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Haute Route Alps 2013

  • 15-08-2013 4:30pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭


    Any Boardies doing the Haute Route starting this Sunday?

    http://www.hauteroutealps.org/

    I'll be in Team Pente 14 gear making no contribution to the team classification as it's only the top 3 & I know my place & pace.

    I haven't weighed this little for over 20 years since living in Pakistan but that was then largely down to occasional bouts of dysentery. Not good for your power in the power to weight ratio game.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,763 ✭✭✭✭Inquitus


    uphillonly wrote: »
    Any Boardies doing the Haute Route starting this Sunday?

    http://www.hauteroutealps.org/

    I'll be in Team Pente 14 gear making no contribution to the team classification as it's only the top 3 & I know my place & pace.

    I haven't weighed this little for over 20 years since living in Pakistan but that was then largely down to occasional bouts of dysentery. Not good for your power in the power to weight ratio game.

    This looks great, on top of the 1500 yoyos entry how much is accomodation etc etc costing? i.e. whats the total cost of giving it a lash.

    And best of luck, defo a worthy undertaking.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    2 Star accommodation package was 680 euros I think. Only other cost on top are your evening meals. They do provide a hot meal straight after the stage apparently but we'll need to keep feeding. I've heard it's very well organized & really looking forward to it, although very daunted by the daily load. There are 30 masseurs on hand at the end of each stage too.

    It's my 40th birthday present. I'd love to make it my 41st, 42nd etc too but I think my better half would rightly veto that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 469 ✭✭boege


    uphillonly wrote: »
    Any Boardies doing the Haute Route starting this Sunday?

    http://www.hauteroutealps.org/

    I'll be in Team Pente 14 gear making no contribution to the team classification as it's only the top 3 & I know my place & pace.

    I haven't weighed this little for over 20 years since living in Pakistan but that was then largely down to occasional bouts of dysentery. Not good for your power in the power to weight ratio game.

    You jammy so and so, am green with envy.

    Looked at the route and even stage 1 is a shocker. Have done both climbs on this stage and Joux Plane is a serious mother! Have also done competitive spotives in France and was shocked at the pace (expect A1/A2 racing pace at the front) - best of luck and would love to hear daily report on this thread...if you have the enrgy:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    Boege,

    I'll try to post something during the race. We have some elite riders in our team including a rainbow jersey winner whom I see won't much of during each stage. We will all hurt just as much, some for longer than others.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    Stage 1 - Geneva to Megeve. 153km - 3,144m climbed. 6hrs 55m (with neutral zone).

    500 riders set off at 7am with a beautiful sunrise over Lake Geneva. We were kitted up in our distinctive Team Pente 14 kit. The first 20km of the race was neutralised up to the French border allowing everyone to relax a little.

    As day one of seven, my objective was to finish the day with something left in the tank feeling I could have gone faster. I had to ride on old fashioned intuition as my Garmin bike computer had a communications breakdown leaving me with no heart rate, power or cadence data. It was frustrating but also refreshing to go old school. With everyones names & countries on the backs there was good banter on the easier sections. Just the sound of chains spinning & heavy breathing on the climbs. I worked with two British lads along a valley section. Looked round and we had the invitable dozen wheel suckers behind. Got to the start of next climb, off they went up the hill. A thank you?.....

    A beautiful route with regular views of Mt Blanc. We passed our first ski lift after 50kms. Witnessed my first crash just 1km into the first descent. An unfortunate fella with blood all over his face. It was another reminder to me that I have wife & 2 kids at home, not to take risks. That descent would have done Wicklow Country Council proud with its undulating tarmac occasionally getting me airborne. The next descent after the gorgeous climb of Joux Plan was more typical of the French Alps, silky smooth allowing you to carve your way down the mountain. Descending isn't my forte but it was grin-inducing cruising down this at 60+ kmh. The final climb up to Megeve ski resort sapped everyone as the temperature had risen to 32 C (90 F) combined with occasional 14% gradients. Crossing the finish line straight off to book a massage whilst drinking the essential chocolate recovery drink. We have 30 masseurs traveling with us & boy are we grateful.

    I'm a tortoise on long rides, generally riding steady and stronger as the race goes on. The organisers have clever Facebook integration with the timing chips updating placing & time in realtime through the race. Out of 504 riders I was 420th after 50km, 367th after first climb, 320th after 2nd climb Joux Plan & 294th at the finish. My old school pacing worked out and at 40 my steady method seems intact.

    We just found out we have Greg Lemond (3 time winner of the Tour de France) joining us for the last three days of the race.

    Stage 2 tomorrow -shorter but more climbing & higher. Weather forecast is cooler which will be a relief.

    I'll try to put up some pics in next few days.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    Stage 2 - Megeve to Val d'Isere. 111km - 3,114m climbed. 5hrs 33m (4hrs 51m for recorded section).

    We were blessed with the forecast cooler weather this morning, just arm-warmers needed. A Frenchman in the hotel said it was going to be very cold today. Hmmmm, only if you live in the South of France and are used to 30c. We all thought it was lovely day.

    The big climbs are like the sorting hat in Harry Potter. You very soon get into your climbing group ability and come across the same people so build up a real camaraderie in the peleton of shared suffering.

