophee this year however I am only doing half the Matmotte ...

cdaly_

Downhill half I presume?

aidandoyle

I agree with RAAM, it must be done.:eek: