Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/19/2015 03:58 PM |
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Not quite yet, check in Sat then race start in Nice Sun. But I am hanging out in France and it is inching ever closer.
Hooked up with my friend Uli today for final relaxing ride, 107kms w double Ventoux ascent.
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6730063
After a suitably late 10am start we rocked the first 21km climb from Malaucene effortlesly zipping past countless fellow cyclists. It was too cold and windy up top for any formalities so we headed straight down from the moonscape into the protective tree cover. The top and road down to Bedoin were a madhouse of cyclists struggling their way up which made for tricky descending.
Once down we headed east towards Sault over de Col des Abeilles, a 10km climb that on paper didn't look like much but just kept on going ridge after ridge. Beautiful riding on tertiary roads, France at its best.
Lunch Pizza Provencale in Sault, a scenic hilltop town. Then off for the final 26km climb. By now the Mistral was blowing like crazy which variably worked for and against us. At some point on the climb we clocked from 20-30km per hour going uphill. Then on the final moonscape part of the ascent it was full on head and side wind. Hard to keep a speed above 7kph and trying not to pull an Andy getting blown of the mountain. Again no formalities, it was too brutal to hang out up top. The entire downhill back to Malaucene continued to be a battle against the Mistral.
Ended the ride feeling there was still significant gas left in the tank. Learned that there's actually a triple crown to be had here, all three ascents of Ventoux in one day. The Rapha boys came by here recently and did it. It seemed well within reach today but alas not timely; this was meant to be a taper ride with only 3500 m vertical.
Good vibes after this ride, the average speed we've been clocking on mountain rides and freshness after them bodes reasonably well for next week although day to day recovery on a 7 day event is hard to predict. Definitely feeling like I'm in the shape of a lifetime at the moment. |
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 08/19/2015 04:37 PM |
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eat
pedal
eat
rest
get 'er done! |
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 08/19/2015 05:54 PM |
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| "I'm in the shape of a lifetime at the moment." It seems like you are in the moment of a lifetime, with lots of preparation. Have fun and keep the wheels on the road. Post when you get a chance. Vicarious thrills. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/20/2015 02:14 AM |
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| Here's that triple crown: http://www.clubcinglesventoux.org/en/rules.html |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/20/2015 09:22 AM |
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Just looking at Garmin Connect segments for Ventoux. Looks like we were around 8th percentile on both climbs; not too shabby for taking it easy.
Weather for next week should be good except Queen Stage Monday will be hit by Atlantic storm with freezing level dropping to 3200m and wet snow possible down to 3000m. Top of Bonnette is at 2800m so this could be interesting. |
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thinline
Posts:323
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| 08/21/2015 01:28 PM |
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" . . . a taper ride with only 3500 m vertical."
That's almost comical!
Good luck, have fun, ride safely. And, reports please! |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/22/2015 06:42 AM |
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Checked in for race today right on the beach (kinda like Vuelta :-) Fancy bikes galore. I'll likely be the only one riding around without some performance measuring device.
Then drove to hotel through a maze of one way streets. The only way to find parking is park illegal. I love driving in Europe, its in the genes.
Bloody hot and hectic. Can't wait to get on bike tomorrow and get out of this place into mountains. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 08/22/2015 05:53 PM |
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| animal... just and animal. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 08/22/2015 08:47 PM |
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| It's a Dutch thing. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/24/2015 01:22 PM |
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Update from Stage 1 and 2. The good news is I am stiil alive and making time cuts after two exceedingly hard days in saddle, which many cannot say after today. The other good news is that weather will turn for better for remainder of week. The bad news is that limited pics may be forthcoming as my camera died in epic weather today. Those on FB can see some pics of me during each stage posted by organizer to my page. Below a copy paste of FB reports for friends and fam.
Done Day 1, 125k and 3350 m climbing. The cols weren't too hard but the long uphill drags through two valleys were very sapping. Weather alternated between showers and light rain, cold to muggy. Tricky descending but that went well. Not so good was a light touch of wheels in on of valleys leading to a minor crash and some scrapes. Now rest and recovery for Queen stage tomorrow with more wet in forecast.
Stage 2 was brutal, 150k and 3950 m climbing over 3 cols in epic weather conditions. Went out dressed for a Vancouver winter ride. Feeling boiling hot on the lower slopes of the Bonnette and also had eaten too much so suffering like a dog from the start. But by the time we reached the upper portions of the climb and for remainder of ride all those layers came in handy. Donned a tuque and winter gloves for all descents. Suffering again on the Var, feld like puking the entire way and was seeing stars in the end. Somehow managed to reload for the 20k uphill valley drag to base of Izoard and the final climb. Pooring rain and thunder the entire way up Izoard. A lot of wretched cold people at top and everyone seemed to be descending at gingerly pace. I was feeling toasty and the descend was riproaring fun like the others of day. Finished off with a fast 10k drag out to finish. |
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 08/24/2015 04:22 PM |
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| Now you know you are committed when you crash and just bounce right back up. Glad to hear the weather is turning for the better. |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 08/24/2015 05:01 PM |
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FYI, the results are at:
http://www.timing4you.com/direct/hauteroutealpes_2015/fichier/resultats.php |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 08/24/2015 08:08 PM |
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Very cool, very impressive.
