Who's ready for the Marmotte?

AdeCF

Thanks JonGinge - appreciated! Some amazing stories, glad to hear all OK that have posted to date.

MrZ

TheStone wrote:

Still buzzing. Absolutely loved that. After a bad start to the year everything fell into place. I knew when I got up it'd go well. Weather absolutely perfect.

Not as quick as you lot but my aim was to get round, thinking about 13hrs, but came in with 11:46. Non stop up the Alpe, which really surprised me.

One of my best rides ever. Can't believe I've completed the Marmotte!!!!!

http://www.sportcommunication.info/ilov ... &Submit=GO

Well done all.

Edit:
11:46:48 all in
11:11:00 without the Glandon descent.
... is there any reason they've not taken out the descent on the results xls? They seem to have for all the others I've checked? Not that it matters, but can I presume I was 5683rd rather than 6019th

Similar time and "sans Glandon" problem to me.
I took an age on the Glandon feed/descent for a variety of reasons (40 mins) and although I went over all mats and was recorded they haven't taken the Glandon off my overall time, costing me about 500 places! No big deal but I was proud just to finish so would like things recorded correctly. May drop them an email for what it's worth. Anyone else have this problem?

storck

What a trip really pleased get gold at Marmotte 8.20 as mate Brian said hardest day ever for us were just two keen cyclists who train hard do best we can . enjoyed whole event climbs were amazing .spent few days at Mont Ventoux with Veloventoux so big thanks Craig & Vicky for great time simplycant do enough and food accomodation superb,big thanks mate Brian who helped me in few times need and Glasgowbhoy forgood company in Smithys Bar on The Alpe ,,,well done all who took part and hopefully got round safe ...

twotyred

Definitely some classy times here but I'm pleased with my silver. Hardest thing I've done on a bike but fortunately the painful memories are fading as the good ones remain.

No idea why some find the Glandon descent scary- shame its neutralised. That was the most enjoyable bit for me. Nice flowing descent with a sound track of cow bells- marvellous

Tunnels were no problem, just dropped my sunnies down my nose and could see fine.

Between Valloire and Plan Lachat I had doubts I'd make it but once I was on the Galibier proper things improved and when I got over the Galibier I new I was going to do it.

sampras38

Tom Butcher wrote:

|From memory (so don't quote me on this) entries opened after new year - the French language entry entered a couple of days before english language but that may have been by accident rather than design. So long as you entered in the first 4-5 days you were OK - maybe a bit longer - it didn't sell out in a few hours sort of thing and there was plenty of notice on here about entering. Yes it's through the sportcommunication website.

First time I've done something like this and it was pretty straightforward - camped at Bourg and that was good too - they did make us book a whole week though so if you only there for a couple of days there may be better options.

Thanks,

And I'll most likely stay at King Of The Mountains about 8km up the Cole De O'rnon. I was there a last month for a week. We were on the Galibier the same day Contador got stopped for not having lights..;-)

londonlivvy

RickyG wrote:

@ londonlivvy, I ran out of SIS gels and had a Powerbar gel halfway up the Alpe. I had a very strong desire to vom it back up for the rest of the ride.

humn - rank stuff isn't it? I normally have High 5 but haven't seen it in France. Must be better organised next time I do something foolish.

On which subject, I'm thinking not the marmotte for next year, but any suggestions for a challenging mountain sportive that's got less then 5000 entrants?

airwise

Loads out there. I'd recommend the Gran Fondo Sportful if you really want a challenge.

The long course has around 1500 entrants and it's harder than the Marmotte. I've been lucky enough to do both and the organisation of the Italian event is superb. Think outside the box! Only twenty Brits did the GF Sportful this year.

As for the Marmotte well done to all. Having said that, my suggestion to the 30 something, lean London Dynamo rider on the £7K Parlee crawling in at around 13 hours would be to buy a cheaper bike and get a coach.

de_sisti

My ride was a disaster. I got to the top of the first climb in 2 hours 16 minutes (on schedule). On the descent I felt cramp in the top of my right thigh. I had taken all precautions to avoid this, like using Nuun tablets and salt crystals in each bidon. The cramp stayed at bay during the long flattish stretch to the base of the Telegraph.

However, by the summit, it was back with a vengeance. Not only at the top of my right thigh, but the top of my left thigh too. This continued all the way to Alpe D'huez. I couldn’t pedal too hard as the pressure set the cramp off again. I had to walk for long periods, as the the mere act of pedalling kept on causing it to return.

I finished the ride 20 minutes outside the cut-off time (there were several coming in an hour after me).

