Marmotte 2015
Comments
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Great stuff. Couple of stupid questions with your data.
Col de Glandon
13-15km, (80m)
16.7km - 25km , 800m - 1262m (462)
26km - 35km, 1202m - 1782m (580)
38km - 41km, 1740m - 1871m (130m)
Does this mean that the climb starts at 13km and goes on for 2km with 80m of vertical ascent? then descends for 1.7km and climbs from km 16.7 to km 25 with 462 vertical ascent? and so on and so on?
The Mollard looks like it is going to be a complete bastard!0 -
Great stuff. Couple of stupid questions with your data.
Col de Glandon
13-15km, (80m)
16.7km - 25km , 800m - 1262m (462)
26km - 35km, 1202m - 1782m (580)
38km - 41km, 1740m - 1871m (130m)
Does this mean that the climb starts at 13km and goes on for 2km with 80m of vertical ascent? then descends for 1.7km and climbs from km 16.7 to km 25 with 462 vertical ascent? and so on and so on?
The Mollard looks like it is going to be a complete bastard!
So i'm not sure where the Glandon really starts but the first bit is the climb up to the first dam, then its flat and then slightly down, then it begins to climb again, and then there is another sharper drop (up to 10% gradient downhill) before heading back up again to beyond the second lake, then a third, shallower downhill section before the final section up to the Glandon/CDF fork and summit.
The Mollard is quite a nice climb, mostly a longish road about 6% up to Albiez but a lot of shade from the trees, then a bit steeper to the top and not shaded.0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19636031#p19636031]Greg66 Tri v2.0[/url] wrote:No so long as your entry is complete (which should happen when you upload your medical certificate) that's all you need - print out the letter off the website just in case and I think you might need ID - not sure - take some anyway.
Hmm. I've uploaded a copy of my BC race licence rather than a Dr's cert. anyone know if that is going to be ok? I can't see anything to indicate whether my registration is complete or not.
I did that for the Le Ventoux race a month ago (same organisers) and it was fine. Much simpler than being ripped off by your local GP.
Once uploaded it should say "votre inscription est complete". I think it is automated. Log into your account and see if you can download or view your image of the BC license.
In fact, on looking at my account, there should be a "Lettre de confirmation" link on the right.0 -
col de Mollard
81k-88k, 543m-1583m (1050m )
Seriously? 1050m of gain in 7k? So 7k at an average of 15%?0 -
Weather forecast for Saturday from local news:
https://youtu.be/MuSPdsPWit0
and one for the iPlayer
https://youtu.be/EVsBYFlzCAgBASI Nordic Ski Instructor
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[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19638227#p19638227]Greg66 Tri v2.0[/url] wrote:
col de Mollard
81k-88k, 543m-1583m (1050m )
Seriously? 1050m of gain in 7k? So 7k at an average of 15%?
Good spot, I compared with my ride stats (not the course download) and it was more like
79k-92k, 566m-1351m (785m , 6% avg)
92k-98.4k, 1351m-1620m (269m 4% avg but includes a bit of downhill)0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19638227#p19638227]Greg66 Tri v2.0[/url] wrote:
col de Mollard
81k-88k, 543m-1583m (1050m )
Seriously? 1050m of gain in 7k? So 7k at an average of 15%?
Good spot, I compared with my ride stats (not the course download) and it was more like
79k-92k, 566m-1351m (785m , 6% avg)
92k-98.4k, 1351m-1620m (269m 4% avg but includes a bit of downhill)
THANK FUCKING CHRIST FOR THAT!!!
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Oh boy, this could be fun. Looks like they've been reading your simple solution. But instead of dynamite (too dangerous to put into place), they might do it with missiles to bring the whole lot down. http://www.francebleu.fr/infos/tunnel/tunnel-du-chambon-ils-ont-envisage-de-detruire-la-montagne-coups-de-missile-2468671So simple solution, blow the feck out of the side above the tunnel (red sector) and excavate the road with a wee bit of work to the sides similar to the revetments further up the road.0 -
Been out here since Sunday, fair to sayIwill never say I want the weather the hotter the better again![Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0
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http://www.accuweather.com/en/fr/alpe-dhuez/55501_poi/daily-weather-forecast/55501_poi?day=4
This site is giving the Alpe with a high of 26 for Saturday? Is that wrong?