Love some of the clever team names like "Col Play". |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/24/2015 11:39 PM |
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| Somewhat disappointed in performance to date, haven't been able to come close to Ventoux performance. Spending way too much time in 34x32. In comparison training I rode similar grades in 34x25. Maybe its the weather or the rich French food, who knows. Anyway making cuts so far and the scenery is awesome so all good. 12.4k iTT at 9% today! Gonna treat it as a rest day w tomorrow's 168k, 4200 m stage 4 coming up. |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 08/25/2015 12:11 PM |
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A one thousand meter of climbing rest ray, too funny!  |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 08/26/2015 02:43 PM |
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You are famous! 1:12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxTaKtgsbqA |
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 08/26/2015 03:06 PM |
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brutal.
Looks like that is not a young man's game. |
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 08/26/2015 03:07 PM |
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| or a woman's game. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/26/2015 03:21 PM |
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Posted By ChinookPass . on 08/26/2015 03:07 PM
or a woman's game.
Lot of superfit women here, including ex world champ Emma Pooley who'd disagree with you. Being a tri star now she was seen going for a run after today's stage.
Some more copy, paste from FB:
Yesterday was iTT day up the mighty steep Col du Granon, 12k at 9%. A lot of upsides to the day, the suffering was relatively brief, summer's returned to the Alps, given reverse start order and my lowly ranking there was no massage lineup at the end, and plenty of opportunity for snooze time.
The monster stage 4 is also done. 5am wake up for 7am start. Feeling pretty tired this morning with telltale bags under eyes. The days are starting to wear. By the time we got to start line we'd already covered 6kms in the dark of which 4 were up. Then up the Telegraph which is really just a long gradual haul. Immediately on to the Galibier. By the time we reached the top we'd covered our first 30km of climbing. Still morning chill about 8-10C on downhill. Dressing was tricky today because in afternoon it reached 26C. At the base of Croix the Fer I had to ditch underlayer which then became a nuicanse in back pocket for remainder of day. Croix de Fer is a 30km haul in three parts with some flat and downhill sections breaking it up. Near bottom we passed turnoff for La Toussuire where were headed tomorrow so we'll have to do this brute in reverse again (unreal!). The last 10k of the climb was steep and narrow with bad pavement. But the hardest part was the downhill which is broken up by uphill sections that took a big bite out of me. Was starting to dread tomorrow. But then took it easy in the Bourg d'Oison valley, took some time to recover and stretch and was feeling good on ramps before Deux Alpes climb. With 2.5hrs to spare I parked the gearing in 34x32 and tried to recover on the 9kms up with an eye on tomorrow. We'll have Col de Sarenne for bfast (backside of Alpe), then Croix de Fer in reverse and finally La Toussuire. Only 125km, should be a cake walk!
A lot of superfit riders here. Ranked a lowly 361 at moment but climbed a bit today. 52 out of 500 so far have finished out of one or more time cuts. My buddy is close to top 75 and going well. |
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 08/26/2015 04:34 PM |
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My comment was just in regards to the folks I saw in the video. Grizzled vets mostly.
Sounds like quite the menu of famous climbs. |
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 08/26/2015 08:25 PM |
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I remain in awe. Keep pedaling, and keep the rubber side down. Best of luck, and best of skill.
Please keep us posted.
smokey |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/27/2015 10:11 AM |
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| Five down, two to go. Sarenne was a brute on tired morning legs. Croix de Fer in reverse went well but I had a flat with 5k to go. Pedaled in anger and caught a lot of guys to top and kept going hard till La Toussuire. Started blowing up w 3k to go but then there was a tractor with hay bales to draft behind for home stretch. My left side which has been causing me all manner of problems this season is starting to act up after yesterday's monster stage. Hopefully massage can fix it and or it will be manageable in final two stages. Easy day today, only 115k and 3500m vertical but a lot of guys against the wall and on side of road. The wear and tear continues. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 08/27/2015 03:01 PM |
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Utterly fantastic!
Been watching the daily videos on YouTube - extremely jealous of the fitness and the opportunity.
Enjoy the last 2 stages - the memories will be with you until the end... |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/27/2015 10:41 PM |
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| Fitness is interesting Huck. Fitness level that translated into top 8% times compared to general Garmin carrying cycling population on Ventoux climbs last week only is good for lowly 360 rank out of 500 here. A lot of ultrafit specimens riding around here, boys and girls, young and old. Mostly Brits but overall they come from 50 different countries. |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 08/28/2015 12:07 PM |
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Only the fittest of the fit would attempt the Haute Route. You are now comparing yourself to a very select group.
