La Ronde Picarde?

on-yer-bike

Has anybody taken part in this? Is it worth doing?

DeVlaeminck

I'm doing it this year but first time for me.

DHA987S

Was going to do it last year but had to pull out due illness. I read up a lot about it and it seems a great event. Well organised and a nice route, but the warnings were it's very fast at the start due to a pinch point at a bridge early in the course.

ugo.santalucia

It's often the case in Continental granfondo.... I wasn't aware, but despite averaging close to 20 mph I found the gate closed when I arrived at the bottom of the Col del Prel in the "Giro delle Valli Monregalesi" a few years back... and I was rerouted on the Medio Fondo... bit disappointed as I was really looking forward to the climb featured in the Giro a few years before, when Garzelli clinched the Pink jersey

DeVlaeminck

DHA987S wrote:

Was going to do it last year but had to pull out due illness. I read up a lot about it and it seems a great event. Well organised and a nice route, but the warnings were it's very fast at the start due to a pinch point at a bridge early in the course.

Thanks for the tip - so it's a case of start near the front and stay up there.

DHA987S

DeVlaeminck wrote:

DHA987S wrote:

Was going to do it last year but had to pull out due illness. I read up a lot about it and it seems a great event. Well organised and a nice route, but the warnings were it's very fast at the start due to a pinch point at a bridge early in the course.

Thanks for the tip - so it's a case of start near the front and stay up there.

I think some of the pro teams and fast local ameteurs will be doing the same! But the front of the bunch does seem to be the place to be to avoid a delay.

DeVlaeminck

How do you know I'm not a pro !!

DHA987S

That is a good point!

terry2708

Me and a mate are doing it this year. I shall update after, we had been told about the pinch point so will be flying at the start!!
180km will be my longest ride but hopefully it will be drier that the Ride London!!

Langlais

I live nearby and rode the shorter (100k) version a couple of years ago. Is it worth doing? Yes, if you want a change from UK sportives and it's easy to get to. No, if you've ridden other Continental sportives (especially in the mountains) because you'll find the course rather uninspiring. For the first 10k or so, it's a full-on road race (40-45 kmh average speed) with a nervous 1000-strong bunch on a wide main road. Crashes left right and centre... Then it's onto narrow lanes with a bridge bottleneck. From there to the coast, large and small bunches merge and break up. Some bumps but again narrow roads and lots of braking. Echelons will form if it's a westerly wind, as it usually is. On the shorter route, things settled down after the feed station at Le Hourdel, with steadier pace back to Eaucourt.

DeVlaeminck

Apart from the crashes the rest sounds OK - suppose the start is similar to the Marmotte start or is it worse ? What is the standard like - similar to other continental sportives or does it primarily attract racers ?

Langlais

It's probably much the same as a Marmotte start (though I rode that back in the early 1990s - it may have changed since!). In my limited experience and because the Ronde Picarde is relatively easy, I would say that the level is slightly lower that the Marmotte. Though the riders at the front (lots of Belgians) will be strong.

giropaul

There are 2 starts (well, 3 if you include the 50km ride). The longer event goes off first, as has been said, often led by a few pro's. The middle distance one goes off a few minutes later.
It's a closed road start (but not throughout unless you are in the first echelons), and it does start fast and there is a turn off into a narrow lane that spreads things out. That said, it's perfectly possible to do a good ride without wrecking yourself early on to get to the front. I have found that it's common to catch and pass some of the fast starters on the first hill. Unless you are mega-fast and fit then the chances are that you won't be at the front anyway to be honest.
One thing just to ensure that everyone is aware of, French Government laws have meant that riders MUST have a UCI (i.e. BC for UK riders) racing licence, OR a specified medical certificate from a doctor. In the past, I've just flashed mine at signing on, but this year they have insisted on a scan of my licence before ratifying my entry. If you haven't supplied one of these, you can only ride the 50km as a "randonneur".

DeVlaeminck

Thanks, am planning to send them a scan of it same as for Marmotte but will take it with me just in case.

terry2708

giropaul wrote:

There are 2 starts (well, 3 if you include the 50km ride). The longer event goes off first, as has been said, often led by a few pro's. The middle distance one goes off a few minutes later.
It's a closed road start (but not throughout unless you are in the first echelons), and it does start fast and there is a turn off into a narrow lane that spreads things out. That said, it's perfectly possible to do a good ride without wrecking yourself early on to get to the front. I have found that it's common to catch and pass some of the fast starters on the first hill. Unless you are mega-fast and fit then the chances are that you won't be at the front anyway to be honest.
One thing just to ensure that everyone is aware of, French Government laws have meant that riders MUST have a UCI (i.e. BC for UK riders) racing licence, OR a specified medical certificate from a doctor. In the past, I've just flashed mine at signing on, but this year they have insisted on a scan of my licence before ratifying my entry. If you haven't supplied one of these, you can only ride the 50km as a "randonneur".

Hello,
I have sent my medical certificate online, but have not heard back from them. I am riding the 180km. Do they respond once you have sent it or shall I just take it on the day to make sure? Thanks

giropaul

terry2708 wrote:

giropaul wrote:

There are 2 starts (well, 3 if you include the 50km ride). The longer event goes off first, as has been said, often led by a few pro's. The middle distance one goes off a few minutes later.
It's a closed road start (but not throughout unless you are in the first echelons), and it does start fast and there is a turn off into a narrow lane that spreads things out. That said, it's perfectly possible to do a good ride without wrecking yourself early on to get to the front. I have found that it's common to catch and pass some of the fast starters on the first hill. Unless you are mega-fast and fit then the chances are that you won't be at the front anyway to be honest.
One thing just to ensure that everyone is aware of, French Government laws have meant that riders MUST have a UCI (i.e. BC for UK riders) racing licence, OR a specified medical certificate from a doctor. In the past, I've just flashed mine at signing on, but this year they have insisted on a scan of my licence before ratifying my entry. If you haven't supplied one of these, you can only ride the 50km as a "randonneur".