Also says Bourg is getting a high of 34! I'm going to bake!0 -
http://www.accuweather.com/en/fr/alpe-dhuez/55501_poi/daily-weather-forecast/55501_poi?day=4
This site is giving the Alpe with a high of 26 for Saturday? Is that wrong?
Also says Bourg is getting a high of 34! I'm going to bake!
"real feel" 31º
and that is at 1800m, generally the temperature changes by 1 degree every 100m of altitude gain/loss
= very hot in the valley0 -
Forecast for Bourg and the Alpe below - and this is the forecast for the shade !!
Out on the bike two days ago my computer in the sun was reading 42
It seems to just get hotter as the day goes on as you can see, still really hot at 1700
And even though the Alpe forecast looks less, again that's in the shade not out on the road in the sun.
If you wear a cotton buff under your helmet a la pirate style then you can chuck that in the fountain to help cool you down.
http://www.meteociel.fr/previsions/13236/le_bourg_d_oisans.htm
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Did aloop round the Ornon, Oris and Morte on Tuesday, Was really suffering on the Morte despite stopping to dip my head in a fountain. Took 30 minutes in a cafe on the valley road before recovering enough to do the 15 miles back. I'm normally OK in heat but this is something else. I'd say I'm going into Saturday with the aim of getting round and not ending up in hospital, I was aiming for 7,30 but that kind of time is not possible for me in this heat
I wouldn't be surprised if a quarter of the field dnf, in the UK this would be cancelled (not saying it should be as we aren't in the UK) .[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
I wouldn't be surprised if a quarter of the field dnf, in the UK this would be cancelled (not saying it should be as we aren't in the UK) .
I think I agree with you, having spoken to a few locals over the last few days they are saying how severe the heat is. And how ironic as last year we were complaining how wet and cold it was.
I just can't do the heat, I'm not naturally skinny / slight / bean pole in physique, (78kg) good at holding speed on the flat and powering along but as soon as the gradient starts to ramp up then I have problems, and the heat just accelerates those problems.
Off to La Grave for lunch now with my friends that run the Edelweiss Hotel after having done a tough steep climb early this morning, that's not as long as the Granon (that's tomorrow) but is definitely steeper, and used my cross / hybrid bike as last 2km off road - times going up way slower than in Spring but the descent with the disc brakes was superb, defo the way to go with disc brakes out here for the descents!0 -
Because of the forecast weather conditions there is something that newbies might need to be aware of. When I first rode the event in 2000, we arrived at the timing point at the bottom of AdH outside the cut-off time. The organisers stopped riders at this point and took their race numbers off them. There was a lot of confusion over this as to whether we could finish the ride or not because no-one in our group spoke French. After a while we saw other riders carrying on so we did too and finished the event but obviously didn't qualify for a medal.
That was before they used timing chips as they do now so I'm not sure what they do if you are outside the cut-off time which we managed to get within last year. Others may be able to advise as to what happens now but all I'm saying is they are public roads so in theory they can't really stop you riding up and at least completing the ride if that's what you want to do.0 -
Oh boy, this could be fun. Looks like they've been reading your simple solution. But instead of dynamite (too dangerous to put into place), they might do it with missiles to bring the whole lot down. http://www.francebleu.fr/infos/tunnel/tunnel-du-chambon-ils-ont-envisage-de-detruire-la-montagne-coups-de-missile-2468671So simple solution, blow the feck out of the side above the tunnel (red sector) and excavate the road with a wee bit of work to the sides similar to the revetments further up the road.
That would be quite something to watch. I wouldn't fancy being downstream when 1m cubic metres of rock hits the lake though.0 -
That would be quite something to watch. I wouldn't fancy being downstream when 1m cubic metres of rock hits the lake though.
If the dam goes you wouldn't want to be in Bourg d'Oisans or le Freney, that is for sure. With a full dam Grenoble would be partially flooded, they've lowered the water level though because the concrete was found to be rotting.BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
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Hi All,
First time post, but been following this thread with interest. I went to register today and pick up the number and noticed that on the official route card the length is now 176.5km. So the course is now longer, with more climbing and with slower, more technical descents than the original route! Add in the heat and it will be a hell of a challenge to get a gold medal this year!
Does anyone know for sure if the route has definitely been lengthened or if it's a mistake on the card? It seems like they've put in an extra loop on the main road before the start of the Mollard.
Cheers, and good luck to all taking part!