This is inspiring me to find a longer hill to see what pain is truly like. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/28/2015 12:43 PM |
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| There was a lot of pain today but mostly in my side. Food management is tricky day after day. It lasted 60k which included two major climbs, the Chaussy (in this years tour) and the Madaleine. Other than that those climbs weren't too hard. Its amazing what you can haul yourself over day after day. This was the last hard one, 156k and 3900m of vertical. Tomorrow should be a relative cake walk at only 95k before the parade into Geneva. Views on the Madaleine were stunning but those on the final climb of day (Saissie) were even more dramatic when the glaciered peak of Mont Blanc came into view. In between a lot of rolling valley riding in hot weather, suffered like a dog. Happy to hit the Saissie which at 6% gradient over 14k is my kind of riding. Hammered it despite the heat and then kept going into Megeve, a posh old style ski resort. Came in 329 on day and moved up to 352 overall. Some 80odd of 500 (roughly 20% as expected) have not made one or more time cuts. That includes a guy who went into a ravine today. He was lucky to hit some trees and only break a leg. So his bike along railing and medics trying to haul him up. Some here take crazy risks. |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 08/28/2015 05:06 PM |
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| I feel sorry for people with mechanicals. There was a guy in one video on about stage two with a broken chain. I doubt he was able to replace it and get going to make the time cut. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 08/28/2015 06:33 PM |
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Yikes, Geneva! First they drain all your energy, then you wallet, too!
BTW, if you can get on the CERN tour, it's super cool. A Euro or US PhD with skin in the game will spend three hours with you with their baby.
Good luck with the last laps. Very impressive! |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/28/2015 10:35 PM |
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| They have excellent Mavic support SidebySide. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/29/2015 11:01 AM |
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| Well I wasn't exactly killing it today but got the job done and official haute route alps finish is in the bag. No gas in the tank for Col des Aravis but same could be said for many. Butt hurt from too many days in saddle, over next days I can only sit on soft pillows. No stop at Aravis but straight on to short Col de Croix Fry to at least keep some momentum going. From there on it was 40k of rolling hills. A lot of cow bell going on headed to Swiss. The 20k gradual Col des Pittons was the last obstacle. Finally started feeling better and ended up pacing a Turkish ironman triatlete who's headed for Hawaii this year all the way up the hill. Bit of chitchat with her was good for distraction on the long hill and we had a good clip passing many tired looking faces. Tough cookie, each time gradient steepened she was in a spot of trouble but as soon as things slackened she was right on my wheel again. Just past top of Pittons Geneva with its big fountain came into view. Long downhill to start of parade into Geneva where 500 tired cyclists disappeared into the masses of a sweltering hot city. Final Haute Route party tonight and looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow! |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/29/2015 02:43 PM |
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Posted By Frederick Jones on 08/28/2015 06:33 PM
Yikes, Geneva! First they drain all your energy, then you wallet, too!
So far I haven't spent a single swiss franc. Haute Route party tonight was funny...hundreds of ravenous cyclists circling waiters trying to get food out of kitchen. Plenty of free booze to go around too. Tomorrow off to Paris to see family. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 08/29/2015 04:17 PM |
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| Congratulations are in order. Enjoy Paris. |
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thinline
Posts:323
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| 08/31/2015 07:51 AM |
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| Well done, OC! A true accomplishment!!! |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 08/31/2015 08:49 AM |
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| Big Congrats, OC! |
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 08/31/2015 11:47 AM |
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| Well done OC! You've set the bar pretty high for the rest of the forum. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 09/01/2015 01:37 AM |
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Thanks guys. Funny that you should mention that Chinook. I was actually thinking that many on this forum could complete this thing with proper preparation. It was actually pretty straihhtforward to put the distance and vertical in day after day. Finishing was never in doubt, the margin with time cuts were pretty wide which I had already calculated from my training times. At my speed I would probably have gone on for another week. Doing well in the race as my friend did (67th), that's something else altogether.
The main mental wear was off the bike with the early morning rise and forced breakfast (sick of instant oatmeal), packing and getting to start line, and at tail end of every day hotel transfers, getting food into system, massage lineups, briefings for next day and then more eating and organizing for next day. Nights were brief and restless.
Recovery is going well with plenty of snooze time and a big Malinese meal in the African quarter of Paris. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 09/01/2015 10:18 AM |
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| Your report reminds me that the GT riders had no AC not that long ago. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 09/01/2015 10:38 AM |
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| Yeah a couple hotels were brutally hot including the one in Nice which was also on a party street and next to the local KFC. In Nice the partying was barely over by the time we made our way to start line. Not a good start but except for first two most hotels were excellent. |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 09/01/2015 12:22 PM |
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| Great job! Enjoy your recovery. |
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Nick A
Posts:625
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| 09/06/2015 12:47 PM |
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| Kudos! |
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