I wish all manner of horrible things to happen to the camera crew on Alpe D'Huez, which
took great delight in filming me when I was in agony due to an onset of cramp, which
forced me to push my bike.

cjcp

twotyred wrote:

No idea why some find the Glandon descent scary- shame its neutralised. That was the most enjoyable bit for me. Nice flowing descent with a sound track of cow bells- marvellous

I think part of the reason is that the field isn't as spread out at the top of the Glandon as much as it is at the top of the Galibier, and people have a bit more "enthusiasm" at the top of the Glandon to get going.

Agree though - I loved the descent. Was a bit more cautious this year on the top half of it.

cjcp

De Sisti wrote:

My ride was a disaster. I got to the top of the first climb in 2 hours 16 minutes (on schedule). On the descent I felt cramp in the top of my right thigh. I had taken all precautions to avoid this, like using Nuun tablets and salt crystals in each bidon. The cramp stayed at bay during the long flattish stretch to the base of the Telegraph.

However, by the summit, it was back with a vengeance. Not only at the top of my right thigh, but the top of my left thigh too. This continued all the way to Alpe D'huez. I couldn’t pedal too hard as the pressure set the cramp off again. I had to walk for long periods, as the the mere act of pedalling kept on causing it to return.

I finished the ride 20 minutes outside the cut-off time (there were several coming in an hour after me).

I wish all manner of horrible things to happen to the camera crew on Alpe D'Huez, which
took great delight in filming me when I was in agony due to an onset of cramp, which
forced me to push my bike.

But, inspite of those problems, you still finished. Would have been a lot easier to bail, so hats off to you.

jonginge

airwise wrote:

Loads out there. I'd recommend the Gran Fondo Sportful if you really want a challenge.

The long course has around 1500 entrants and it's harder than the Marmotte. I've been lucky enough to do both and the organisation of the Italian event is superb. Think outside the box! Only twenty Brits did the GF Sportful this year.

As for the Marmotte well done to all. Having said that, my suggestion to the 30 something, lean London Dynamo rider on the £7K Parlee crawling in at around 13 hours would be to buy a cheaper bike and get a coach.

Interesting. Been contemplating an Italian sportive... I assume the maratona is similar to the marmotte in terms of numbers

Le Commentateur

There are others in the Dolomites that are less crowded than the Maratona and perhaps more challenging. e.g. The DolomitiStars, which used to be run in May during the Giro, but now moved to early Sept (and rebranded): http://www.dolomiticlassic.com/web/

airwise

I'm actually in Corvara now preparing for the Maratona. It's a huge event full stop - a kind of cycling equivalent of the London Marathon. If you have satellite, you can watch the whole event live on RAI3 on Sunday - it's big. There is around 10,000 however so it's not great for getting your head down and charging. The course however is both beautiful and challenging.

The thing with the Marmotte is it's basically three long climbs with one hour breaks in between them - great though it is and a real challenge for all. Over here you lose the breaks and the regularity of the gradients though so it's more like the North Downs on Steroids.

The DolomitiStars course is less attractive ( I did it last September) but it's small and the roads are less crowded. Just about 400 last year if I remember correctly. The route takes in sections of the Sportful and Maratona but misses out on the prettiest of either (Sella Ronda & Passo Rolle).

The atmosphere and organisation at the Maratona and the Sportful would shock those who are used to SportsCommunication or ASO organised events that's for sure.

londonlivvy

I am scared of crowds and found the marmotte really rather overwhelming in that respect.

The crowds also meant a lot of faffage - an hour queuing to get your start number, an hour hanging around at the start, not being able to even get to feed stations, an hour queue to get pasta at the end and so on.

Both these reasons are why I'm keen to find an event that is smaller. The Vaujany is perfect for me at 800 entrants - enough people to feel like an event, but no imtimidating crowds, no queuing, no faffage and beautiful scenery. But we've done it twice now so keen to try something else.

Thanks for the suggestion of the Dolimitistars, Le Commentateur - sounds interesting so maybe that'll be on our list for next year. No hols left for this year, sadly.

TheStone

londonlivvy wrote:

Both these reasons are why I'm keen to find an event that is smaller. The Vaujany is perfect for me at 800 entrants - enough people to feel like an event, but no imtimidating crowds, no queuing, no faffage and beautiful scenery. But we've done it twice now so keen to try something else.

Have a look at the Morzine one.

Tom Butcher

As far as alternatives go a mate of mine did the Grand Fondo Campagnolo about 5-6 years back - I think I'm right that that is now the GF Sportful ? - he was literally the last finisher on the long route and didn't touch his bike for over 12 months after it but he rated it as a great event.

I've always liked the sound of the Ardechoise but first hand accounts are thin on the ground. I actually like the mass participation bit of the Marmotte so would prefer a big event along similar linesand they advertise 15000 entries - but that appears to be spread across a number of rides during the week and a number of routes on the main day so how many do the actual Ardechoise route I don't know.

airwise

The Ardechoise is great fun. They've gradually expanded the routes over the years but most do the original, the Volcanique or the shorter rides. It's a fun festival of cycling with villages vying for the attentions of the riders and fancy dress and music at every corner. The event should really be approached with a smile on your face and scant regard for your time or power output.

