Maratona dles Dolomites 2012

135

Comments

  • Rich.H
    Rich.H Posts: 443
    My prep has been somewhat disrupted this year with a sickness bug a couple of months ago that really hit me hard and has taken some time to recover from.

    I did three sportives in May including the 3200m of climbing on the Tour of the Peak last weekend and finally thought I was getting somwhere only to suffer a back spasm on Saturday! I hope it eases off this week as I am planning to do the Peak 100 this coming Sunday (a proper 3500m of climbing) and the Polka Dot on the 17th. I will then do my "usual" 60 mile loop to Hartington and back on the weekend before the big event.

    I think I have got my head around the route now and have watched the videos on the Holimites channel which show all of the descents;

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhm5eehneGg

    Still not sure what time I should be aiming for. I achieved a Gold on the Marmotte last year with an official time of 8h 25m (excludes the Glandon descent) and a full time of 9h 05m. I guess I should be aiming for under 8 hours?

    Cheers

    Rich
  • Bordersroadie
    Bordersroadie Posts: 1,052
    So after 10 months of training we have had to cancel our three week Dolomites holiday, and with it the Maratona, due to a health issue in the family (not mine).

    C'est la vie, out of our control, but so very, very gutted.

    All the best to you boys! :D
  • alanp23
    alanp23 Posts: 696
    Bordersroadie wrote:
    So after 10 months of training we have had to cancel our three week Dolomites holiday, and with it the Maratona, due to a health issue in the family (not mine).

    C'est la vie, out of our control, but so very, very gutted.

    All the best to you boys! :D

    Sorry to hear that. Hope you manage to find some sort of subsitute event when things get sorted out.
    Top Ten finisher - PTP Tour of Britain 2016
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    thats a shame - sorry to hear that. Hope they make a full recovery and you get out somewhere nice.
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    Thats gutting for you but it will be there next year 8) main thing is your family
  • Bordersroadie
    Bordersroadie Posts: 1,052
    Thanks guys. I've entered a local hilly 107 mile Sportive in August (Ken Laidlaw memorial) so will keep the training intensity high for that. Holiday plans just postponed, we'll still get a family holiday but just a bit later.

    I'll be thinking of you all!
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    What are the feed stops on the full course?

    Can anyone tell me how many and where they are please, and what sort of stuff do they offer?

    Thanks
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • Ron Stuart
    Ron Stuart Posts: 1,242
    Bigpikle wrote:
    What are the feed stops on the full course?

    Can anyone tell me how many and where they are please, and what sort of stuff do they offer?

    Thanks

    Can't remember exactly what they had at the feeds, I did it in 2006 but it was fine, bun fight at the feeds with people taking bikes to the tables best if riding with a buddy to take it in turns while one looks after the bikes. Here's a map of the feed locations.... http://www.maratona.it/pics/maratona_plan_2012_ok.jpg :wink:
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    One thing that seems common at Italian sportives is they have fizzy water at the feed stops. Can't stand the stuff myself so make sure you ask for naturale unless you want bubbles in your bottle.
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    You ll get everything from lemon and orange slices to spinach quiche, ham/cheese rolls, flapjacks, cakes gallore, flat coke AND apple strudel!!! and every type of Enivit drink you can think off and plain water, never seen any fizzy water in 4 trips there, infact they will often ask "enivit? water?"

    The food stops are very large and never had issues with over crowding - all the lasses an lads serving are polite, speak english and r very helpful.
  • Ron Stuart
    Ron Stuart Posts: 1,242
    mamba80 wrote:
    You ll get everything from lemon and orange slices to spinach quiche, ham/cheese rolls, flapjacks, cakes gallore, flat coke AND apple strudel!!! and every type of Enivit drink you can think off and plain water, never seen any fizzy water in 4 trips there, infact they will often ask "enivit? water?"

    The food stops are very large and never had issues with over crowding - all the lasses an lads serving are polite, speak english and r very helpful.


    Things have changed or you are either at the front or back of the ride :idea:
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    ks guys - sounds all good :D
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    Probably its improved and, perhaps our perceptions are different? - though at the (last) feed at the Valporola most folk are leaning on their bikes just to stay upright :)

    i probably finish in the top 1/3 but my GF finishes further down and she thinks the feeds are great!
    Anyway its not a ride, its a race!
  • DavidWatkinson
    DavidWatkinson Posts: 14
    I've tried to get into the Maratona via the ballot a couple of times before but this year managed to get 4 of us in via CW and Ian Parr - can't wait.
    I took the family to Corvara last summer and managed to sneak in the Sella Ronda one afternoon - the main reason for going there was to do Via Ferrata and walking. Loved the whole area so I'm really keen to be going back and am looking forward to cycling on closed roads with thousands of others. Might even do a bit of VF on the Saturday before the race!
    Have done the Etape and Marmotte before so feeling reasonably confident I can manage the full course.
  • Alum3
    Alum3 Posts: 7
    Dear all, I'm after a bit of advice, I'm doing the Maratona this year and have just finished a week in the Pyrennes visiting family and mainly going out on my bike :). I managed 540kms for the week with about 11,800 meters of climbing. It was my first ever time riding up anything like the Tourmalet and I'm really happy with how it went.

    So my question is with basically 2 weeks to go what should I do be doing from a training perspective....I dont want to over do it, but at the same time I don't want to loose the form I've got from a week in the Pyrenees.

