Le Tour du Mont Blanc

djhermer

I have rather stupidly signed up for this. 200 miles, 25000ft climbing. I just happened to be in France that weekend :shock:

Anyone else?

durhamwasp

Wow! That looks hardcore!

Cingles du Mont Ventoux is the toughest days cycling I have done - 3 ascents of the giant in 13hrs, and that was 86 miles and 15,000ft...

djhermer

I know, it's pretty brutal. I had a serious wobble last night after reading the results and stories from previous events. Almost 24hrs later and I'm all over it again... I've already sorted the gearing (34:32) so it's a case of 8 months to get used to the idea of around 16-18 hrs in the saddle and climbing the equivalent of Everest. All in the head surely

KKB

I had a crack at it in 2012 when we were last over there and in hindsight wasn't fully prepared for it. I made it to the top of Petit St.Bernard (246km) and was absolutely smashed. (Being on the wrong side of 90kgs probably didn't help either!!)
Had also done the 3 sides of Ventoux that same trip, four weeks earlier, as well as a few other 'epics', which may have been a bit too much 'cramming', but am VERY keen to have another go next time. Just hope it's still on as an event then as the numbers seem to have been dropping each year.
To the OP, I strongly recommend being as ready as you can. Just enjoy the day. The scenery is absolutely amazing.

djhermer

KKB wrote:

I had a crack at it in 2012 when we were last over there and in hindsight wasn't fully prepared for it. I made it to the top of Petit St.Bernard (246km) and was absolutely smashed. (Being on the wrong side of 90kgs probably didn't help either!!)
Had also done the 3 sides of Ventoux that same trip, four weeks earlier, as well as a few other 'epics', which may have been a bit too much 'cramming', but am VERY keen to have another go next time. Just hope it's still on as an event then as the numbers seem to have been dropping each year.
To the OP, I strongly recommend being as ready as you can. Just enjoy the day. The scenery is absolutely amazing.

Cheers, good to hear from someone that's done it! I think the numbers were up last year and they're hoping for an increase again (of course). I am certainly not taking this one lightly. I've taken on a coach (with an incredible pedigree in ultra-endurance cycling events both personally and as a coach - 24 hr records and the like). Starting with him now which gives me 7 months from an already 'not bad' base. As you say, it is such a stunning route that i want to avoid spending upwards of 15 hours in the saddle, feeling dreadful and staring at my stem.

It starts here. :twisted:

ugo.santalucia

djhermer wrote:

As you say, it is such a stunning route that i want to avoid spending upwards of 15 hours in the saddle, feeling dreadful and staring at my stem.

It starts here. :twisted:

You need to be a pretty good athlete to do it in under 15 hours. My friend John Parkin did it twice and I think he did 17 hours or so... he's no novice to endurance events

djhermer

ugo.santalucia wrote:

djhermer wrote:

As you say, it is such a stunning route that i want to avoid spending upwards of 15 hours in the saddle, feeling dreadful and staring at my stem.

It starts here. :twisted:

You need to be a pretty good athlete to do it in under 15 hours. My friend John Parkin did it twice and I think he did 17 hours or so... he's no novice to endurance events

I am realistically aiming for around 18 hrs. I think there's a cut off at midnight (19 hrs), but not entirely sure.

ugo.santalucia

djhermer wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

djhermer wrote:

As you say, it is such a stunning route that i want to avoid spending upwards of 15 hours in the saddle, feeling dreadful and staring at my stem.

It starts here. :twisted:

You need to be a pretty good athlete to do it in under 15 hours. My friend John Parkin did it twice and I think he did 17 hours or so... he's no novice to endurance events

I am realistically aiming for around 18 hrs. I think there's a cut off at midnight (19 hrs), but not entirely sure.

50% is down to you, the rest is the weather. Gran St Bernard is 2500 mt, you can find snow any time of the year, PSB is 2200, so not far off. I think John had a terrible time the first time round, as it rained solid for most of the day... very few did finish that edition. You might want to take a week of training in Scotland to get used to the idea of riding up the mountains in terrible weather. Atlantic Pyrenees are another good spot for rain seekers... from Early June the Tourmalet should be open

djhermer

Thanks Ugo. I've read about the event 2 or 3 years ago which was ruined by weather. I think only 90 out of several hundred finished. If it's that bad there's not a lot you can do to prepare. I have lots of climbing planned over the next 6 months but preparing for the event of horrendous weather is difficult. I'm confident i can ride that sort of distance / elevation for 18/20 hours with the right training. Could I do it if i'm soaked and freezing cold from the outset?? I don't know.

DeVlaeminck

Sounds like a good event - another 95 miles and 3000metres of climbing on top of the the totals for the marmotte.