Maratona dles Dolomites 2012

124

Comments

  • knedlicky
    knedlicky Posts: 3,097
    I was in the Dolomites last week and for those of you who aren’t comfortable with heat, make sure you always have enough water with you – last week by 9 am and until 6 pm it was between 28-36 deg C in the valley, and not that much less high up.

    Despite the possible heat, I’d also advise taking some weather protection, especially for the longer routes, because if the weather does change during the day (e.g. thunderstorm), the change often occurs about 3 pm..
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    anyone else feeling the nerves now :D

    bike packing tomorrow and off before dawn Thursday - bring it on!
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • Alum3
    Alum3 Posts: 7
    Tapering with a pint of stella at heathrow, heading to zurich to hook up with a mate and
    Then driving down. Fingers crossed my bike makes it or I will shopping for a new bike
    Tomorrow, on second thoughts.......please bless us with sunshine.
  • simon johnson
    simon johnson Posts: 1,064
    Just squeezed the bike into its box in anticipation of mauling at baggage- I am somewhat concerned about the odds of the box becoming a coffin...cheery!...not to mention that my £5 Ikea scales are telling me 24kg; 1kg over the limit.

    Say hello to the LONDON PHOENIX if you see us :D

    ps anybody know of a bike shop or two in the area? I imagine that we'll see lots of stands at registration?
    Where\'s me jumper?
  • DavidWatkinson
    DavidWatkinson Posts: 14
    There's a very good one in San Cassiano (off the 'bypass' running round the bottom of the town) which is on the return leg of one of the longer routes, plus another smaller one in La Villa and a couple of mainly mountain bike places in .
  • DavidWatkinson
    DavidWatkinson Posts: 14
    ... Corvara
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    Also a very good shop in La Villa just near the start area.

    It's bloody hot and sunny today - going to be 30+ later. Sitting in the sun now after a quick spin up the Campolongo for a coffee :D
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • keyser__soze
    keyser__soze Posts: 2,067
    +1 for the shop in La Villa, excellent place.
    "Mummy Mummy, when will I grow up?"
    "Don't be silly son, you're a bloke, you'll never grow up"
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    What a brilliant event!

    Very very hot and seller 30 dregs in the valleys, which made those climbs tough, and I saw many people go to pieces on the Passo Giau and then suffer horribly on the long last drag up the Passo Falzarego . The heat really hurt me at the end as well but didn't detract from an amazing atmosphere, incredible route and perhaps THE best scenery for a ride anywhere in the world..

    I'll be back for sure! Hope everyone enjoyed themselves.
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • alanp23
    alanp23 Posts: 696
    Bigpikle wrote:
    What a brilliant event!

    Very very hot and seller 30 dregs in the valleys, which made those climbs tough, and I saw many people go to pieces on the Passo Giau and then suffer horribly on the long last drag up the Passo Falzarego . The heat really hurt me at the end as well but didn't detract from an amazing atmosphere, incredible route and perhaps THE best scenery for a ride anywhere in the world..

    I'll be back for sure! Hope everyone enjoyed themselves.

    Ummm... That would be me. I was going great guns until I got to the bottom of the Giau and cracked. I cramped up and it just became a mental battle to get to the finish. I managed though and it was just a fantastic experience. I went on my own but never felt on my own if that makes sense.

    And just spent today at Orchie in my Maratona jersey which was the icing on the cake... :D
    Top Ten finisher - PTP Tour of Britain 2016
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    glad you enjoyed it - strangely I had a good time on the Giau (???) but then had a horrible time up the Falzarego, which was a MUCH MUCH easier climb.

    I just wish I could have spent a week out there riding every day rather than saving myself just for Sunday :(
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    We had a fantastic time :D
    this yr i found the Gaiu particularly hard but the Falzarego alot easier, normally for me, its the other way round - forgetting to fill up with drink 2nd time round at the Campolongo feed station was a big mistake :(
    What surprised me was the early morning heat - about 14 'C at 0600, normal temp would be nearer 4 or 5.
  • Rich.H
    Rich.H Posts: 443
    Having done the Etape in 2008 and the Marmotte last year, I have to say that the Maratona was my best ride yet. As an event, it was by far the most enjoyable European sportive I have taken part in. This is in no small part down to the way you are made to feel so welome by everyone involved with the event - it is clear that the locals / organisers feel proud to host such an event. With the Etape especially, I always had the sense that I was made to feel lucky to be taking part

    The route is very challenging (the heat made it more so) and utterly stunning in terms of the scenery and landscape. I loved the descents and the satisfaction of climbing the Giau and Valparola in 35+ degrees. The chase back from the summit of the Valparola to the finish will live long in the memory - its a good thing my wife (who was waiting in Corvara) did not witness my antics. The effort was worth it as I finished just 90 seconds under a full hour mark.

    Apologies if I disturbed anyone with my creaking bike on the climbs - it was fine until halfway up the Campolongo and then that was it. In the bottom 3 gears, only soft pedaling or a fast cadence kept the noise at bay - neither was an option for very long!!

    Providing I can get an entry, I will definitely be back next year to experience it all again. And I expect the year after that as well.....

    Rich
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    Rich - I hear your pain on the creaking!