    The highlight of the day for everyone was the climb up Col du Cormet de Roselend. Incredible scenery. I love my cycling in Ireland but this really is another level in beauty. The other highlight of Roselend is the descent - long good roads staying over 60 kmh for most of it until we got into the narrow forest areas. Safety & security are fundamental in these events but unfortunately we will come across accidents. I was flagged to slow down, went round a hairpin, looked back up and saw a cyclist in the middle of trees. I couldn't work out how he got there but apparently after treatment he was back on the bike & finished. Chapeau.

    Pros descending Roselend at over 100kmh in Tour de France. Look for the casual push at 100kmh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tFpNsZXWgc&list=FL5EeYGX2TE4rilaJixKt54Q

    With my Garmin working again I was able to ride to the power I know I can sustain so rode faster up the hills. I was 224th today compared to 294th yesterday. Overall in the General Classification I've risen from 294th to 257th, so nearly in the top 50%.

    I mentioned to my masseur that Greg Lemond was coming.

    Masseur: "Who?".
    Me: "He won the Tour de France 3 times."
    Masseur: "When?"
    Me: "I think last one was 1992".
    Masseur: "I am 22, I was only 1 years old".

    I felt old. :(

    Tomorrow we rise at 5am for breakfast as it's a long day - 164km with the usual 3,400m of climbing. Pop into Italy for about 60km to tackle one of their cols before returning to France over Col d'Izoard.

    Everyone's a little worried as day three is supposed to be when all the climbing catches up on the legs & it's a big day. My legs are okay, knees are starting to feel the efforts. We climb straight from the start up Col d'Iseran (2,770m), I think Europe's second highest road. It's forecast to be 3C at the top but we'll be back in the mid 20s C later in the day.

    Ride: http://app.strava.com/activities/75893113


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 469 ✭✭boege


    Uphillonly,
    Great report and really well done.

    Have to agree with you on the scenary, its in a different league. Did the Galibier in July and had to stop to just take in the scenary (and my breath:)).

    Keep the reports coming.

    Is Greg Lemond riding the climbs....?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    Stage 3 - Val d'Isere to Serre Chevalier (one ski resort to another via some other ski resorts)

    161km, 3,268 metres climbed, 7hrs 0m.

    I had the usual weird dreams you get sleeping at altitude, in this one instead of Tiger Woods wearing his red top for the final round he'd gone out bare chested. Don't know where that came from, maybe spending too long in the massage tent.

    Anyway, today was a long but great days' riding.

    It was 5C as we lined up in Val d'Isere (1,840m) at 7am, climbing straight from the start up to Col de L'Iseran at 2,770m meant it was only going to get colder. My Garmin showed it drop to minus 1C which wasn't a problem whilst climbing as the effort keeps you warm & there's no wind chill at my climbing speed. The descent is another matter. It started cold but dropped further as we descended into the cloud layer. I couldn't take advantage of the descent as my bike was unstable from my shaking arms & my hands were numb. Instability & poor brake response, not a good combination. Toes were frozen too but once everything thawed out after about 10kms of descending I could finally pick up speed again as there was plenty more left.

    After more spectacular scenery past a ridiculously blue lake on the climb up the next pass, Col du Mont Cenis (2,048m) we descended into Italy. To everyone's pleasant surprise it looks like Berlusconi didn't spend the entire government budget on his bunga bunga parties as the roads were fantastic. We descended from 2,000m to 500m in what felt like minutes. Plenty of Carabineiri (Italian police) to keep the traffic out of our way. We've had this kind of support right from the start allowing us to fly through junctions & towns. The logistics & efforts around keeping a 500 strong peleton on the move are impressive.

    In contrast to the first climb of the day, the temperature had risen to 30C by the final climb as we crossed back into France. A 31C swing in one day.

    In summary, a fantastic variety of scenery, 60kms of great Italian roads, lovely descents & I've still not cramped. I think the no cramping is helped by riding to a power metre & holding in a sustainable range so I don't build up lactic acid. Another excellent massage followed by a few of us wading into an alluring glacial river. The ice bath recovery! Painfully cold but felt great afterwards. Definitely doing that again.

    With a total riding time of 17hours & 46 minutes I'm now in 262nd position out of 500 on the General Classification.

    A little shorter tomorrow (119km) but similar climbs. My body's holding up OK and all the recovery strategies seem to be effective which is so crucial in this event.

    Ride: http://app.strava.com/activities/76210748


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    boege wrote: »

    Is Greg Lemond riding the climbs....?

    Apparently so. I'm sure he's still got a great engine although a little heavier.

    I don't know what Lemond will think of the chap leading the event being a two-time caught doper now banned from riding professional events in France. The peleton is not impressed & the applause at the opening briefing when he was presented as last year's winner was noticeably sparse.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 661 ✭✭✭andy69


    this is great - thanks for posting, and keep it coming!! I'm living every km of it!!
    would love to try this next year but you'd want to be sure of getting another winter like last one to make sure ye could get the training in. Might be a good excuse to move to somewhere nice like Portugal...wonder if I could convince my boss....hmmmm.....

    anyways, well done so far - keep 'er lit!!! :cool:


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    Stage 4 - Serre Chevalier to Pra Loup

    114km, 2,766 metres climbed, 5hrs 0m.

