Tour build up

rick_chasey
rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
edited July 2012 in Pro race
... starts here.

Let's hear it people.

We've gone half the season done (sort of), and no all form arrows point to July.
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Comments

  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    And I haven't booked my holiday to see the Tour yet! Yikes! Better get that holiday application form in...
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    And I haven't booked my holiday to see the Tour yet! Yikes! Better get that holiday application form in...

    I have! We're staying near Pau in the Pyrenees - should see 4 stages :)
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    On paper, the Tour looks laughably easy. Certainly not tough for the most prestigious race in the calendar.

    I'm not looking forward to it. Sure I will watch it but don't think it will be great. Hopefully I'm proved wrong.

    If a TTer doesn't win this (boring) I will be amazed.

    At least they are spending a good amount of time in Savoie and around - a superb region of France and one I am familiar with. I booked tickets to go there as one stage finishes in my grandads home town, but looks like that wont happen now : (
    Contador is the Greatest
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    And I haven't booked my holiday to see the Tour yet! Yikes! Better get that holiday application form in...

    I have! We're staying near Pau in the Pyrenees - should see 4 stages :)

    Cool! Are you taking your bike? Gonna bag some cols?

    I just can't decide what I want to see, there isn't anything that really excites me like there was last year. I am seriously thinking of going to the World Champs instead. It's only that if I do go to the Tour it will be the 10th time in a row I've been!
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    At least they are spending a good amount of time in Savoie and around - a superb region of France and one I am familiar with. I booked tickets to go there as one stage finishes in my grandads home town, but looks like that wont happen now : (

    Why's that?
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    Cool! Are you taking your bike? Gonna bag some cols?

    Certainly am! Dieting like a mad man and doing hill repeats every night after work. Going to start with the Tourmalet, and if that doesn't kill me I'll try a few of the others :)
    I just can't decide what I want to see, there isn't anything that really excites me like there was last year. I am seriously thinking of going to the World Champs instead. It's only that if I do go to the Tour it will be the 10th time in a row I've been!

    Aah. Well last year was our first visit to the Tour, and we went to the Brittanny & Normandy stages. I wanted to go to the mountains this year so we get to see more of the riders. Next year we'll probably go to the Alps, then goodness knows what we'll do after that!
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
    Cool! Are you taking your bike? Gonna bag some cols?

    Certainly am! Dieting like a mad man and doing hill repeats every night after work. Going to start with the Tourmalet, and if that doesn't kill me I'll try a few of the others :)
    I just can't decide what I want to see, there isn't anything that really excites me like there was last year. I am seriously thinking of going to the World Champs instead. It's only that if I do go to the Tour it will be the 10th time in a row I've been!

    Aah. Well last year was our first visit to the Tour, and we went to the Brittanny & Normandy stages. I wanted to go to the mountains this year so we get to see more of the riders. Next year we'll probably go to the Alps, then goodness knows what we'll do after that!

    A bit of training advice - The Tourmalet takes roughly 90-100 minutes if you're pretty fit, others a little less, so say around the hour mark. You want to be training for those kind of efforts. 90 mins at full whack - rather than, say, 5 mins on, 2 mins off.
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Aah. Well last year was our first visit to the Tour, and we went to the Brittanny & Normandy stages. I wanted to go to the mountains this year so we get to see more of the riders. Next year we'll probably go to the Alps, then goodness knows what we'll do after that!

    You should also think about going to Paris as well. It's the 100th race, so they are bound to do something special. On the 100th Aniversery they had a parade after the race which included all the living TdF winners, driving down the Champs Elysees in period cars! When it came to Merckx the crowd started chanting "Eddy, Eddy, Eddy". Very, very cool! :D
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    It's not your classic TdF climb (in fact I'm not sure they ve done it) but the Cold de Soulor from Escharts* is really pretty, and very quiet. I had to stop to let a herd of cows come past. It's not too difficult either. If you like you could continue on the main road up to the Aubisque...

    *The usual route they use is down the bigger road to Argeles-Gazost - the one that Thor Hushovd chased the two french guys along to win the stage last year...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Tom BB
    Tom BB Posts: 1,001
    How fast will the top GC guys go up the Tourmalet? (I know its not on this years route!)

    I can see where you're coming from FF with regards to the route, but I still think that it'll be plenty hard enough, and hopefully the climbers will be attacking full guns in the mountains to try and gap the likes of Wiggo and Evans etc.
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Tom BB wrote:
    How fast will the top GC guys go up the Tourmalet? (I know its not on this years route!)