Ian0 -
I did it a couple of years ago and the temps on ADH hit the 40s for a moment I had a doubt that I'd be able to make it to the top but after such an epic day there was no way I was giving up, even seeing one chap receiving first aid for what was clearly heat exhaustion and another just fall over on the 2nd 10% ramp.
The bonus was the water taps half way up ADH with crowds cheering us on and several very fit bikini clad ladies, I spent a few minutes sat under a tap.
Toptip lowering your core temp is very important, by the end of drank some much water I think it was messing with my electrolyte balance.Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
Agree with the core temp stuff but having also done it two years ago the weather here now is significantly hotter and forecast hotter still for Saturday, I would say for anyone in trouble at the foot of the Alpe the wise thing would be to can it.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0
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Agree with the core temp stuff but having also done it two years ago the weather here now is significantly hotter and forecast hotter still for Saturday, I would say for anyone in trouble at the foot of the Alpe the wise thing would be to can it.
Also did it in 2013 and was delayed due to mechanicals so ended up climbing the Telegraphe in full on sun, think it was about 40 degrees. Although a helmet is mandatory I believe you're OK to take it off on the ascents, so might be an option. I got through something like 13 full bottles of water, and saw an awful lot of people cramping up, so maybe try some aero tabs (they seem to work well for me).0 -
Did aloop round the Ornon, Oris and Morte on Tuesday...
I wouldn't be surprised if a quarter of the field dnf, in the UK this would be cancelled (not saying it should be as we aren't in the UK) .
Did the Luitel this morning, started at 6.20 and was on the climb at 8am, it is all in the shade at that time but it was hot and stuffy all the same. Slight bonk on the road into Uriage so had to stop for some sugar. Not bad passed Grenoble at 9.30ish although quite polluted at the moment too. I was pleased to be back home by 10am. I couldn't go outside now. So that little 1300 meters of climbing needed 4 water bottles overall.BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
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And just to throw further weather conditions into the mix, looking like afternoon thunderstorms will be occurring judging by the ominous clouds all around yesterday and today and the forecast (few massive rain drops for all of a couple of mins yesterday), but where they might happen is really a lottery this time of year, but on the basis of sods law.................
Further Edit
Now chucking it down outside, whilst blue sky further up the valley.
You can see the weather on my weathercam which you can move around
http://www.stylealtitude.com/serrechevalierweathercam.html0 -
Just tested the legs on AdH from the church to hairpin 2. 33 deg C according to the Garmin.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
They reckon 2 million tonnes of rock are going to come down this weekend. http://www.lemedia05.com/2015/24170/tunnel-du-chambon-le-glissement-de-terrain-devrait-se-produire-ce-week-end/ - but that that should produce a 2m wave which won't threaten the dam.That would be quite something to watch. I wouldn't fancy being downstream when 1m cubic metres of rock hits the lake though.
If the dam goes you wouldn't want to be in Bourg d'Oisans or le Freney, that is for sure. With a full dam Grenoble would be partially flooded, they've lowered the water level though because the concrete was found to be rotting.0 -
Well that was fun! 34 minutes down on last time, thought the route was tougher but suppose it could be the weather. 8,08, getting too old for this![Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0
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Well that was fun! 34 minutes down on last time, thought the route was tougher but suppose it could be the weather. 8,08, getting too old for this!
Just spoke to a friend who cracked on the final climb after la Garde, he said people were giving up on the Glandon when he road (late group). Another friend made it but had to walk the last 4km due to a mechanical.
I'd say 34 minutes down is good going given the heat.BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
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Just copying what I put in another forum.
DNF lads. Mechanical issue with my gears that got worse and worse after about 70 mile. Then had to walk to find the mavic van which was 6k away! Cleats were shot after that and couldn't clip on on the descent. Too dangerous so I had to abandon. To be honest though I would never have completed the alp. It was 45 degrees when I was driving up it at the end! I don't think I would have had the legs. Too heavy and not enough experience on those climbs. Gutted obviously but more gutted that I didn't get to see how far I could get.0 -
Results are out, looks like 3000 non finishers out of 7500, compared with 1200 last year.
Conditions certainly took their toll by the sounds of it.
I wasn't too pleased with my 8.54, but maybe not too unhappy about it now.0 -
Congratulations to anyone who got round in those conditions I'd say, I don't think I would have made it. Annoying I'd guess to do all that training and not get the medal you deserve though because the weather was against you.
What was the modified route like?0