    Another cold start, 5C as we started the 21km climb up Col de L'Izoard (2,360m). It's famous for La Casse Deserte which unfortunately I barely noticed as we'd started our descent & once you are doing 60+kmh it's eyes on the road only. I felt like I was being passed by everyone although I was doing my normal 230w climb but I'd started close to the front so I was being sieved by the sorting hat of a long climb back to my natural mid 250 position.

    Then a 30km descent which is one of disadvantages of being light. Newton's equal gravity speed only works in a vacuum. I was passed by 6 larger riders & jumped on my pedals hitting 500watts. Worth the effort as a minute later I was safely tucked in their slipstream and did the next 15km at 50kmh+ doing very little work (about 100w). I didn't feel too bad about the wheel-sucking as none of the 3 in front put in any turns at the front either.

    It was hot by the time we started the next ascent up to Col du Vars (2,109m). 20km of hard climbing but rewarded by alpine perfection at the top. Grassy areas bisected by streams pleading to be picnic'd surrounded by pine trees.

    Another long descent this time my directeur sportif gave me some sneaky help. I tailed his BMW about 2 metres behind to draft for a few kms into a headwind on the final descent. The pros do it all the time behind their team cars.....

    By the time we started the final ascent it had warmed to 34C. Just 7km up to picturesque ski resort of Pra Loup (1,598m) but it felt tough with the heat & 4 days riding in the legs. One of our team was suffering a bit and ending on a drip taking in 2 litres of saline.

    A great massage in the sun to get me ready for tomorrow's time trial up the highest road in Europe. We have the luxury of staying two nights in the same hotel & what a beautiful place to be.

    I was 244th today so climbed up to 254th in the General Classication. Total cycling time of 22hrs 46m.


    Our regular day on the road

    Prepare porridge night before. Soaking the oats in apple juice which soften them overnight.
    Up at 5am or 6am depending on whether it's 7am or 8am start.
    Eat porridge, beetroot shot, breakfast, coffee, ham & cheese, bread, cereal, more coffee.
    Apply lots of chamois creme.
    Leave bag in hotel - will be delivered to next nights hotel
    Take small backpack with our race number to start. Leave in truck & it will be there at the finish line. This contains towel for massage, recovery shake & clothes change.
    Pump tyres, check for embeded glass/stones. Load up bike with bars & gels. Lots of suncream.

    Race

    Finish race - recovery drink, book massage. Post race pasta. Get massage. To hotel, bag is waiting. Shower, wash kit. Go to briefing for next day's stage. Back for dinner. Write days summary.

    zzzzzzzz

    Ride: http://app.strava.com/activities/76415011


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,718 ✭✭✭AstraMonti


    Brilliant stuff uphillonly, you re making us all very jealous! :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,236 ✭✭✭Idleater


    AstraMonti wrote: »
    Brilliant stuff uphillonly, you re making us all very jealous! :)

    Agreed! Fair play to you and everyone else. I know another person doing it and like the Facebook automatic updates at various points enroute.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    Idleater wrote: »
    Agreed! Fair play to you and everyone else. I know another person doing it and like the Facebook automatic updates at various points enroute.

    Thanks. Just finished stage 6. So tired. 34c at bottom of final climb but cooled to 30c by the top. Full report of it and stage 5 TT later.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    Stage 5 - Time Trial to Cime de la Bonette

    23km, 1,518 metres climbed, 1hr 46 mins

    Just 23km but all of it uphill, climbing 1,500m to the highest road in Europe at 2,770m. We were set off at 20 second intervals with the slowest first. So it took a few hours for everyone to start. The key to a timetrial is to set a pace you can only just sustain for the distance. It's a delicate balance when it's going to take over 1 1/2 hours and over-exerting can cost you dearly. My plan was to ride at a higher wattage 250w + than other days as it was just a one off climb rather than the full day. I had playlist made up on the iPhone. Hit shuffle. First song Bonkers (Dizzy Rascal) then The Fear (Lilly Allen) , Idoitique (Radiohead). I think my iPhone was trying to tell me something.

    Then a feeling all cyclists hate - the bike started to feel soggy. Merde! B*llocks! Puncture just 3km into the TT. My first puncture in 14 months. First chance to use gas cartridge instead of a pump, a couple of bystanders tried to be helpful but put my punctured tube straight back into the wheel. 5 1/2 mins later I was moving again in anger. Breathe out, calm down, I still had about 1,300m to climb.

    I came in at 257th position but would have been 185th without the puncture (1hr 41m). Then again if my aunt had balls she would be my uncle. All part of bike racing, I was just unlucky.

    I can't tell you much about the scenery on the way up as I was buried in pain focusing on keeping a good cadence and my power up. My heart rate averaged 165bpm for the 1hr 46mins. Our reward after gasping over the line at nearly 2,800m was breathtaking views in all directions and after enough picture taking, a slow descent with more pictures on route. We've raced up & down every pass so it was pleasure to finally take some time to look around and enjoy a leisurely descent.

    General Classification position slipped to 262nd. Total cycling time of 24hrs 33min.