It's VERY different to the Marmotte. The Maratona dles Dolomiti seems to have a similar festive feel but combines this with a very real competitive edge and live TV. It seems to be the cycling equivalent of the London Marathon.

canoas

I fancy doing this next year http://gsalpi.com/en/gf-giordana/edition-2011

used to be called Granfondo Marco Pantani, about 4,500m of climbing, the Mortirolo is the most grueling climb I've ever done!

I've done Granfondo Sportful, new route since changed from ex-campganolo is harder than La Marmotte in my books 5,500m of climbing. But the one above looks very difficult.

Also this one in Austria http://www.oetztaler-radmarathon.com/ma ... index.html

airwise

I did the Pantani last year Canoas. It's really hard - most of the locals do the medium route as the percorso lungo takes you past the finish in Aprica and down to face the Santa Christina.

The Christina is like half a Mortirolo and they both vary from the climbs of the Marmotte in that there is no way you can drop it into a low gear and pootle up them. The ramps are so steep that you will be grinding in parts regardless.

I had a really bad day (woke up with a fever and got cramps on the Mortirolo) but I still think it's a hellish course - the only downside is starting at 8am by sending 3000 testosterone fuelled Italians down a 13km descent to Edolo. I lost count of the number of crashes in 2010!

The Other McHoy

cjcp wrote:

twotyred wrote:

No idea why some find the Glandon descent scary- shame its neutralised. That was the most enjoyable bit for me. Nice flowing descent with a sound track of cow bells- marvellous

I think part of the reason is that the field isn't as spread out at the top of the Glandon as much as it is at the top of the Galibier, and people have a bit more "enthusiasm" at the top of the Glandon to get going.

Agree though - I loved the descent. Was a bit more cautious this year on the top half of it.

First off let me say I found the event brilliant - immense in scale and the scenery just stunning. My one overriding memory however is that no event of this size can safely be done on open roads.
Having started in the 4000+ group, so with 1000s of riders in front and behind me, the Glandon descent is a disaster waiting to happen. I agree that the descent is not unusually dangerous in itself - the problem is the combination of 1000s of cyclists going downhill and vehicles coming up it - cars, camper vans, 4x4s, motor bikes, other cyclists etc. The road is too narrow to accommodate both and it came as no surprise to see people getting lifted into ambulances and for car drivers to be giving statements to the police. No event of this size can be considered safe but doing it on open roads cranks up the danger several times over. The fact that it is neutralized does not stop most people wanting to get down it quickly - after all the colour of the medal is determined by door-to-door time and not the one that is published on the web minus this descent.
The same can be said for the long section between the bottom of the Galibier and the foot of the Alpe - some of the risks people were willing to take to get past cars defied belief. Drivers would have needed 360 vision to know which way to steer as riders sat on their bumpers and took over them from the inside and the outside. There were also plenty of drivers and bikers willing to weave through the various pelotons but if something happened to come flying past the other way then a wipe out would have happened.
I also saw two accidents on the way up the Aple (around the 8 hr 30 mark). A woman lying flattend on the road and a guy holding his collarbone. This was caused by vehicles going up the Alpe on the wrong side of the road and encountering riders on the way down.
When we were coming down later in the afternoon, we met a passenger bus coming up through the hairpins going as wide as the road allowed. Again, riders took exceptional risks to go past it rather than wait for it to get back on the right side of the road.
I fear that one year there will be a major incident, perhaps a whole group wiped out like skittles in a bowling alley by a car/van/truck/bus. Once it happens the rules will change. Numbers will be restricted or a rolling closed road system will be introduced (as per Quebrantahuesos in Spain which has a similar number of riders). Too late though for the families who will have to pick up the pieces of daddy not coming home.

canoas

airwise - that's sounds sore. I remember starting in Mazzo last year up the Mortirolo you had to stand out of the saddle most of the time, I had a compact 12-27 & was mostly in 25-27 the whole way up, then did the Gavia back to Mazzo - hardest day in the bike. Santa Christina sounds extremely hard...Italians are crazy decenders, they don't fear anything!
Yes, French climbs you can poddle up, like i did in La Marmotte. Mortirolo you cannot!!!!

the answer is simple - Italian climbs are generally much harder than anything else France can chuck at you in my experience. However, the 35km accent to top Galibier in La Marmotte was tough for me.

Brian B

Canoas I have done the Bormio to Mazzo and up over the Mortirolo and then over the Gavia back to Bormio. Have also done Bormio over the Stelvio to Prato and back again to Bormio in one day.

IMO I have to say that none of these days despite being really bad and are a very long day in the saddle as are as bad as the Telegraph/Galibier combination. The relentless climbing really wore me down over the hours vs the short sharp effort of the Mortirolo.

