Maratona dles Dolomites 2012

bigpikle

Got the same email here - ignored it!

Training going really well. First 100 of the season bagged a couple of weeks ago and plenty of miles logged so far. Power up lots on last year already and a solid plan in place to keep me going and lots of warm up events coming this spring. Can't wait now!

mamba80

If you ve paid and you r on the rider list as ok, complete and not Announced, then you are in and need do nothing more.
Thats what CW has told all its riders, same thing came out last yr and its for riders who have a plc but havnt paid up.

Bordersroadie

Thanks chaps, that reassures me!

alanp23

So is it just us three in the "Biker Radar and Maratona" Venn diagram?

Rich.H

No, there is another one here

This will complete the trilogy for me. Etape in 2008 and La Marmotte last year.

My plan is the same as in previous years - a fairly steady winter with the mileage picking up from just about now. I have five or six UK portives planned and I usually do two blocks of back to back sportive weekends, the last of which will be two weeks before the Maratona (Peak 100 followed by the Polka Dot)

Luckily, I live close to the Peak District so I have nice hilly loop (60 miles, 1400m climbing) which I will also do 3 or 4 times before July 1st, including the weekend before as my last big ride

Rich

alanp23

Fantastic, Rich. I did Marmotte last year too and am pondering whether if I wear my Marmotte jersey, it will upset the Italians... :roll:

Rich.H

alanp23 wrote:

Fantastic, Rich. I did Marmotte last year too and am pondering whether if I wear my Marmotte jersey, it will upset the Italians... :roll:

Probably not as much as the little St Georges cross I have on my bike Mind you, I should get away with it given I ride an Italian bike 8).

Rich

3Pears

Group of 12 of us going over, two of us did it in 2010

Weeks ticking by quickly now, really can't wait

mamba80

i doubt once you ve climbed the Campolongo for the 2nd time anyone will be interested in your clothing or bike

Anyone got any times they are going for? my target for the full course is 6:00

alanp23

100 days to go!

Bordersroadie

mamba80 wrote:

Anyone got any times they are going for? my target for the full course is 6:00

My target is to get round the course without following it immediately with my first ever Italian hospital admission.

simon johnson

Howdy all,

I'll be doing this year after doing the Marmotte last year, can't wait.

My major concern is getting to base. I have a flight booked to Verona but it's proving to be a bit of a logistical challenge arranging a transfer from there to San Cassiano where I'm staying. Major problem is that I don't drive....anyone used/know of any reliable transfers from Verona?

Le Commentateur

I did it the other way once, from Arabba back to Verona, with an early morning flight home the following day. My way was a mix of bus and train, so going the other way would be train between Verona and Belluno (see trenitalia website for timetables) and then take a bus into the mountains from Belluno. There is a service from Belluno to Corvara (the nearest town to your destination) but it leaves at mid-day. There are others in the afternoon that go as far as Arabba, which is also fairly close. In both cases though you'd need to find a local taxi to get you those last few kms on to San Cassiano (which is on the last big descent of the Maratona course).

Train timetables are at http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.j ... a3e90aRCRD
Bus timetables are at http://www.dolomitibus.it/dolomitibus/jsp/orari.jsp (select the "extraurbano" services)

You can buy train tickets from machines (they have English instructions and take credit cards) and the fares are very reasonable compared to UK "turn up and go" tickets. Bus fares are also good – my one-way bus fare in 2007 when I did that trip was €4 for myself plus €1 for the oversized luggage (the bike).

mamba80

Myself and GF are staying in San C and know our host very well, we could ask him on your behalf?
Alternatively, If you need a lift from Corvara would be happy to drop you to your Hotel.
We are there from Wednesday late eve through to the following Monday morning.
PM if any good to you?

maddog 2

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, keep an eye out for the time cutoff before the Giao - it is much earlier than normal.

If you start near the back (like we did) and stop for photo ops (like we did) and stop for lovely strudel (like we did) then you'll miss the cutoff (like we did).

Lookyhere

i do remember you saying exactly that!

Its not particularly difficult to make the cut off but as Maddog says if you hang around then you be forced to do the medium course, which if you are struggling is no bad thing, the Passo Giau is very hard and the Falzarego that follows is long and has a few steeper sections and is often under estimated.....usually by me :oops:
The decent of the Valporalo is a blind and makes it all worthwhile

alanp23

I was actually looking at the route and cut-offs last night.

What do you think the average speed is needed to avoid the cut-off? I am having trouble gauging the general effort required. It looks like I will be setting off in Pen 3 or 4. (I think there are only 4 pens!) If the first off are 6.30am, does that mean that I should expect to be starting about 7am?

phreak

I found the cut-off ok, so long as you ride it like a sportive more than a leisure ride you'll be fine. The first climb will be a bit slow as you'll have thousands climbing it at once so it's not easy to go faster than the mass. By the second climb though things will have thinned out a bit and you can go more at your own pace.

bigpikle

how do you find where you'll be starting from?

mamba80

I ve done this 4 times and have found that on the list participants within the main Maratona site, you ll be given a number- which corresponds to a pen name (one of the sponsors) if you ve booked via Cycling weekly, you should get the 3rd pen unless you ve already beaten an age related time, then you ll be in the 2nd pen, via the lottery and with no previous times you ll be in the 4th pen. Women have always started in the 2nd pen. The info is posted on the site once all entries have been processed - it can take a while.
For the cut off you have 4hrs 40mins from 0700 say - to do 76km, rough avg 11.5 mph would be a min to aim for - would allow for stopages - dont underestimate it though, you d have done approx 2100m of climbing to this point, so double that amount to go :twisted:
Remember to keep the pressure on so that you finish well before the start area packs up and the roads re open.

simon johnson

Mamba, thanks for the offer, that is much appreciated. I'm hopefully sorted for transport now but if I find myself in trouble and have ample time then I will definitely be in touch. Hopefully not, but many thanks again.