    Ride: http://app.strava.com/activities/76681170

    i've not had any luck embedding pics but you can see some here:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/dancoulcher/sets/72157635098253298/

    I'm not just doing this to solve mid-life crisis issues but also to raise money for Medecins Sans Frontieres Ireland.

    http://www.justgiving.com/DanCoulcher-HauteRoute


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 4,034 Mod ✭✭✭✭Planet X


    Nice photos.
    Ah, the Magical Sub 11st.! :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    Stage 6 - Pra Loup to Auron

    136km, 3,269 metres climbed, 6hrs 6 mins.

    At the evening briefing there was a minute's silence for a rider who died on the final stage last year, going over the edge on a descent. We all know the dangers are very real. The organisers neutralised the two most dangerous descents today, stopping the timing for them. Descending those sections everyone agreed it was the right decision. 500+ cyclists racing down narrow roads with huge drop-offs, blind corners & oncoming traffic. The pros have closed roads, we don't. There were still accidents including one rider colliding with a wild boar.

    The non-timed sections changed the atmosphere as we were finally able to slow down, enjoy the scenery & stop for pictures. All the other pictures I've taken were whilst I'm cycling.

    After another chilly 5C start descending from latest pretty ski resort host, Pra Loup, we climbed through Gorges du Bachelard cresting the Col de Cayolle (2,326m). The first non-timed descent went through the Mercantour National Park dropping to 800m. I'd never heard of this park, France is just blessed with so many beautiful spots. Two more climbs Col de Valdberg (1,672m) and Col de la Couillole (1,678m) another descent to 500m. I had a nice group of 4 as we started up the final valley, an Anglo Mexican alliance, all taking turns at the front into the wind. With the power meter I can instantly see the difference in effort to maintain the same speed. It jumps from 150-200w whilst drafting to 300w at the front.

    The Mexican team jerseys had a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It looked cool but had another purpose. They told me that truck drivers in Mexico feel less inclined to run cyclists over when they see their favourite religious symbol on their backs. When I mentioned it to our American team member, inspirational 56 year old Californian, Bear, he said the US flag has a similar effect back home. We have no such problem in France where we are cheered through every village - allez, chapeau, courage. Drivers pass us shouting encouragement rather than abuse. A great cycling country.

    It was 34C on final climb up to Auron (1,600m) but had cooled to 30C by the top. Most of us seem to be suffering in the same pattern and the accumulation of days & climbs really hit today. We still couldn't get a satisfactory answer from our Irish team mate, JK, as to why he chose to do this event again. It really hurts. Any time we had a period of relative rest, like descending, the legs were sluggish to restart. I was a bit off form in the mid section of the stage & despite a good hammering up the final climb didn't make up enough time & dropped a few places down to 258th on General Classification.

    This was our final night at a ski resort. Wonderful places in summer to rest. Great views, warm in the day but cool at night for sleeping.

    Total riding time: 29hours 30 minutes.

    Ride: http://app.strava.com/activities/76942125


    What I eat on the road:

    Lots of sugar related products.
    Gels are absorbed quickest so are the best to have on climbs or towards the end of stage when you are upping the speed. Carry caffeine gels too.
    Sports cereal bars.
    Bananas.
    Small ham & cheese sandwiches to give the stomach a break from all the sugar.
    Everyone has their own favourites - jelly beans, malt loaf, dried fruit amongst others.

    The key to eating whilst cycling is that it provides energy but doesn't divert too much blood to the stomach to process it as that would take it away from your muscles during exercise. This is why we shove lots of food in our mouths at the top of descents in a manner that would horrify our mums. We work less on the descent so it's ok to let the stomach divert some of the blood supply away from the leg muscles for a while.

    Drinks - electrolyte & glucose powder mixes in our drinks. Coke is also great during & after the stage & very popular amongst cyclists. Helps rehydrate & caffeine is a great boost. Water - need to give the stomach a rest & also on hot stages I pour it over my head and on my neck. Most of the body's blood passes through your neck so if you can cool it there it will help cool your whole body.

    Post stage - chocolate milk. Fortunately scientists have proven you can't really beat this as a recovery drink, high in protein & low in fat for growth & maintenance of your muscle. It has to be drunk within 15 minutes of finishing exercise as that's when your body is still in an anabolic state, the muscles require protein to aid recovery & replenish your glycogen stores. Chocolate milk is an easy & quick way to provide this.

    Brush teeth. I have toothpaste & toothbrush in my post-stage bag as all that sugar is a dentists delight.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 369 ✭✭kingoffifa


    fair play. well done. would love to think i could be able to do something like that.

    Threw a fiver in the pot for your charity.

    Come on lads - crack open the wallets!! best thread i have seen in months!!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,213 ✭✭✭MajesticDonkey


    Awesome story and great advice above. Thanks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 722 ✭✭✭flatface


    fantastic report so far, keep it coming! Can you give some background into the training and prep that went into this too? Anything similar done before? I am finding it hard to imagine 3000 odd kms of ascending per day :-0


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,116 ✭✭✭bazermc


    uphillonly, is that your bike in the photos the Specialized Roubaix, did you change any of the gearing for this trip or did you leave the compact 50/34 & 11-28 on the back.

    Looks like a great trip


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    flatface wrote: »
    fantastic report so far, keep it coming! Can you give some background into the training and prep that went into this too? Anything similar done before? I am finding it hard to imagine 3000 odd kms of ascending per day :-0

    Flatface, good question as I hadn't done anything like this before so was searching around the web for training advice for multiple stage events.

