Marmotte 2017

itboffin

bendertherobot wrote:

I have a similar desire for the Marmotte, smash the climbs, get gold. I'll be careful descending mind.

i'm sure you know this but get there early as you can and go for gentle rides up cols to get used to the extended efforts most likely in tough weather conditions of one kind.

the fly in out types must be a different breed of human to me, i need 3 days to get settled then i'm sweet

good luck 8)

DeVlaeminck

itboffin wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

I have a similar desire for the Marmotte, smash the climbs, get gold. I'll be careful descending mind.

i'm sure you know this but get there early as you can and go for gentle rides up cols to get used to the extended efforts most likely in tough weather conditions of one kind.

the fly in out types must be a different breed of human to me, i need 3 days to get settled then i'm sweet

good luck 8)

Yes certainly I take several days to acclimatise when it's hot and I like riding in heat. 2015 when they had extreme heat and the tougher route and maybe a third DNFed I went quite well on the day with my highest finish in 4 attempts but the Tuesday before suffered complete défaillance on the col du Morte when lads who finished a couple of hours down on me on the day just rode away and had to wait 10 minutes for me at the top.

narbs

itboffin wrote:

ha! that Mont Blanc ride is insane, for me next year its Cingles which i missed out on this year due to injury and a new job

Ah, the Cinglés! Did that last year, found it mentally very tough.

ugo.santalucia

itboffin wrote:

ha! that Mont Blanc ride is insane, for me next year its Cingles which i missed out on this year due to injury and a new job

I think psychologically a ride around the Mont Blanc is easier... once you are far enough to be tired (could be around Aosta in Italy, for instance), you have no choice but to finish, I reckon it is the shortest possible loop around the mountain range, there is no shortcut, unless you manage to get a ride on a car and across the MTB tunnel.

The Cingles is mentally tought, as you can give up at pretty much any point and it's a tantilising prospect to just call it a day, when you are tired.
I also find putting a lot of effort to NOT go very far a bit unrewarding

DeVlaeminck

Cingles is easier though isn't it - I mean in terms of distance and metres climbed. I quite fancy both but the difficulty of the Mont Blanc event is enough that if I entered I'd be motivated to train hard for it.

ugo.santalucia

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Cingles is easier though isn't it - I mean in terms of distance and metres climbed. I quite fancy both but the difficulty of the Mont Blanc event is enough that if I entered I'd be motivated to train hard for it.

Not sure rating difficulty based on miles and metres of climbing tells the whole story. I think looking at the % of finishers probably tell a more realistic story. Most events have % of finishers well exceeding 90%. IMO an event where you can peel off at any point is bound to be a harder one to finish mentally. Motivation goes down the drain if you can see your car parked in the distance.

Training is over rated, people train too much... some clowns train too little of course, but among those taking things seriously, typically people tend to over train rather than under train

ai_1

ugo.santalucia wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Cingles is easier though isn't it - I mean in terms of distance and metres climbed. I quite fancy both but the difficulty of the Mont Blanc event is enough that if I entered I'd be motivated to train hard for it.

Not sure rating difficulty based on miles and metres of climbing tells the whole story. I think looking at the % of finishers probably tell a more realistic story. Most events have % of finishers well exceeding 90%. IMO an event where you can peel off at any point is bound to be a harder one to finish mentally. Motivation goes down the drain if you can see your car parked in the distance.

Training is over rated, people train too much... some clowns train too little of course, but among those taking things seriously, typically people tend to over train rather than under train

Do you mean they train too much volume, intensity, or both?

ugo.santalucia

Ai_1 wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Cingles is easier though isn't it - I mean in terms of distance and metres climbed. I quite fancy both but the difficulty of the Mont Blanc event is enough that if I entered I'd be motivated to train hard for it.

Not sure rating difficulty based on miles and metres of climbing tells the whole story. I think looking at the % of finishers probably tell a more realistic story. Most events have % of finishers well exceeding 90%. IMO an event where you can peel off at any point is bound to be a harder one to finish mentally. Motivation goes down the drain if you can see your car parked in the distance.

Training is over rated, people train too much... some clowns train too little of course, but among those taking things seriously, typically people tend to over train rather than under train

Do you mean they train too much volume, intensity, or both?

Too much volume... I don't know about intensity, I suppose that is down to how fast people want to go. Too much mileage, I know folks who train in excess of what a PRO would. 20 hours a week, I've seen 30 hours a week

ai_1

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Ai_1 wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Cingles is easier though isn't it - I mean in terms of distance and metres climbed. I quite fancy both but the difficulty of the Mont Blanc event is enough that if I entered I'd be motivated to train hard for it.

Not sure rating difficulty based on miles and metres of climbing tells the whole story. I think looking at the % of finishers probably tell a more realistic story. Most events have % of finishers well exceeding 90%. IMO an event where you can peel off at any point is bound to be a harder one to finish mentally. Motivation goes down the drain if you can see your car parked in the distance.

Training is over rated, people train too much... some clowns train too little of course, but among those taking things seriously, typically people tend to over train rather than under train

Do you mean they train too much volume, intensity, or both?

Too much volume... I don't know about intensity, I suppose that is down to how fast people want to go. Too much mileage, I know folks who train in excess of what a PRO would. 20 hours a week, I've seen 30 hours a week

Ah right. I'm in no danger with a max around 12hrs of cycling, typical volume more like 6-8hrs cycling plus 2.5-3.5hrs running and a swim now and then.