    Any and all advice gratefully recieved.
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    From what I've read about tapering you maintain the intensity but drop the time. Do that and I'm sure you'll be fine. It's a great ride so enjoy it :)
  • alanp23
    alanp23 Posts: 696
    Alum3 wrote:
    Dear all, I'm after a bit of advice, I'm doing the Maratona this year and have just finished a week in the Pyrennes visiting family and mainly going out on my bike :). I managed 540kms for the week with about 11,800 meters of climbing. It was my first ever time riding up anything like the Tourmalet and I'm really happy with how it went.

    So my question is with basically 2 weeks to go what should I do be doing from a training perspective....I dont want to over do it, but at the same time I don't want to loose the form I've got from a week in the Pyrenees.

    Any and all advice gratefully recieved.

    If you did that, including the Tourmalet then I think you will be more than fine.

    I did a big ride this weekend - 240km in a day (9 of us with the strongest riders (not me) on the front). I'll probably do a few small intense rides during the week and then a big ride on Saturday. Then it is tapering time for me, with just a few small gentle rides through the week. I arrive Thursday night, so will do a little recce Friday and then that is probably it until Sunday...

    See you all there!!!
    Top Ten finisher - PTP Tour of Britain 2016
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    the apple strudel is very good.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Alum3
    Alum3 Posts: 7
    Thanks for the responses, turbo this week with hopefully one session out on the road, hill session saturday then heading out to Italy to work on the sun tan, Start number 4985 finish number tbc :)
  • Rich.H
    Rich.H Posts: 443
    After suffering a back spasm a couple of weekends ago and as a consequence only attempting the short route in the Peak 100 on Jun 10th, I had a good ride on the Polka Dot last weekend (100 miles and 3200m climbing). I am still trying to watch my back a bit but will do my familiar 60 mile loop in the Peaks over this coming weekend with a couple of shorter rides either side. Then its down to Calais on Wed eve and onwards to La Villa on Thu. I am away in the last pen so will need to make some decent progress from the off.....

    Good luck to all

    Rich
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    I'm last pen as well - see you in there!

    Weather forecast is looking a bit worrying though. Looks like a rainy week there next week and best forecast so far says 50% chance of rain and only about 23 degs, which could make for some uncomfortable descending :(
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • Ron Stuart
    Ron Stuart Posts: 1,242
    Bigpikle wrote:
    I'm last pen as well - see you in there!

    Weather forecast is looking a bit worrying though. Looks like a rainy week there next week and best forecast so far says 50% chance of rain and only about 23 degs, which could make for some uncomfortable descending :(

    Firstly I wouldn't take a forecast for next week too seriously (long way off). Secondly the weather can be changeable and it can change very quickly in this neck of the woods. I did this event in 2006 and a lot of the Germanic riders and others were carrying ruck sacks with extra gear. I did it in perfect weather but it was 5C when I descend down from San Cassiano to La Villa for the start! If it is bad/changeable then I would recommend taking extra winter gloves, knee warmers, winter rain cape and plastic bag (up jersey on descents) but I wouldn't use a ruck sack I would use the following as it wouldn't sway too much when out of the saddle. This rig looks useful in general for certain types of rides and is easily mounted or removed as needs require... http://sandiway.blogspot.co.uk/2007/04/ ... -rack.html as you can see it's American but you can get similar set ups here in the UK :wink:
  • Alum3
    Alum3 Posts: 7
    After having a really cold wet day in the Pyrenees last week I would also recommend some light weight shoe covers. I forgot mine and my feet where frozen all day, as a Brit I should know better when it comes to riding in awful conditions. The next day it was 30C so as mentioned previously the weather in the mountains can change pretty quickly.

    Having said that the less I can carry the better, so fingers crossed for the day of the races. Last hard ride this Saturday then out to Switzerland to hook with a mate andthen drive down to Corvara on Thursday.
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    Agree its far to soon for any weather predictions, it changes from valley to valley let alone valley roads to mountain tops !

    Got a hill climb RR on sat and then the Dartmoor C - 100m on Sunday, arr San Cass on wednesday, a coupkle of light spions and then splash on that factor 35 !
  • alanp23
    alanp23 Posts: 696
    Leave Tuesday night, a gentle drive across Europe, arriving on Thursday afternoon. I am in Pen 3, and will be wearing my Marmotte jersey. My objective is to make the cut-off for the long route.

    The official paperwork arrived yesterday and the email today tells me it will be broadcast live on RAI3. Anyone know how to get an feed in the UK? (I want the people who havent come with me this year to watch with envy :D )

    I have been very impressed with all the communication I have had. Lots and lots of info.

    Last ride on Saturday. Doing my Tour of the Peaks ride, come hell or high water. Bike cleaning/packing on Sunday!

    See you all there!
    Top Ten finisher - PTP Tour of Britain 2016
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    Don't know about watching it live, but if it's like previous years they have videos available of you cresting some major parts of the ride available after. So people back home can marvel as you zoom up the Giau :lol:
  • Alum3
    Alum3 Posts: 7
    Am pretty sure you can only watch RAI3 TV on the web if you have an Italian IP address, so short of an Italian Proxy Server your probably out of luck there. No idea if you can pick it up on Sky as I don't have satellite TV.
  • Ron Stuart
    Ron Stuart Posts: 1,242
    To wet the appetite... Campolongo 2006 I'm the guy in the red, black and white kit :P
    395678_10150646790744524_1466897370_n.jpg
  • Alum3
    Alum3 Posts: 7
    Got you, sitting by the camper van having a quick espresso :)
  • Ron Stuart
    Ron Stuart Posts: 1,242
    Here's one for you guys fretting over gearing...
    576116_10150838524369524_1335966188_n.jpg

    Respect?

    Note the amount of kit worn by the able bodied guy in perfect weather :!: probably Italian from further south.

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