    They always say effective training is about specificity. So I needed to train my body for repeat climbs on repeat days.

    I did 5,000km riding this year & 60,000 metres of climbing. I wasn't focused on distance in training but getting in the climbing metres. Lots of repeat climbs up Sally Gap, Slieve Man, Shay Elliot, Three Rock, Stocking Lane etc. I took advantage of a family holiday to Kerry to do 5 x Conor Pass a couple of times. We are lucky to have some good comparably long climbs around. The downside was that I had to do a lot of riding alone as club & social rides couldn't offer me the right kind of training. I did a few sportives, choosing the hardest ones available - Evil 200 & Mick Byrne 200. Doing some back to back would have been ideal but family commitments didn't allow it.

    Strava was good for measuring progress as I could compare my average power up climbs through the year (real power from a power meter not Strava's estimated power which is for entertainment purposes only). Average HR could also be useful but is not quite as accurate as a lower/higher HR could be due to a tailwind/headwind rather than a measure of how much easier I found a climb.

    Turbo training is arguably as effective if you can overcome the boredom. You can't freewheel on a turbo so doing a continuous 90 min effort simulates a climb quite well especially if you raise the front wheel (not Peter Sagan style). I did 25 turbo sessions on top of the outdoor riding. Most of them were Level 2/Sweetspot/85% of my Functional Threshold Power. This is about 80% of max HR and most people's comfortable sustainable climbing heart rate. I have a power metre so I use watts but the 80% max HR is roughly comparable. I also did some all out shorter sessions either up hills say 4 x 5mins max or on a turbo. This takes a lot out of you but is supposed to increase your power. I did a session up Ticknock just 3 days before Stage 1 where my HR went to 199 (my max is 201). This was to blow the cobwebs away. Part of the taper strategy nearing the race. Reduce duration but keep intensity. No training at that stage would be de-training.

    As well as climbing you need to practice descending, we had multiple huge descents every day taking over 20-30 minutes each. The better your technique the faster & safer this is and less tiring. If you are in Dublin, the descent from Featherbeds down Stocking Lane is good as you have good surface for long periods & if the conditions are right you'll get some good crosswind practice/fright too on Featherbeds. Good advice here: http://www.flammerouge.je/factsheets/descend.htm

    On top of this I did some long blocks of continuous training days (around 10 days) followed by a recovery week. Some days would be a long ride others a turbo but I made sure I was stressing my body every day, teaching it to cope & recover. The recovery I used during the race of stretching, rest, chocolate milk, occasional massage - I applied in training too.

    This event was so special and I don't think I'll be able/allowed to do it again until maybe I'm 50 so I wanted to be in the best condition for it.

    I was very disciplined on eating & lost a lot of weight dropping from 75kg to 68kg (I'm 1.84cm). No special diet, just eating good home cooked food, avoid processed food, fast food, deserts & beers (still had occasional wine for sanity). Lots of fruit around to snack on when hungry. Despite the millions of books sold, losing weight is very basic: energy consumed should be less than energy burned. I wasn't too worried about losing too much weight through winter as it's unhealthy to have too low a fat level in the cold but once we were blessed with this great summer it was easy to drop weight.

    I didn't cramp or even get a twinge of cramp in 7 days. I normally do on sportives although I can keep riding, just shift my position a little and hit my legs in Jens Voigt fashion. I think this was due riding in a consistent power zone which didn't allow lactate to accumulate. I've always heard of the pros being careful on stage races for exactly this reason. Maybe I could have gone harder but it allowed me to have a very strong last day.

    I'll post Stage 7 report tonight.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    Sorry for the delay in getting the final stage report out. I left the bubble of our race world & came back to real life of family & work so priorities changed.

    Stage7 Auron to Nice

    135km 1,015m climbed. 5hrs

    The final day's ride was a little like the last stage of the Tour de France with many of the kilometres being ceremonial rather than raced but just like the Tour, when the racing did happen it was hard & fast. We clipped 60km down the valley leaving our last ski resort of Auron. The motorcycle escort clearing a path before us as we dropped from 1,600m to 200m. It felt like the easiest 60km I've done in my life. We turned right & hit the start of our 43km timed section which was mainly climbing. With such a short timed section and it being the last chance to make up places, 500 cyclists put the hammer down and powered up the hill. It was hard & great fun. My climbing legs returned and when I powered up the final ramp to cross the line I thought I'd posted a goodtime. The power data later showed it was my highest average power for 90 minutes all year - 243w.

    All worth it as the final results showed I'd broken into the top 200 for the stage, finishing 198th and making up a few places on the General Classification to finish the whole race in the top half of the field at 248th out of 504. Proving to my wife I'm not past it at 40.

    The official timed race over, we now had the pleasure of descending down into a town on the outskirts of Nice. Here we waited for the entire 500 riders to gather before leaving to cause traffic chaos in Nice as we cruised along Promenade des Anglais beside the beach into the centre of Nice. My parents have passed on many things to me for which I'm grateful, however my father's gout isn't one of them so I had to look on enviously at the lads celebrated knocking back cool beers (beer & dehydration is a real gout trigger for me). Mojitos and gin & tonics weren't a bad substitute. Lots of celebrating, no sleep,still there's time for that when I get home & have to look after the kids again & go to work.... oh......

