Festive 8 Cols 2022

ugo.santalucia
ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
in Road general
Second year running... last year we had a bit of fun riding up a virtual Tour de France col each day over the Christmas period from the 24th to the 31st of December. So, the challenge is back and this year it is inspired by the 2023 Giro d'Italia.
I have selected a number of climbs, which are featured in next year's Giro, so you can be the first to test them and they will no doubt bring back memories of winter sweating, come May next year.
The routes are on Rouvy, you can get a 2 weeks free membership over the festive period. The app is very easy to use, probably the most intuitive to use for someone who is not in the Tik Tok demographic. You can ride them at please, depending on how long you have available on the day, some are shorter, some are longer. Just do them all to complete the challenge! The mileage will also count towards your Festive 500, if you are doing it on Strava.

So here they are, who is up for it this year?

Stage 7: Gran Sasso https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/82874

Stage 13: Gran Saint Bernard https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/43543

Stage 19: Tre Cime di Lavaredo https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/4316

Stage 19: Passo Giau https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/64086

Stage 19 Passo Falzarego https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/6754

Stage 16 Monte Bondone https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/93692

Stage 14 Simplon Pass https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/61534

Stage 13 Crans Montana https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/60849
left the forum March 2023
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Comments

  • me-109
    me-109 Posts: 1,915
    Am liking the look of those, except Bondone that looks a tough one and Simplon which is long.
    Might be having a bash at this but can't see me getting the lot.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,341
    I'm up for doing it but I may have to do 2 per available days.
    Tough if even feasible with family stuff.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    pblakeney said:

    I'm up for doing it but I may have to do 2 per available days.
    Tough if even feasible with family stuff.

    A challenge within the challenge, what’s not to like? A few of them are not overly taxing

    left the forum March 2023
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Any more takers?
    This is the freshest challenge out there... Rapha no longer cares about the Festive 500, they haven't even updated their site this year... normally they were on it bang on Dec 1st... they don't make enough money selling you their Festive kit
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,341
    Guaranteed a podium finish? 🤣
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • nikocyclo
    nikocyclo Posts: 8
    Nice selection of routes! Where I can get more informations?
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,341
    nikocyclo said:

    Nice selection of routes! Where I can get more informations?

    It's just an informal thing run entirely on the thread.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    nikocyclo said:

    Nice selection of routes! Where I can get more informations?

    There is no formal check, you keep your own accountancy… if you want to post your Strava links on here, that’s great, I probably will.
    Sometimes we try to sinc rides, so to have some virtual company up the climb
    left the forum March 2023
  • jimmorris
    jimmorris Posts: 11
    This is a great idea. I'm starting to get a bit fed up of the Rapha Festive 500 - so, I think I'll have a go at the 2022 Festive 8 Cols on Rouvy.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    edited December 2022
    jimmorris said:

    This is a great idea. I'm starting to get a bit fed up of the Rapha Festive 500 - so, I think I'll have a go at the 2022 Festive 8 Cols on Rouvy.

    Excellent… hopefully it will be less cold… right now even cycling indoors is too cold. Yesterday I had to call off a virtual climb up Pikes Peak in Colorado, as I was sweating and being cold at the same time…

    PS nice Bianchi!

    left the forum March 2023
  • super_davo
    super_davo Posts: 1,228
    I will be doing the Epic Climbs in France challenge and the Alpenbrevet challenge in Rouvy over the Christmas period, pretty much as hard as your 8 cols in 8 days.
    Will need to do two courses some days.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Guess I'll need to change the 52 T ring I've got on at the moment... :)
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,341
    ugo.santalucia said:

    Guess I'll need to change the 52 T ring I've got on at the moment... :)

    I think I'd get by just using the 34 inner. 😉
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    pblakeney said:

    ugo.santalucia said:

    Guess I'll need to change the 52 T ring I've got on at the moment... :)

    I think I'd get by just using the 34 inner. 😉
    I only have one ring, I’ll probably fit the 40t… should be plenty
    left the forum March 2023
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    three days to go... don't forget to download the Rouvy app...