    Yes it is. 2nd climb of the day stage 16 to Bagnères-de-Luchon.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    oh and the Peyresourde from Luchon is also very pretty..

    Going from recent races, if it's the second climb it ll be done at a fairly relaxed pace (for them!!)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Tom BB
    Tom BB Posts: 1,001
    Ooh I didn't realise! One of my favourite climbs to watch.
  • thegibdog
    thegibdog Posts: 2,106
    We're going to be in the Pyrenees for stages 16 and 17, staying in Loundenvielle, planning on watching the Tour in Loudervielle on stage 16 and Germ on stage 17. They're doing the Peyresourde both days and it's the last/halfway up the last climb on each day.

    We'll also be going up to Paris for the last stage and possibly might fit in the TT stage if Wiggins is still in the mix.
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    A bit of training advice - The Tourmalet takes roughly 90-100 minutes if you're pretty fit, others a little less, so say around the hour mark. You want to be training for those kind of efforts. 90 mins at full whack - rather than, say, 5 mins on, 2 mins off.

    Thanks for that Rick. Have you climbed it then?

    There's no climb where I live longer than 5 mins, so the best I can do is that, then roll down and repeat. The steepest gradient on the Tourmalet according to the route profile I've seen is 10%. The hills I've been using are minimum of 10%, the steepest 20%.

    If you've any other advise then I'm all ears!
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    If you've any other advise then I'm all ears!

    Put the lowest gearing on your bike you can. :D
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    If you've any other advise then I'm all ears!

    Put the lowest gearing on your bike you can. :D

    Excellent :)
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    A bit of training advice - The Tourmalet takes roughly 90-100 minutes if you're pretty fit, others a little less, so say around the hour mark. You want to be training for those kind of efforts. 90 mins at full whack - rather than, say, 5 mins on, 2 mins off.

    Thanks for that Rick. Have you climbed it then?

    There's no climb where I live longer than 5 mins, so the best I can do is that, then roll down and repeat. The steepest gradient on the Tourmalet according to the route profile I've seen is 10%. The hills I've been using are minimum of 10%, the steepest 20%.

    If you've any other advise then I'm all ears!

    You can simulate longer climbs by riding on the flat in a smaller sprocket at a lower cadence than you would normally, doing it into a headwind will be even more effective. It's not perfect, but better than nothing.

    I would do hill repeats as well, varying it between steady climbing in the saddle and some out of the saddle efforts to help strengthen you up for longer climbs.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
    A bit of training advice - The Tourmalet takes roughly 90-100 minutes if you're pretty fit, others a little less, so say around the hour mark. You want to be training for those kind of efforts. 90 mins at full whack - rather than, say, 5 mins on, 2 mins off.

    Thanks for that Rick. Have you climbed it then?

    There's no climb where I live longer than 5 mins, so the best I can do is that, then roll down and repeat. The steepest gradient on the Tourmalet according to the route profile I've seen is 10%. The hills I've been using are minimum of 10%, the steepest 20%.

    If you've any other advise then I'm all ears!


    Certainly have. Did the circle of death (west to East) in a day. Everyone has different opinions on how to train but I see it like this: the main thing is how good you are over the sustained and relentless effort that a mountain is. If it was me, I'd be doing 30-50 km TTs on a road bike, making sure you get out the saddle a lot, mixed with longer rides. Hill reps are good, for sure, and getting used to going uphill is worth doing, but ultimately a 4 col day is basically 4 flat out hour long efforts spaced with some recovery.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    If you have a SRAM drivetrain, I was impressed with the Apex drivetrain I used a few weeks ago.One of them WiFli kits would be good....
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    If you've any other advise then I'm all ears!

    Put the lowest gearing on your bike you can. :D

    Excellent :)

    Dunno what gearing you use already, but it's worth doing. I'd rather be under geared than over (or is that the other way round?)
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    Dunno what gearing you use already, but it's worth doing. I'd rather be under geared than over (or is that the other way round?)

    Compact. Had the chain and cassette changed 2 weeks ago when I also had some new Kysrium Elites fitted, so now have 11-28 on rear. I don't want to be on the 28 either ;)
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    ddraver wrote:
    If you have a SRAM drivetrain, I was impressed with the Apex drivetrain I used a few weeks ago.One of them WiFli kits would be good....