    Total ride time: 31 hours 2 minutes & 22 seconds (actually well over 40 hours with all the non-timed sections). A long week.

    Ride: http://app.strava.com/activities/77123394


    My 4 year old son put me straight in my place on arriving home.

    Son:"Did you win the race?"
    "No but I came in the top half".
    Son:"Then why do you have a medal?"
    "Everyone who finished got a medal".
    Son: "That's like a kids race".

    This event has been so hard and our bodies are still tired days later. The professionals may ride for 21 days in Le Tour de France but we've just completed 7 consecutive mountain stages, something even the sadistic TdF organisers never arrange. To do this all 500 riders shared one quality, determination. It hurt again & again but everyone kept riding in good spirits day after day. The positivity of the peloton was so uplifting. Now a few days later everyone I've spoken to & emailed would love to do it all again next year. The riding standard was unsurprisingly high, good descending skills and everyone working together on flat sections with very little wheel-sucking. I think because we were seeing each other every day, everyone was more conscious of behaving like a decent human being.

    I'm happy to give advice to any boardies who want to attempt it next year. I can't recommend it enough. It really was an experience of a lifetime, I've always wanted to do a multi-stage event and it gives a good insight into the pros experience. We didn't have closed roads but with all the marshaling we never needed to stop for traffic or lights anywhere so it felt like 7 days of closed roads except for choosing your lines on the descents.

    They are running an Haute Route Alps & Pyrenees and also looking to do a Dolomites version in 2014. The logistics were enormous for the organisers but it all ran so smoothly. We were shepherded and sign posted around each stage end as the Haute Route took over each ski resort.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,309 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    Well done on completing the event (And I thought the Marmotte was hard! :) )Really enjoyed your report! well done again!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 661 ✭✭✭andy69


    Well done! That is some achievement! Really enjoyed the reports, looked forward to them each day ;-)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    I've added more photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dancoulcher/sets/72157635098253298/

    I was pleased with these ones I took on Col d'Iseran climb as we went above the clouds.
    9561772743_e1b618fa91_z.jpg
    Climbing Col d'Iseran - 2,800m

    9561773747_e42a0146e7_z.jpg
    Atop Col d'Iseran 2,800m - first climb of Stage 3


    The official photographers en route somehow made me look like a proper cyclist:

    9606629884_b019f918f8_z.jpg
    Stage 4 - Col d'Izoard

    9606630546_ed23de65d6_z.jpg
    Stage 5 - it hurt

    9603393775_32825d0cc3_z.jpg
    Stage 2 - Colmet du Roseland

    9606631254_72d5251cd6_z.jpg
    Stage 5 - Cime de la Bonette


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,172 ✭✭✭wanderer 22


    Congratulations on finishing, sounds like an amazing expereince. Had you done much racing before this and at what level?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    colm18 wrote: »
    Congratulations on finishing, sounds like an amazing expereince. Had you done much racing before this and at what level?

    No, just lots of sportifs (Marmottes, Etapes, Wicklow 200 etc), time trials and Hill Climbs. My kids were still at carrying age when I got into road biking and so many people I knew who raced seemed to dislocate shoulders. I didn't think that would go down very well with my better half.

    Now they can cycle to school I definitely want to have a go at club races but I'll need to pick the hillier courses so as not to be spat out the back too early.

    I think anyone who does long sportifs at a steady pace can do the Haute Route. You definitely need a good base though as you can blag a one day event but not a multi-day. People who race dig much deeper than riding a sportif so shouldn't have a problem just need to work on the length as most amateur racing seems a lot shorter.


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,172 ✭✭✭wanderer 22


    Thanks for that , I've a significant birthday coming up next year -10 years less significant than yours ;-) - so this could be a nice present for myself. Haven't done any racing so I would have assumed this was beyond me, cheers!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    bazermc wrote: »
    uphillonly, is that your bike in the photos the Specialized Roubaix, did you change any of the gearing for this trip or did you leave the compact 50/34 & 11-28 on the back.

    Looks like a great trip

    Cough, cough, ummm, it's a triple....:o (hides head in shame) with, I think, a 12-27 on the back. I've always ridden with a triple as I used to have them on my mountain bikes before I crossed to road.

    It's a Specialized Roubert Expert 2009. Very happy with it although I've since changed wheels and have a Dura Ace C24 on front and Mavic Open Pro on rear to accommodate Powertap.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 369 ✭✭kingoffifa


    uphillonly wrote: »
    Cough, cough, ummm, it's a triple....

    triple for the win!!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,872 ✭✭✭✭Leroy42


    Uphillonly,

    What a great write up, really enjoyed reading about it and it's great to be able to see this event thought he eyes of someone local (so able to compare to W200 etc).

    I had seen this before and having done a number for Marmottes am looking for something different for next year. Am hoping I can get some friends to sign up as well.

    The costs do seem very high though. From what I ca gather from their website, it seems like 1700 to enter and another 700 for accomadation. On top of that I assume is flights and all the costs that go with that.