    I'll probably do the Gran Sasso on Christmas' eve... probably morning around 9 ish... anyone wants to keep me company? Can do 3 W/kg, if on my own I'll probably aim a little higher
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,341
    ugo.santalucia said:

    three days to go... don't forget to download the Rouvy app...

    I'll probably do the Gran Sasso on Christmas' eve... probably morning around 9 ish... anyone wants to keep me company? Can do 3 W/kg, if on my own I'll probably aim a little higher

    That might work. About the right w/kg too. I'll ease up if someone joins in till they catch up, same as last time. No promises though. Best thing about trainers is doing it when it suits.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    pblakeney said:

    ugo.santalucia said:

    three days to go... don't forget to download the Rouvy app...

    I'll probably do the Gran Sasso on Christmas' eve... probably morning around 9 ish... anyone wants to keep me company? Can do 3 W/kg, if on my own I'll probably aim a little higher

    That might work. About the right w/kg too. I'll ease up if someone joins in till they catch up, same as last time. No promises though. Best thing about trainers is doing it when it suits.
    Since last year, they have introduced ghost riders, typically you get three of them, they keep passing you and then letting you past, like a really annoying club ride... I find them frustrating so I think I'll remove them... you have to do it from the app in the settings, I have learned
    left the forum March 2023
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,819
    ugo.santalucia said:

    pblakeney said:

    ugo.santalucia said:

    three days to go... don't forget to download the Rouvy app...

    I'll probably do the Gran Sasso on Christmas' eve... probably morning around 9 ish... anyone wants to keep me company? Can do 3 W/kg, if on my own I'll probably aim a little higher

    That might work. About the right w/kg too. I'll ease up if someone joins in till they catch up, same as last time. No promises though. Best thing about trainers is doing it when it suits.
    Since last year, they have introduced ghost riders, typically you get three of them, they keep passing you and then letting you past, like a really annoying club ride... I find them frustrating so I think I'll remove them... you have to do it from the app in the settings, I have learned
    Yeah, I got rid of them. Quite annoying as you say.

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Won a race today… :)
    https://www.strava.com/activities/8278178650
    left the forum March 2023
  • me-109
    me-109 Posts: 1,915
    Did more than one person think it was a race? ;)
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    me-109 said:

    Did more than one person think it was a race? ;)

    I think so… I battled it to the line with a Malaysian guy… then there were some reasonably strong riders a few seconds behind.
    45 in total, so not insignificant. I have only won 3 races, this is the one with the bigger field… and also the flattest. My new 52 ring paying dividends, I guess.
    Averaged 4.3W/kg and 4.5 for the first 20 minutes, so that is also a new best FTP of 4.25, I guess
    left the forum March 2023
  • me-109
    me-109 Posts: 1,915
    Cracking! Well done indeed.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    See you up the Gran Sasso tomorrow morning… 9 ish

    https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/82874
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,341
    edited December 2022
    That’s the plan unless the EPO has other ideas.
    Heads up Ugo, if by perchance I half wheel you it’s just an indication that I can go faster. In no way will it be a challenge. 😉
    I reckon my effort would be 3.0-3.5 w/kg. Closer to 3.0 for longer climbs as I fade.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Nice views, hard at the top… it’s the Ventoux of Italy, innit… with the telescope at the top
    left the forum March 2023
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,819
    Sun was shining so went outside instead.

    Are you doing one tomorrow?
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,341
    Considerably easier than Ventoux. Was a bit disheartening to see you disappear up the finish climb.
    Was expected though. 😉
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    mrb123 said:

    Sun was shining so went outside instead.

    Are you doing one tomorrow?

    Yes, doing Gran St Bernard…

    left the forum March 2023
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    pblakeney said:

    Considerably easier than Ventoux. Was a bit disheartening to see you disappear up the finish climb.
    Was expected though. 😉

    In Italy we say that the attack was “telefonato” … basically let them know by phone in advance… 😂

    left the forum March 2023
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    ugo.santalucia said:

    mrb123 said:

    Sun was shining so went outside instead.

    Are you doing one tomorrow?

    Yes, doing Gran St Bernard…

    Actually, way too long for Christmas Day, so I’ll do Falzarego instead, which should be quick

    https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/6754

    left the forum March 2023

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