Agree as 'one off' climbs that this area of Italy and the dolomites have harder climbs than the French Alps that feature in the tour. France has many other climbs that are not used in the tour but as equally as hard or if not harder.

In my experience the Ventoux as a one off climb is harder than any that you will find in Italy as it is relentless, steep and very long.

canoas

I've done Ventoux twice and both days I was ok. Sometimes you feel good on the bike and other days not! The forest area is hard.

Don't forget Italy have other beasts like Zoncolan, Monte Crostis....check out this link, almost as long as Ventoux

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp? ... ntainID=33

I love cycling in both countries (food better in Italy), hopefully will cycle more in both France & Italy next year

airwise

Brian I guess it would depend on what sort of climbing you cope with best. And of course if you are going for a time or just having a nice day out!

Ventoux is hard. Average gradient is 7% or something I think. 1600m of vertical ascent - I think the Telegraph/Galibier is around 1500m in total over 37km.

Take the Finestre though - with 1700m of ascent over just 18.5km (half of which is unsurfaced), and I personally would find the Italian option harder.

I always measure climbs on vertical ascent just because my VAM doesn't change that much so I can work out how long I'll be suffering for!

Do you have any tips for real toughies to seek out in France? I know about the Chat but anything you might recommend?

ut_och_cykla

The Other McHoy wrote:

I did Quebrantahuesos sportive in Spain on Saturday in 7 hrs 50 (205 kms, 3500 metres) and do not want to think about the pain involved in doing another 1500 mts of climbing. I'll be heading for the Marmotte on Tuesday but feel pretty tired at the moment.
Good luck to everyone doing it, it's a first for me.

Good luck! The QBH was grim - can't imagine what is needed for a Marmotte within teh time cut!

canoas

Well from what I hear this could be the hardest climb in France, Vertical acent anyway
Seems a short climb.

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp? ... ainID=7039

Brian B

Col de Granon is another contender for a really hard climb. Have not done it but have added it to my hitlist for future. Would also like to do the Zoncolan as well but time is limited and so is my better halfs patience when it come to cycling holidays.

Brian B

airwise wrote:

Brian I guess it would depend on what sort of climbing you cope with best. And of course if you are going for a time or just having a nice day out!

Ventoux is hard. Average gradient is 7% or something I think. 1600m of vertical ascent - I think the Telegraph/Galibier is around 1500m in total over 37km.

Take the Finestre though - with 1700m of ascent over just 18.5km (half of which is unsurfaced), and I personally would find the Italian option harder.

I always measure climbs on vertical ascent just because my VAM doesn't change that much so I can work out how long I'll be suffering for!

Do you have any tips for real toughies to seek out in France? I know about the Chat but anything you might recommend?

Hi Airwise as my previous posting the Granon would be one I would like to test. High altitude and steep as well.

As to my other post I was meaning that I can only climb the mortorolo like a really steep british climb(at one pace) where the Ventoux is really hard as you can actually put in a effort on it. I suppose if you actually raced the mortorolo it would be brutal but when I did I put in as much of a pace as I could and still found not as bad as other climbs I had done. I suppose it depends on what sort of climber you are.

The other climbs that I have done in the Alps both French and Italian side do not compare to the Ventouc IMO and have ridden them at the same pace. That goes for the climbs in the Pyrenees as well that I have done.

The galibier/telegraph combination as they really are one climb with 5min in the big ring in between work out to over 2000m of climbing in total and found it harder than any other climb that I have done anywhere just due to the length of time spent climbing in the same position. Where as on the mortorolo I knew the real challange only lay in the middle 6km where it is really steep and that section passes fairly quickly.

airwise

The Granon wasn't that bad really. Again it had that French regular gradient going for it making it easy for me to settle into a rythmn. It still made my top ten though in terms of toughness. For me the nearby Finestre or Sommeilleur are a lot more challenging (although the latter does require an MTB or hybrid)

I think you hit the nail on the head. It depends on the type of climber you are. And of course the way that you approach the climb. I've ridden the Ventoux chasing some friends and it hurt! I've also climbed it just to get to the top and barely raised a sweat. I think that's where the steeper climbs are different - I simply can't ease off and take a spin on the Zoncolan or Crostis - I don't have small enough gears!

In fact the Zoncolan is the only climb I really wouldn't want to do again. The one in the pic below still needs to be conquered. I had to abort simply because I could not keep the front wheel on the ground. I think I might try with the road bike next time!

malcolmfrost

Made it at the second attempt and got a Silver in 50-59!!!
All credit to my new 34/30 gearing which meant I could ride much closer to my ideal cadnce.
Well done to my 3 work colleagues who completed, especially one who had a baby 8 months ago.
No mechanicals or punctures from any of us either.
Acte II beckons.