Marmotte 2017
Comments
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narbs wrote:Well, it's finally full by the looks of it.
i really cant understand why it took so long to fill up this time, that has to be a first in its historyRule #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 -
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Well, I now have a place I won't be using, unless I win the lottery between now and then.0
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Hi.
Hope other folks training is going better than mine!
Now we seem to be pretty close to going, do any veterans have any top tips?
New tyres and brake blocks are going on early enough to scrub in a bit.
Sport Tours take your clothes at the start so you can wear a proper jacket for the early descent to Bourg but is a race cape still needed for the descents or will it be warmer and bearable by then?
How important is it to be at the front of your respective pen if you're only looking to finish and aren't going for Gold etc? Still ok to fill in at the back?
I'd rather spend longer in the hotel than ages at the start.
Cheers
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RC856 wrote:Hi.
Hope other folks training is going better than mine!
Now we seem to be pretty close to going, do any veterans have any top tips?
New tyres and brake blocks are going on early enough to scrub in a bit.
Sport Tours take your clothes at the start so you can wear a proper jacket for the early descent to Bourg but is a race cape still needed for the descents or will it be warmer and bearable by then?
How important is it to be at the front of your respective pen if you're only looking to finish and aren't going for Gold etc? Still ok to fill in at the back?
I'd rather spend longer in the hotel than ages at the start.
Cheers
Yes I'd take a lightweight race cape as you are going up into the mountains and if there is any chance of rain some long fingered gloves that will pull over or under your mitts. No need to be at the front of your pen if you aren't aiming for a time but I wouldn't want to be at the back.
My top tips would be make sure you fill your bottles at the feed in Valloire (it's as you leave the town, you can't miss it though you will probably worry you have) as it's a long way up the Galibier especially in hot weather, same probably goes for the Alpe. The other thing is if the weather if very hot on the Alpe pour lots of water over your head - you can refill using the streams - any time you lose refilling you will make up by not suffering heat exhaustion. Last time I did it a man died due to heat and I think something like 30-40% didn't finish but you do it for the challenge.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
Cheers 0
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Avoid filling bottles from streams on the Alp as there is a real risk of the water being contaminated from the waste from the ski resort. ( I know someone who was out of action for weeks. ) There are plenty of water taps available.0
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To pour over your head I think is OK - didn't hurt me anyway and it makes a big difference if you get a hot one.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0
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My tip is this - make sure you look up and take in the view (not in the Maurienne Valley, obv!). It's a stunning route - particularly the Telegraphe/Galibier.
Other than that, latch onto a (probably Dutch) train along the Maurienne valley. If you find yourself with no-one in front along the valley or the approach to AdH, flick your elbow as I will guarantee there is a train of at least 10 riders sat in your slipstream. :shock:0 -
Not only the waste, water can be contaminated by livestock. If it's not a ski resort area, be sure there are no animals above. Anyway there are a lot of spots to refill and water taps as you said.dandrew wrote:Avoid filling bottles from streams on the Alp as there is a real risk of the water being contaminated from the waste from the ski resort. ( I know someone who was out of action for weeks. ) There are plenty of water taps available.
My training is not focused on the Marmotte yet, but I'm a local of this sportive (Grenoble) so I'm already used to long climbs.
Col du Glandon still closed, it snowed last week.0 -
Hi,
Does anyone know if I can get a number by turning up on the sign-on day? e.g. due to cancellations.
Would it be better to turn up towards closing time for sign-ons (to give the organisers confidence that certain numbers will be available)?
Or does sold out really mean sold out?
This would be my 4th Marmotte, but I never expected to be able to attend until now.
Advice appreciated.0 -
no entries on the dayRule #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 -
Sure. But how about in the registration tents (1 or 2 days before) where people pick up their numbers?itboffin wrote:no entries on the day0 -
silkypedals wrote:
Sure. But how about in the registration tents (1 or 2 days before) where people pick up their numbers?itboffin wrote:no entries on the day
No I don't think so. Why not contact them and see if you can get a cancellation or something no harm in asking.
The other possible option is they used to hold some entries back for people who entered the whole week of events - the sportive the previous weekend, the ride in the week, marmotte and the Alpe climb on Sunday. Dont know if they still do or if they've sold out now too but maybe worth a look if the cost isn't an issue.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
The organisers were very responsive. Here is their reply.
C'est inutile, nous ne faisons aucune vente sur place. La seule façon de pouvoir encore obtenir un numéro de départ est de contacter l'un de nos tours opérateurs, mentionnés sur notre site.
Rendez-vous sur marmottegranfondoseries.com => Inscriptions => Tour opérateur.
Nous ne revendons pas les dossards des participants qui annulent puisqu'il n'y a aucun remboursement effectué au-delà des 14 jours de rétractation autorisés.
Translates to:
"It's useless. Better contact one of the tour operators to get a ticket.
We do not sell the bibs of the participants who cancel since there is no refund made beyond the 14 days of withdrawal allowed."
Fair enough.