    I rode the Campolongo the first time with a guy with a creaking spoke and it was so packed I couldn't get away from the damn noise. Then on the Sella some Italian guy had his bloody Polar HRM beeping at his heart rate of about 180bpm all the way up. Wanted to throttle him by the top to stop the damn beeps :D

    As my first euro sportive I suspect I may have spoiled all the others as its hard to see how they can live up to that. Going to try the Drei Lander next year and get up the Stelvio.....
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • alanp23
    alanp23 Posts: 696
    Bigpikle wrote:
    As my first euro sportive I suspect I may have spoiled all the others as its hard to see how they can live up to that. Going to try the Drei Lander next year and get up the Stelvio.....

    Drei Lander, Stelvio? you say... sounds interesting.

    Though I do have unfinished business with the Giau...
    Top Ten finisher - PTP Tour of Britain 2016
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    Bigpikle wrote:
    Rich - I hear your pain on the creaking!

    I rode the Campolongo the first time with a guy with a creaking spoke and it was so packed I couldn't get away from the damn noise. Then on the Sella some Italian guy had his bloody Polar HRM beeping at his heart rate of about 180bpm all the way up. Wanted to throttle him by the top to stop the damn beeps :D

    As my first euro sportive I suspect I may have spoiled all the others as its hard to see how they can live up to that. Going to try the Drei Lander next year and get up the Stelvio.....

    Might give the Drei Lander a go next year as well. Do you know when entries are open?
  • 3Pears
    3Pears Posts: 174
    Dreilander-Giro entries open October ish, however it doesn't fill up too quickly :D Excellent event, not overly subscribed too with Brits yet !!
    We had some excellent accommodation in Nauders :lol:

    PS Just noticed my last blog was on the Dreilander-Giro Hopefully some useful info in there 8)
    http://sportivemad.wordpress.com/
  • alanp23
    alanp23 Posts: 696
    Already read it. :D It is quite high up on the google search.

    I was a little disturbed by your mention of an angry man though... Surely he couldnt be angry with everyone.

    Nice story and having never heard of the ride this morning, I am now very interested.

    I will be posting a general query about decent events for next year, once Etape act 2 is done and I've seen the comments on it.
    Top Ten finisher - PTP Tour of Britain 2016
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    The etapes are all a bit mainstream for me and I have more of a desire to do events that haven't become such obvious and high profile. The DL has been on my radar for awhile and I have a couple of mates lined up for it next year as well. I might well take on the Raid Alpine next year as well as I'd like to get over those classic climbs and I enjoyed the Raid Pyrenean last autumn.

    Perhaps we should try getting together for a hotel booking etc at thebDrei Lander?
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    Bigpikle wrote:
    The etapes are all a bit mainstream for me and I have more of a desire to do events that haven't become such obvious and high profile. The DL has been on my radar for awhile and I have a couple of mates lined up for it next year as well. I might well take on the Raid Alpine next year as well as I'd like to get over those classic climbs and I enjoyed the Raid Pyrenean last autumn.

    Perhaps we should try getting together for a hotel booking etc at thebDrei Lander?

    How are you guys getting to the Drei? Happy to discuss clubbing together if it'd make it cheaper renting cars or whatever.
  • hatone
    hatone Posts: 228
    I'm too happy to join you guys for the Drei Lander ride next year. It looks like a hire car/van from Munich airport to Nauders is the best way forward - approx 2 hrs 30 mins drive which isn't too bad.

    Might be worth starting a new thread on this?
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    I've got no further than deciding I want to do it and rounding up some companions...

    Is Munich the nearest airport? Could be worth trying to get a block booking at a hotel and maybe a minibus or something for a few people and bikes? Got to be a good way to keep costs down...
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    I'd be up for that.
  • hatone
    hatone Posts: 228
    Block booking would definitely attract a discount. Let me know and I'd more than happy to throw my name in the ring.
  • alanp23
    alanp23 Posts: 696
    Put me in the interested column as well please.
    Top Ten finisher - PTP Tour of Britain 2016
  • alanp23
    alanp23 Posts: 696
    Finally, for anyone who is interested, I found a link to the Italian TV coverage. This is the full 5 hours plus that they were on for. I've watched about ten mins so far and I suspect it mainly stays with the leaders.

    http://vimeo.com/45349665
    Top Ten finisher - PTP Tour of Britain 2016
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    Hi guys, I've created a Facebook group for anyone interested in the Dreilander so we can organise ourselves etc. Join up if you're interested in clubbing together.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/256418434470198/
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    done...
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • hatone
    hatone Posts: 228
    I'm afraid to say it doesn't look like the Dreilander will go ahead in 2013.

    Taken from the site:

    important information in 2013
    There is no 20th Give Dreiländergiro 2013 in Switzerland
    The canton of Grisons will not issue a transit permit for the Dreiländergiro more.
    At least not in this form
    The Dreiländergiro 2012, analyzed and discussed on a different system, which can be used in the canton of Grisons achieve the road safety for all involved.
    Further information to follow
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    Oh bugger. On the same principle though I'd be happy to look at other sportives in that area. Monte Grappa perhaps or one that goes up the Grossglockner (assuming there is one)

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