    Seems like a big expenses and tough to orgainise. Obviulsy you'll say it's worth it, but am I missing something! €200+ per day entry fee?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 556 ✭✭✭Jim Stynes


    This looks class! I would love to do the Dolomites one next year! I would need to start training now and lose 10kgs! Im around 90kgs at the minute and 6ft tall. Not much fun dragging that weight around with me!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 103 ✭✭paudie2005


    uphillonly wrote: »
    Cough, cough, ummm, it's a triple....:o (hides head in shame) with, I think, a 12-27 on the back. I've always ridden with a triple as I used to have them on my mountain bikes before I crossed to road.

    It's a Specialized Roubert Expert 2009. Very happy with it although I've since changed wheels and have a Dura Ace C24 on front and Mavic Open Pro on rear to accommodate Powertap.

    Hi, just wondering having completed it is there any nuggets of wisdom you'd pass on / or anything you'd do different? I'm looking to complete the Pyrenees route in 2016 and any advise appreciated. You mention about the difference in temperature at the summits compared with the valleys, how do you even dress for that or stay comfortable? Are the feed stations neutralised or taken as part of the overall time?

    thanks
    P


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    paudie2005 wrote: »
    Hi, just wondering having completed it is there any nuggets of wisdom you'd pass on / or anything you'd do different? I'm looking to complete the Pyrenees route in 2016 and any advise appreciated. You mention about the difference in temperature at the summits compared with the valleys, how do you even dress for that or stay comfortable? Are the feed stations neutralised or taken as part of the overall time?

    thanks
    P

    Bringing back painful memories now paudie.:eek:

    From a friend who did it this year, team support was a massive plus for us that he didn't have. It meant we could pick up & dump clothing as needed. We had a hot, largely dry week so only had to deal with the cold on high early climbs & then dump gear at the bottom of the descent with support car. Without that there is no avoiding the need to carry waterproof/windproof top & arm warmers depending on the altitude & forecast.

    We all had team jerseys which he didn't & regrets. If you are going with a team get special jerseys made up for the event. It's great for banter on the road as you're recognised as a team. We had 3 jerseys each which was enough with washing for the 7 days.

    Apparently feedstops this year were very poor. We had small brie/ham baguettes ready to pick-up en route from support car. Without support I would have carried these in small ziplock bags. Just need something savoury to break up the sugar. I always did it on the Marmotte too. Trying to be self-sufficient. Really recommend a top-tube bag to carry extra food. It's psychologically reassuring to have a good supply of bars & gels with you and I think more benefit than the few grams of weight on a climb. Feed stations are not neutralised. There's a neutral zone at the start, which could be for 5-15km then the flag goes down just like T de F to make you feel pro. They neutralised a few descents for correct safety reasons (roads are not closed). This was very clear in previous night's briefing and on the race day.

    If you look back earlier in this thread I answer some questions on my training & approach. Within the confines of wanting to see my family & keep my job I was happy with the training. Perhaps I could have done a few more turbo sessions which are boring but effective & efficient use of time.

    Interestingly I did Raid Pyrenean (730km & 11,000m in 5 days) last week without the same Haute Route training. Despite doing no rides over 90km since May I coped ok but wasn't going at same intensity of Haute Route as it wasn't a race. However I have been racing this year so the shorter intense efforts seem to have also been good preparation by making my system stronger & more efficient.

    We had cool, wet weather in Pyrenees last week and I had my knee warmers as well as gore-tex on for every descent & long gloves for most. Again, we were supported which made it a no brainer. Cosy on descent, light on climbs.

    Modern 11-speeds with compacts have probably made a triple pointless. A compact's 34-32 is lower gearing than my triple's 30-27. 30-27 was fine to keep a steady pace on climbs. I rode on power rather than HR, which worked well. I finished respectably for my ability & no hint of cramps all week. Pros are regularly riding on compacts with 32 at the back in the Alps/Pyrenees/Dolomites in GTs so I'm not sure why amateurs are obsessed with HTFU & grinding up hills.

    It's a great event but don't underestimate how mentally tough it can be. The entry form is very negative with paragraphs & paragraphs trying to put you off entering. They make it very clear how hard it is & rightly say the more training, the more you'll enjoy it. Our local climate prepares us for the bad weather. I was lucky two years ago that we had an excellent summer so my body was more acclimatised to the hot weather as well. Without that, it would be worth, if you can, going out a few days early to let your body acclimatise to the heat.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 103 ✭✭paudie2005


    uphillonly wrote: »
    Bringing back painful memories now paudie.:eek:

    From a friend who did it this year, team support was a massive plus for us that he didn't have. It meant we could pick up & dump clothing as needed. We had a hot, largely dry week so only had to deal with the cold on high early climbs & then dump gear at the bottom of the descent with support car. Without that there is no avoiding the need to carry waterproof/windproof top & arm warmers depending on the altitude & forecast.

    We all had team jerseys which he didn't & regrets. If you are going with a team get special jerseys made up for the event. It's great for banter on the road as you're recognised as a team. We had 3 jerseys each which was enough with washing for the 7 days.