If anyone has an idea of how I can get a number without an expensive accommodation package thrown in please PM me.0 -
I'm fortunate enough to live just down the road from the Galibier, well about 25km (16km to the Lautaret) and do a lot of riding in the mountains.
Few tips, never trust the forecast, especially if out for the whole day like the Marmotte as in the summer the lottery of thunderstorms is very real. You can get away in the morning until the cloud bubbles up.
Obviously if active fronts are tracking through then that's another story, I've see snow on the Galibier in July a week or so before the TDF.
Re water most small villages will have fonts and I often cool down in mountain streams if it's really hot, and if I'm out of water I'll make a calculated decision on streams as livestock can only feed on pastures not steep mountain cliffs etc so if you see an obvious waterfall / stream then that'll be ok.
With the Etape and TDF in our valley I've put together a rather detailed guide to cycling in the mountains and the many routes in our region and further beyond.
I've been back in the UK for a couple of weeks and head back out for the summer this weekend.
http://www.stylealtitude.com/cycle-rout ... alier.html0 -
silkypedals wrote:Hi,
Does anyone know if I can get a number by turning up on the sign-on day? e.g. due to cancellations.
Would it be better to turn up towards closing time for sign-ons (to give the organisers confidence that certain numbers will be available)?
Or does sold out really mean sold out?
This would be my 4th Marmotte, but I never expected to be able to attend until now.
Advice appreciated.
If you've done it three times already you may as well use the day to explore other routes ? You can't really get a number legitimately now.0 -
Great website with lots of good material about routes I never knew about. Thanks.GavinBay wrote:I'm fortunate enough to live just down the road from the Galibier, well about 25km (16km to the Lautaret) and do a lot of riding in the mountains.
...
http://www.stylealtitude.com/cycle-rout ... alier.html0 -
Yeah, that was the same conclusion I made. Will travel over to Annecy and cover some of my favourite routes instead (Le Revard (overlooking lac Chambery), La Col du leschaux (over Crêt de Châtillon across the Semnoz hills), and La Clusaz.Fenix wrote:
If you've done it three times already you may as well use the day to explore other routes ? You can't really get a number legitimately now.
Out of interest to anyone interested in a cheap trip to the Rhone Alpes area, French schools have their holidays from around 8th July. So Airbnb etc is relatively cheap in June/ early july. I got a level of a house with private access, and a view (about 500m away) from lac Annecy for €45 per night.
After 8th July prices increase for the season0 -
Classic summer alpine weather on the Galibier yesterday. Drove down to Serre Che yesterday and temps were 34.5 around Lyon and low 30's Grenoble so would be similar in the Maurienne.
Bourg was packed with Dutch as it's Dutch week coming up and atmosphere was buzzing what with a certain Giro win and temps were mid 20's at 18:30.
Stopped off at friends in La Grave and it was looking ominous further up towards Lautaret / Galibier, and did think just as well did not drive over the Galibier as driving over the Lautaret raining hard.
Was hoping to cycle up there today but looking a tad suspect at the moment.0 -
Weather cleared a little so thought why not - last km from the tunnel up to the Col still closed to traffic so made it all the more enjoyable 8)
Clouds bubbled up all around us late afternoon and was raining very heavy down in Briancon but we only had a few spits.
As you can see still a lot of snow up there!
Mind you this was back in Feb when I skied toured up there !
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I'm doing the Marmotte again after last trying it 11 years ago. When I rode it 11 years ago the drink/feed stops were chaos and the later ones ran out of water! By the time I got to Valloire there was no water left!!! So I had to struggle up the Galiber with no water (it wasn't a pleasant experience).
I'm hoping they're a bit more organised now ... anyone done it in the last few years that can advise? Also does anyone have a list of all the feed/drink stops and other places where you can get food/drink? Thanks :-)0 -
its fine, the first feed stop is a total nightmare if your in the main pack, fine if you have a low number. plenty of food and water everywhere on routeRule #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 -
Well, I'm not going to get any better between now and June 2nd.
I reckon I'll be hard pressed to make the cut-off at the foot of Alpe D'Huez.
I did a 200km sportive with 2800m of climbing on Sunday and it took me 8:15 of saddle time (Around 9hrs total including a couple of food stops). I was riding solo the whole time and had some headwinds so maybe would have done it in 8:00 in calm weather but even so, I'm worried. If Marmotte is as much tougher as I expect (even if heat or wind isn't a challenge) I think I should expect over 10hrs in the saddle to reach the cut-off point and more likely 10:30. I'll be in the 07:50 start with a few thousand others so lets say I get over the line by 08:00, that leaves me 10:15 to reach the cut-off if I understand correctly. So, I'd have to ride the distance in 10hrs allowing just 10-15mins spread throughout the ride to top off water bottles and take a leak or two and no other stops.
Is that about the size of it?
I weigh 81kg and reckon I averaged about 160W for just over 8 hours the other day. I paced that pretty well, and I couldn't have continued that effort much longer. I'll need to back off a little bit to keep going for 12-13hrs. That 200km ride included some brief 10-15% slopes but the longest significant climb was 6.8km at about 6% (took me just under 30mins) and the hardest were a couple of 3km climbs @ 8.5% average that included some steeper ramps. So, nothing approaching what's coming on July 2nd.