Hello,
I have sent my medical certificate online, but have not heard back from them. I am riding the 180km. Do they respond once you have sent it or shall I just take it on the day to make sure? Thanks

I have received an emailed " confirmation letter" giving me a start number and it then says "registration complete". It says that I must present this document.

In previous years they have taken entries with a certificate the day before as well, so I'd personally take it along just in case.

DeVlaeminck

I haven't done mine yet but for the marmotte they update your status on the webpage to registration complete too - I would definitely take everything relevant to registration too though - as GP says no harm just in case.

ManOfKent

The thing about the medical certificate/racing licence is news to me: the guy who did a group entry on our club's behalf seemed to think that a BC membership number would suffice. (It was OK for the Nove Colli, which although under a different jurisdiction of course is also officially a race.) I'll check that with him.

It's a good event: this will be the third year in a row for me, although from Kent it's only a short hop. A fast start is advisable but I don't think the pinch point (only 5 miles in, just past the eventual finish at Eaucourt) should be too much of a problem for the average club rider. Once the field starts to spread out, large groups form and it's possible to bang along at 20mph+ with minimal effort. There are no big climbs although it's quite undulating apart from the section along the coast. Most people do the medium route so the roads are empty past the split if you do the full 180km and there's also an absolutely unnecessary hill right near the end.

The best advice I was given: "When you see the sea in front of you, get on the small chainring." That's at Ault and there's a right-angled turn onto a short sharp rise. Every year people get caught out and there are photographers on hand to capture their frantic search for a gear! The other bit of advice is to take enough food and water because the feed station is after 60 miles, i.e. nearly at the end if you're doing the medium route.

narbs

It was my first experience of a continental sportive when I did it about 7 years ago, went back the following two years as well.

As with all Sport Communication events it was well organised. As others have said it's a fast start and then groups form. Make sure you're in a big group after the climb at Ault - the next 20k would be torture on your own.

The route itself is nothing special but Abbeville is a decent base and St Valery just to the north is very pretty. Only about 90 minutes from Calais as well.

I was doing to do it this year but we get back from France on the Wednesday and I can't justify heading straight back two days later - bad planning!

ridgerider

I am in Abbeville now just relaxing before the event tomorrow. Have done it for about the last 5 years. In response to some points above: I have only ever done it as a randonneur and I do the 185k route every year. Never been stopped at the narrow bridge, I start steady and the rush is over by the time I get there. It sounds like it is just the riders rushing to get to the front that cause the blockage! The course is rolling and it takes you through the villages and lanes of picardie. All junctions marshalled with traffic stopped for the cyclists. Two food stops and from my perspective as a tail end Charlie, they are always well stocked. With regards to cut off times, I once came in about 5 minutes before the broom wagon on a ride when I was not that fit and I would suggest that it is not too strict being their last event of the year...the escort had his horn blaring so it was not the case of the red lantern trying to cross the line quietly! Not too windy tomorrow which is key. Cold first thing but it is due to warm up. One tip...change into your inner ring before the sharp turn along the prom in Ault!

ridgerider

The other point to note is that Abbeville is just 45 miles from Dieppe, so if the ferry terminal at Newhaven is convenient, you can make it a long cycling tour weekend like me...60 miles yesterday, 116 tomorrow and another gentle 60 back to Dieppe on Sunday.

terry2708

Well I did it! The first 65 miles were fantastic, I was bombing along in a peleton of about 50 and as we approached the split for the 130km or the 185km I assumed that we would carry on, after all if there is a chance to do 185km you have to take it, right? Wrong! Nearly all the group tuned off to do the "short , flat ride". It left about 7 of us wondering what was so good about the 130. I have now seen the profile and the rest of the 130 was flat as a pancake whereas the long route was quite hilly. It was a struggle out in the crosswinds and riding on my own for some time but still enjoyed it, although the 8% average hill at 108 miles was a bit nasty.

A really well organised ride with nice food after and a fantastically fast start. I won't do it again as I have now done it but its worth a go.

2 questions……..1 Why go to France to ride a race (and it is a race, not a sportive) and cut out 35 miles?
2 Why do so many men think that shaving their legs is clever?? It looks stupid and adds no speed, all the brits seemed very proud that they had cyclist legs and wore shorts to "show them off". Weird, vey weird!

ManOfKent

Terry, you answered your own question about the extra distance: it's a tough second half out there on your own in the wind. I popped after about 85 miles but managed to keep within a couple of hundred yards of two clubmates and half an hour and two gels later, got back to them for a tow to the finish. The hill at Long is just sadism on the part of the organisers: unlike previous years they didn't even have a timing mat at the top.

Why do we shave our legs? Because the pros do. And it saves a lot of post-shower drying time, which I was grateful for on Saturday when there was a queue for the shower and we had a ferry to catch.

ridgerider

Ditto above, enjoyed the first wind assisted 70 miles in a motivated group of dutch riders...who peeled off to do the short ride as most of the locals seem to do! It was hard work to the second food stop but after that, with the wind behind, the run in to the end was not so bad. Got a silver certificate and there was plenty of pasta available at the end! I shall return again next year as it is my traditional season finale.