    Apparently feedstops this year were very poor. We had small brie/ham baguettes ready to pick-up en route from support car. Without support I would have carried these in small ziplock bags. Just need something savoury to break up the sugar. I always did it on the Marmotte too. Trying to be self-sufficient. Really recommend a top-tube bag to carry extra food. It's psychologically reassuring to have a good supply of bars & gels with you and I think more benefit than the few grams of weight on a climb. Feed stations are not neutralised. There's a neutral zone at the start, which could be for 5-15km then the flag goes down just like T de F to make you feel pro. They neutralised a few descents for correct safety reasons (roads are not closed). This was very clear in previous night's briefing and on the race day.

    If you look back earlier in this thread I answer some questions on my training & approach. Within the confines of wanting to see my family & keep my job I was happy with the training. Perhaps I could have done a few more turbo sessions which are boring but effective & efficient use of time.

    Interestingly I did Raid Pyrenean (730km & 11,000m in 5 days) last week without the same Haute Route training. Despite doing no rides over 90km since May I coped ok but wasn't going at same intensity of Haute Route as it wasn't a race. However I have been racing this year so the shorter intense efforts seem to have also been good preparation by making my system stronger & more efficient.

    We had cool, wet weather in Pyrenees last week and I had my knee warmers as well as gore-tex on for every descent & long gloves for most. Again, we were supported which made it a no brainer. Cosy on descent, light on climbs.

    Modern 11-speeds with compacts have probably made a triple pointless. A compact's 34-32 is lower gearing than my triple's 30-27. 30-27 was fine to keep a steady pace on climbs. I rode on power rather than HR, which worked well. I finished respectably for my ability & no hint of cramps all week. Pros are regularly riding on compacts with 32 at the back in the Alps/Pyrenees/Dolomites in GTs so I'm not sure why amateurs are obsessed with HTFU & grinding up hills.

    It's a great event but don't underestimate how mentally tough it can be. The entry form is very negative with paragraphs & paragraphs trying to put you off entering. They make it very clear how hard it is & rightly say the more training, the more you'll enjoy it. Our local climate prepares us for the bad weather. I was lucky two years ago that we had an excellent summer so my body was more acclimatised to the hot weather as well. Without that, it would be worth, if you can, going out a few days early to let your body acclimatise to the heat.


    Thanks very much for that, probably the most informative source on the net regarding the Haute Route!...one more question for you; you mention about the support car for dropping off kit, was this something you booked through one of the tour operators? If so would you mind PM'ing me the company details please. I've been looking at the ones on the Haute Route website but they seem to go very upmarket for the accommodation which I wouldn't really be interested in but would like that additional support on the road.
    About 3 other club mates have expressed an interest in completing it so I think it's now or never!

    thanks
    P


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 556 ✭✭✭Jim Stynes


    Would love to do this next year! The wife would kill me!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,872 ✭✭✭✭Leroy42


    Something I would love to do as well, but the cost seems very high


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 556 ✭✭✭Jim Stynes


    Leroy42 wrote: »
    Something I would love to do as well, but the cost seems very high

    It's very expensive and a serious commitment. A week in the alps or somewhere with a few fellas might be just as good and less stressful although wouldnt have that big event feel about it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    Jim Stynes wrote: »
    It's very expensive and a serious commitment. A week in the alps or somewhere with a few fellas might be just as good and less stressful although wouldnt have that big event feel about it.

    True, probably more fun but HR gives you a little taste of a GC with all the intensity & pain that goes with that. It's definitely something for an amateur cyclist to experience.

    I'm in two minds if I'd do it again or prefer a slightly gentler alpine tours. They are very different kinds of rides. I did really enjoy the competition & buzz of it all but was a shame to fly by some of the best cycling scenery in the world. Last week on the Raid Pyrenean I made a of point of stopping for photos but the couple of times I put the hammer down I really enjoyed it & missed doing that more often. Can't do it all.:rolleyes:


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 289 ✭✭uphillonly


    paudie2005 wrote: »
    Thanks very much for that, probably the most informative source on the net regarding the Haute Route!...one more question for you; you mention about the support car for dropping off kit, was this something you booked through one of the tour operators? If so would you mind PM'ing me the company details please. I've been looking at the ones on the Haute Route website but they seem to go very upmarket for the accommodation which I wouldn't really be interested in but would like that additional support on the road.
    About 3 other club mates have expressed an interest in completing it so I think it's now or never!

    thanks
    P

    Cheers Paudie. We had support from a very generous guy who decided to set up a team for a few friends & random connections partly to publicise his cycling clothes business ( http://www.pente14.com/index.html). Between them they had a couple of cars on route. He charged us but definitely not enough.

    One cheaper way would be to convince a friend to drive along & stop at a couple of key points each day (top & bottom of key cols). Our support really enjoyed the scenery & seeing the event. They actually saw much more scenery than us. In the evening we were all together for great dinner banter. It all added to the great team feeling with route support.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 103 ✭✭paudie2005


    uphillonly wrote: »
    Cheers Paudie. We had support from a very generous guy who decided to set up a team for a few friends & random connections partly to publicise his cycling clothes business ( http://www.pente14.com/index.html). Between them they had a couple of cars on route. He charged us but definitely not enough.

    One cheaper way would be to convince a friend to drive along & stop at a couple of key points each day (top & bottom of key cols). Our support really enjoyed the scenery & seeing the event. They actually saw much more scenery than us. In the evening we were all together for great dinner banter. It all added to the great team feeling with route support.

    Once again Uphillonly thanks very much for the response


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