Le C, thanks for all the info, was all very useful.

Now time to start training!! I haven't put much work in yet. Saying that, I did the Marmotte last year with vey little time on the bike (and I did it on a bike , against all sage advice, that I'd bought the day before and did 8km on!), and things worked out great. My best time on a bike ever.

Kill yourself as much as you like training but try to allow TIME for long spinners to develop a solid base fitness- I'm sure that this is what saved me. My experience is limited though on this kind of terrain, I'm guessing that the Maratona climbs will be steeper than the Marmotte? Getting sub six hours is in the very depths of my mind, but I really just can't wait to ride my bike in that part of the world....t'will be awesome!!

Le Commentateur

No, the first loop of the Maratona course is quite easy, partly because you go at the speed of the masses for the first 2 climbs (Campolongo #1 and Pordoi) and partly because the gradients are fairly moderate.

The hardest climb by far was the Giau and that felt like Alpe d'Huez at the end of the Marmotte; it begins with ramp well over 10% and it's early afternoon by then, so quite hot. The descent is good, though a bit twisty through the woods. The final big climb of the Falzarego is mostly a dull but scenic drag until the last kilometer when it ramps up again (but by then you're only 30-45 minutes from the finish).

bigpikle

Really looking forward to this now!

Have done the Raid Pyrenean and similar climbs in a few parts of the world, so have an idea of whats waiting for me, and am already in much better shape than when I did the Raid last September, so feeling confident. Wont be posting any fast times but confident I'll be able to enjoy it and avoid cut-offs etc barring any incidents!

alanp23

1 Month to go

I've got my number and seem to be in pen 3. Medical Certificate waiting to be picked up at the Doctors.

Training going pretty well. I've been doing a hundred mile plus ride every weekend through May and am planning the same for June, plus some serious hill repetitions.

Weight coming down nicely. (Wife says I am looking too thin!)

Watched the pros climbing the Giau during the Giro.

Just got to stay healthy for the next month and hope for good weather. 8)

mamba80

You ve got me v. worried, i ve not done a single ride over 5hrs all year and i ve had a viral infection for a week or so now! on top of that i'm in the 2nd pen
plus side - bc licence is good enough for the med

I'm really lookin fwd to it this year, got an extra day the week b4 - so plan on some last minute hill work or most likely some last minute eating !

i need to figure out to stick with the 12-27 or use a new 12 28 cassette - for the Giau.

For me my may/june training has/will reflect the fact the Maratona is basically a series of TTs and short ish recoveries.

StrangelyBrown

mamba80 wrote:

For me my may/june training has/will reflect the fact the Maratona is basically a series of TTs and short ish recoveries.

Hmm, you've never ridden around there have you

phreak

StrangelyBrown wrote:

mamba80 wrote:

For me my may/june training has/will reflect the fact the Maratona is basically a series of TTs and short ish recoveries.

Hmm, you've never ridden around there have you

To be fair he has a point. I did the Maratona two years ago and mostly trained by doing 1 hr tempo sessions on the turbo. Going up a 5 minute hill in Britain won't really help much. Obviously the turbo doesn't help with the heat or feeding strategies but it's about as good a training for 60 minute climbs as you'll get in this country I think.

mamba80

StrangelyBrown wrote:

mamba80 wrote:

For me my may/june training has/will reflect the fact the Maratona is basically a series of TTs and short ish recoveries.

Hmm, you've never ridden around there have you

Never been there in my life.

Ron Stuart

I did this in 2006 and I have never before or since seen so many riders suffering with cramps. I would introduce practicing eating/drinking whilst going up or down hills, there is only really one stretch of flattish road to eat comfortably that is after Arabba second time round. The feeds are a nightmare with riders taking bikes to the tables and getting in each others way. It would be a good idea if your riding with a buddy to have one stay with the bikes whilst the other gets the grub/drink or take it in turns.
Lastly in 2006 we stayed in San C and it is a 5k descent to the start areas. We had perfect weather 41C at Treviso airport 25C at San C but when we left the hotel early on the day it was 5C, so I had arm warmers, lightweight over gloves and mits, rain cape, two plastic bags up my front and a modified dustbin liner to put on whilst we waited to go, I crossed the start line 20 mins after the offical start shivering like a leaf. You get warmed up doing the Campolongo in the sun then go into shade on the descent to Arabba feels like a 10C drop in temperature, second time through Corvara it gets generally warm then towards back end of ride the climbs feel hot.

O/A it's one of the best bike experiences I have ever had and must do, so good luck and enjoy.

bigpikle

9000 ft 113 miler today and another hilly 100 miler next weekend, and then 1 more 5 hr solo long ride and the rest is higher intensity sessions to fill he weeks before we go. Apprehensive now but worst case we can always do the medium route I guess....