Do a lot of people typically arrive after cut-off and carry on up Alpe D'Huez anyway?0 -
Ai_1 wrote:Well, I'm not going to get any better between now and June 2nd.
I reckon I'll be hard pressed to make the cut-off at the foot of Alpe D'Huez.
I did a 200km sportive with 2800m of climbing on Sunday and it took me 8:15 of saddle time (Around 9hrs total including a couple of food stops). I was riding solo the whole time and had some headwinds so maybe would have done it in 8:00 in calm weather but even so, I'm worried. If Marmotte is as much tougher as I expect (even if heat or wind isn't a challenge) I think I should expect over 10hrs in the saddle to reach the cut-off point and more likely 10:30. I'll be in the 07:50 start with a few thousand others so lets say I get over the line by 08:00, that leaves me 10:15 to reach the cut-off if I understand correctly. So, I'd have to ride the distance in 10hrs allowing just 10-15mins spread throughout the ride to top off water bottles and take a leak or two and no other stops.
Is that about the size of it?
I weigh 81kg and reckon I averaged about 160W for just over 8 hours the other day. I paced that pretty well, and I couldn't have continued that effort much longer. I'll need to back off a little bit to keep going for 12-13hrs. That 200km ride included some brief 10-15% slopes but the longest significant climb was 6.8km at about 6% (took me just under 30mins) and the hardest were a couple of 3km climbs @ 8.5% average that included some steeper ramps. So, nothing approaching what's coming on July 2nd.
Do a lot of people typically arrive after cut-off and carry on up Alpe D'Huez anyway?
Well for most the Marmotte is a challenge whether that is aiming for a sub 7 hour time or getting round within the cut off. You should be doing what you have to to get to the foot of the Alpe before that cut off. That means doing things differently to your sportive - ride in groups, only stop the bare mimimum to top up water and grab food, start at the front and save yourself that 15 minutes. Basically your target should be getting to the Alpe and empty the tank making that cut off, no backing off worry about getting up the thing when you've beaten the clock. I realise there are alternative approaches but if your target is beating the cut off go all in.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
Ai_1 wrote:Well, I'm not going to get any better between now and June 2nd.
I reckon I'll be hard pressed to make the cut-off at the foot of Alpe D'Huez.
I did a 200km sportive with 2800m of climbing on Sunday and it took me 8:15 of saddle time (Around 9hrs total including a couple of food stops). I was riding solo the whole time and had some headwinds so maybe would have done it in 8:00 in calm weather but even so, I'm worried. If Marmotte is as much tougher as I expect (even if heat or wind isn't a challenge) I think I should expect over 10hrs in the saddle to reach the cut-off point and more likely 10:30. I'll be in the 07:50 start with a few thousand others so lets say I get over the line by 08:00, that leaves me 10:15 to reach the cut-off if I understand correctly. So, I'd have to ride the distance in 10hrs allowing just 10-15mins spread throughout the ride to top off water bottles and take a leak or two and no other stops.
Is that about the size of it?
I weigh 81kg and reckon I averaged about 160W for just over 8 hours the other day. I paced that pretty well, and I couldn't have continued that effort much longer. I'll need to back off a little bit to keep going for 12-13hrs. That 200km ride included some brief 10-15% slopes but the longest significant climb was 6.8km at about 6% (took me just under 30mins) and the hardest were a couple of 3km climbs @ 8.5% average that included some steeper ramps. So, nothing approaching what's coming on July 2nd.
Do a lot of people typically arrive after cut-off and carry on up Alpe D'Huez anyway?
What time is the cut off? The first time I did the Marmotte it took me almost 12 hours in total and I got to the foot of AdH at just before 6. I then took another two hours to climb the mountain......
I think it's fair to say I underestimated how hard it would be 0 -
Yeah its a tough day in the saddle for sure but I'd say if you make it to the foot of ADH cut off or not dont give up, just 16km more to go, the first few ramps at 10% hurt but once you pass through town all that pain will be gone and you'll have ridden the Marmotte
Eat and drink all the way around and spend as little time as possible stationaryRule #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 -
The cut off is at 18:15 so you made it with just 15mins to spare by the sound of it. I'm estimating 12:30 to finish.narbs wrote:What time is the cut off? The first time I did the Marmotte it took me almost 12 hours in total and I got to the foot of AdH at just before 6. I then took another two hours to climb the mountain......
I think it's fair to say I underestimated how hard it would be0 -
Ai_1 wrote:
The cut off is at 18:15 so you made it with just 15mins to spare by the sound of it. I'm estimating 12:30 to finish.narbs wrote:What time is the cut off? The first time I did the Marmotte it took me almost 12 hours in total and I got to the foot of AdH at just before 6. I then took another two hours to climb the mountain......
I think it's fair to say I underestimated how hard it would be
See, plenty of time 0
