le tour du Mont Blanc

canoas

You may of heard of it, you may not of! Sport Communication organise this event. It's a mammoth 330km almost 9,000m of climbing in one day! It says "the toughest one day bike race", you can ride either in a relay, team or solo.

I've ridden the L'Ardéchoise Vélo Marathon 278km with 6,000m of climbing some years back and that was incredibly hard on my body, took me weeks to get over that and I'm older now! Mont Blanc looks much harder, though much fun through Switzerland, Italy and France not only about an achievement but riding will be just beautiful I'm sure. I would imagine, rain, sun, winds, the lot.

I would have to be looking at a trainer or some advice.

Anyone know of anyone who has ridden this crazy sportive?

ugo.santalucia

Yes, I have a friend who has done it twice... one in good weather, one in atrocious weather. He loves distance, mountain riding. He trains less than I do, but most likely can stand more physical pain than I can. If you have done similar events, as you say, I think you will be fine. Like all these things, weather is the single biggest challenge... too cold or too hot and you can be in for a very long and painful day

KKB

I'll be there on the 16th.

Coming over from Australia for a 7 week trip, and to have another go after a failed attempt at it in 2012. Although having done a LOT of similar distances, and with almost similar elevation gain, you can't recreate the Alps environment here in Aus.
And, yes ugo, you are right in that the weather can play such a huge role in how the day pans out.
If all else fails, I can always eat cheese and drink wine! What more can one want?

canoas

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Yes, I have a friend who has done it twice... one in good weather, one in atrocious weather. He loves distance, mountain riding. He trains less than I do, but most likely can stand more physical pain than I can. If you have done similar events, as you say, I think you will be fine. Like all these things, weather is the single biggest challenge... too cold or too hot and you can be in for a very long and painful day

Completely agree about hot cold weather, that's why I take these sportive times with a pinch of salt. I can tell you I've ridden the marmotte at 20C and over 30-40C also freezing with snow, 20C time is a lot less but I take that time with a pinch of salt!

canoas

KKB wrote:

I'll be there on the 16th.

Coming over from Australia for a 7 week trip, and to have another go after a failed attempt at it in 2012. Although having done a LOT of similar distances, and with almost similar elevation gain, you can't recreate the Alps environment here in Aus.
And, yes ugo, you are right in that the weather can play such a huge role in how the day pans out.
If all else fails, I can always eat cheese and drink wine! What more can one want?

Coming from Australia must be very difficult your terrain is mostly flat I'd imagine, though hot weather could be an advantage for you. When the weather turns foul high up, it's about survival. take bring plenty of kit with you, winter arm warmers, light gilet, rain jacket pocket size, rain cap (Assos) and long finger gloves, also real food not bars ( a lot of French riders eat ham/bread or jam/bread, sugar sweets). This works me me. Rain jacket warms you up well, I have an Endura one. And a must for me, use warm muscle embrocation before ride, stays on for 6 hours.

Even in the UK it's very hard, though we have steep pitched hills which helps a little, our advantage it's an 1:20 plane ride to Geneva or 1:30 to Grenoble, your in the heart of the Alps. I can leave my house @5am and be having lunch at the top of Col du Jeux Plane by 2pm for lunch.....we are luckier in that sense.

Good luck, I'm sure your finish this time. If not enjoy 3 cheeses 3 wines (Italy, Swiss, France).....