Thursday 15 October 2015

La Marmotte 2014 Update

OK so after finishing 2013 La Marmotte and swearing I would never do that again, yes you guessed it I signed up for 2014 La Marmotte as soon as I received the email.

Again I could find no cycling friends to go with me so I used Classic Cycling Tours travel company.  I paid a little more than the previous year but once again they were outstanding as was the amazing chalet we stayed in at the top of Alpe D Huez.

This year I done a lot more 100 mile rides.  In fact id done at least one 100 mile ride every month of the year in 2014. I was roughly the same weight.  I just really struggled to get any lower.
This year due to the Tour De France back home there was a lot less of us Brits doing the race.
The day before the race I just did a gentle spin along the valley floor to the base of the Glandon to give some of the group a recce of the start. We got a lift back up the Alpe to save our legs.

We had a great meal in the evening and then an early night to bed.  The weather forecast wasn't great and there was heavy rain overnight and the temperature was pretty cold.

I slept a little and woke early to very thick fog and wet roads which put pay to our idea of descending the Alpe.  We quickly came up with the pan to load the bikes onto the 2 vans and descend in those rather than risk the cold wet descent to the start.

 
 
 
 





I had a new bike this year. Ribble R Stealth with full Campagnolo Chorus Groupset, handmade Kinlin wheels and 3t finishing kit, oh and most important  I had a 32t cog on the back as well as a compact on the front. Super light, super stiff and dream to ride.
My pockets had a couple of flapjacks, Energy gels, hydration tabs and paracetamal.

Thin Gilet, Lezyne mini pump and Lezyne multi tool.

This year I wanted Gold. I knew the course and was sure I could get it.

The start was cold while we waited.  We started edging forward and then we're off. I had decided to go hard at the start of the race to make up some time. I got into a good fast group with some big Dutch guys on the front and we were hammering along at 30mph. We made it to the first switch backs at the dam before the Glandon in double quick time. Moved along the plateau in good time and then started the Glandon climb proper.
I dropped down into 2nd and set my own pace never pushing to hard. Got my breathing under control and tapped out and easy rhythm moving past plenty of riders.  Even so I had forgotten how hard and steep the bottom of the Glandon is. I'd gone with one water bottle strategy to save on weight until the village at the mid point where I could refill. I got there in good time slightly ahead of my pacing.  I filled up both bottle and set off down the steep switchbacks before th final few KM's to the top of the Glandon.

The top of the Glandon was again a scrum and I road straight through.  I only stopped to get some food out of my pocket. The descent off the Glandon was much better this year.  Although it isn't timed I used this as a place to get in the swing of going downhill.  I passed hundreds of riders with hardly anyone passing me.

At the bottom of the Glandon just before the timing chip starts again I decided to fill my bottles from one of the public water spots.  Bad mistake!!! it was hot water not cold coming from the tap. I was now down to one bottle with the heat rising and a long drag to the start Telegraph.
I got in a good group and sat in doing no work at all. We moved at a decent speed but really could have done with it being a little faster.

I got to the food stop before the Glandon still on pace for a gold medal. I ate some food, drank plenty and filled up my bottles. 

Ok, so who's idea was it to rip up the road surface on the Telegraph!!! Ahh the top layer of tarmac had been stripped leaving the climb up the Telegraph rough and leg sapping.
About half way up one of the guys in my group, Geoff caught me up. He was setting a good pace on his 10k Team Sky Bike but I managed to have a chat with him and sit on his wheel while he paced me up. I did have one little incident half way up where some Dutch guys decided to take the whole width of the road.  As I made my way through one of them veered into towards me and then started shouting out something in Dutch about my riding style. Idiot!!

I made it to the top of the Telegraph without stopping. At the top I filled up with water and had a quick bite to eat.  I was starting to feel it a little now.  The sun was hot and my legs were feeling tired.

I shot off down the side of the Telegraph to the base of the Galibier. I tapped out I decent rhythm to the big food stop where it flattens off slightly. I grabbed a few orange segments and a bread roll and set off up the long climb determined not to stop till Plan Lachet.
I climbed well and got to Plan Lachet still on schedule for a gold time. I had a bite to eat, stretched my legs, filled my bottles and set off. Another chap from our group passed me at Plan Lachet and was a good 300m in front of me. I decided to use him as a carrot and tapped out a nice rhythm bring him back slowly until by the time i'd got to the top we were side by side.


 
 
 
 
 



No stopping at the top of the Galibier. I flew down the other side passing a lot of riders. I got to our support van and stopped briefly to fill my bottle and take on some food. I continued on down to the base of the alpe on what is my favourite part of the course. Big wide roads, great surface sweeping corners. I was mainly on my own but did manage to get into a small group as I got near the bottom.

I was still on time for gold so decided to stop at the bottom of the alpe to get some water, eat something quickly and take 2 paracetamal. I spent maybe 5 minutes doing this and just stretching out a little.
Off up the Alpe I went, 8 miles, steep unrelenting and boiling hot. I was in first and moving slowly but not stopping. Turn 16 I stopped briefly and took on water. I carried onto Dutch corner and again took on water and over my head. There were loads on the road walking pushing their bikes with plenty of crowds cheering us on. I didn't stop then till I got to the top where I once again mustered up everything I had to sprint the last 1km to the line.

I crossed the line, relief and emotions kicked in, I had completed the course way faster than last year.

After a brief rest I fought through the crowds and handed in my chip and got my certificate in return.

Hmm , hang on a minute, there must be some sort of mistake, it says silver!! No I had rode a gold time surely. I checked again, they were right.  Somehow in my delirium from being so tired I had got my timing wrong and the extra stop at the base of the Alpe had cost me a gold medal.  I missed the Gold medal by a few minutes !!!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it.  I was absolutely gutted.  Id gone through all that pain and training again to miss gold by minutes.

I think I was 2nd fastest back out of our group so I was pretty pleased with that but missing gold by such a small margin was rough!!

I have for now decided to put the Marmotte on hold until I get the extra time when i'm 50

The training and dedication involved to complete it just takes over your life.
I definitely want to go back to the Alpes but it would be in a non race capacity.  Just enjoying the riding and the scenery which you don't get time to appreciate whilst your turning yourself inside out