    Isn't that what we saw Alberto using in the Giro last year? I'm using Ultegra, so I'll have to make do ;)
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
    For that reason, de Cauwer says that totally flat days are tougher on breakaway escapees than medium mountain stages since on the flat it's constant pressure on the pedals all day, whereas the hillier stages have recovery periods built in.
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    Certainly have. Did the circle of death (west to East) in a day. Everyone has different opinions on how to train but I see it like this: the main thing is how good you are over the sustained and relentless effort that a mountain is. If it was me, I'd be doing 30-50 km TTs on a road bike, making sure you get out the saddle a lot, mixed with longer rides. Hill reps are good, for sure, and getting used to going uphill is worth doing, but ultimately a 4 col day is basically 4 flat out hour long efforts spaced with some recovery.

    The closest I've come to a mountain is the Kent Killer in February, which was 70 miles with 7000 ft of climbing. The climbs were double the steepest part of the Tourmalet though.

    On Sundays I'm doing 50-70 mile Club runs, I'm doing 30 mins of strength training during lunch on the stationary bike at work followed by 30 mins core and stretching, then hill repeats when I get home and have put the little ones to bed.

    Grateful for the advice :)
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    Will be watching some of it in Belgium hopefully, so can't wait.

    Frenchie is right though. The mountain stages won't make the difference, its all about TTers that can climb.

    Skinny Schleck can kiss goodbye to standing on the top step on the Champs Elyssee. This one will go to a big old diesel like Wiggins, Nibali or Evans.

    I will watch Cancellara with great interest. Maybe he'll shed a couple of kilos and Johan will work another miracle.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    This is one of the "high mountain" stages we have to look forward to this year.

    PROFIL.gif

    Wiggo might want to get his sprinting legs warmed up for that one.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    A bit of training advice - The Tourmalet takes roughly 90-100 minutes if you're pretty fit, others a little less, so say around the hour mark. You want to be training for those kind of efforts. 90 mins at full whack - rather than, say, 5 mins on, 2 mins off.

    Thanks for that Rick. Have you climbed it then?

    There's no climb where I live longer than 5 mins, so the best I can do is that, then roll down and repeat. The steepest gradient on the Tourmalet according to the route profile I've seen is 10%. The hills I've been using are minimum of 10%, the steepest 20%.

    If you've any other advise then I'm all ears!


    Certainly have. Did the circle of death (west to East) in a day. Everyone has different opinions on how to train but I see it like this: the main thing is how good you are over the sustained and relentless effort that a mountain is. If it was me, I'd be doing 30-50 km TTs on a road bike, making sure you get out the saddle a lot, mixed with longer rides. Hill reps are good, for sure, and getting used to going uphill is worth doing, but ultimately a 4 col day is basically 4 flat out hour long efforts spaced with some recovery.

    Impressive stuff Rick. How long were you in the saddle?

    Deserves the obligatory suffer in the mountains photo. I know this one is from le Ventoux, but as I remember reading, Virenque tore up the circle of death sometime in the 90s, ending solo for about 40km and winning by over 4mins with Pantani second (lucky fans that were around and watching that sort of ride).

    2002-virenque-en-solitaire.jpg

    tumblr_lxqzpzvHjM1qbxnpgo1_500.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
    A bit of training advice - The Tourmalet takes roughly 90-100 minutes if you're pretty fit, others a little less, so say around the hour mark. You want to be training for those kind of efforts. 90 mins at full whack - rather than, say, 5 mins on, 2 mins off.

    Thanks for that Rick. Have you climbed it then?

    There's no climb where I live longer than 5 mins, so the best I can do is that, then roll down and repeat. The steepest gradient on the Tourmalet according to the route profile I've seen is 10%. The hills I've been using are minimum of 10%, the steepest 20%.

    If you've any other advise then I'm all ears!


    Certainly have. Did the circle of death (west to East) in a day. Everyone has different opinions on how to train but I see it like this: the main thing is how good you are over the sustained and relentless effort that a mountain is. If it was me, I'd be doing 30-50 km TTs on a road bike, making sure you get out the saddle a lot, mixed with longer rides. Hill reps are good, for sure, and getting used to going uphill is worth doing, but ultimately a 4 col day is basically 4 flat out hour long efforts spaced with some recovery.

    Impressive stuff Rick. How long were you in the saddle?

    Deserves the obligatory suffer in the mountains photo. I know this one is from le Ventoux, but as I remember reading, Virenque tore up the circle of death sometime in the 90s, ending solo for about 40km and winning by over 4mins with Pantani second (lucky fans that were around and watching that sort of ride).


    Something like 12, 13 hours. Wasn't non stop. Stopped at the top of them all and had some proper food at the bottom of the tourmalet. The drag from the aubisque to the tourmalet is a real bitch.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Training's not necessary.

    I made it up the Stelvio (without pushing!) at the weekend and it was my first ride since July (Galibier, where I did push!)

    I'm not sure I threatened the record ascent times!