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I am for the first time. I've been training all winter and did some good results in quite a few sportives but not with 5000 m of climbing !!
I did La Croix de Fer a couple of weeks ago and was humbled. even coming down the way we went up was blooming steep in places.
I think it's going to be some ride.
I only know the Glandon climb and l'Alpe d'Huez which i did a few years back.
I've never done the Telegraphe and the Galibier on bikes. I know them very well in the car though.
I've been wanting to do them but the weather has been so crap and the Galibier only opened recently so I didn't.
In this case I think ignorance is bliss (well I hope).
I also hope the weather isn't going to be too bad. the way it is at the moment it could go either way. There's been some very hot days and today it's been rain and fog all day.
anyway, I'm just rambling on. keen to share Marmotte feelings with others...
I'm doing it for the first time. First time in France, so absolutely no idea what I am getting myself in for.
Been doing as much climbing as I can here on the Isle of Man.
I'm feeling pretty flat at the moment, so I'm hoping a bit of a rest this week will help, although the travel to get there is a pain.
My hardest day on a bike ever.... Makes stuff like the SDW in a day or E1 road races seem like a walk in the park.
I keep thinking I should do it again but wuss out.
Enjoy.
Enjoy, I'm in the area in a couple of weeks time with the Telegraphe and Galibier on the list.
Seeing how it goes since it'll be my first time out there, but the Marmotte is in my thoughts for 2014...
You're all making me feel better... not.
everybody keeps telling me I'll be ok. My dad's doing it for the unpteenth time and tells me to just get on the bike and ride. he thinks other things i did were harder (i did some ultratrail races) but I'm not convinced.
anyhow, good luck to the manxman. If you come from the Isle of Man to ride in the Alps for the first time. It's going to be quite something. Remember to enjoy the views.
First time doing Marmotte, did the Etape last two years which were amazing so very much looking forward to this!
First year I did the Etape it was 3/4 of the Marmotte route so know the climbs, and they are long, very long, never that steep, just long.
My only slight concern at the moment is i'm then doing the Etape the next day 😆
I did la Marmotte about 4 years back, phew, what a day out! I can still feel the cramp I had coming off the Galibier now!
I'm from the Leicestershire Flatish lands so not exactly got the terrain to train on either!
The Glandon from Allemond is a tough old climb, fairly steep in places and no hairpins or whatever for respite. The decent off is great, careful at the top few turns then let it rip!
Get in a group after this for the valley as its hard graft on your own! The Telegraph is a nice climb and we fairly motored up it as its not too long.
The Galibier, WOW! A long steep climb that gets steeper as you go up, the last Km or so is hell. A great descent off it with a few rolling climbs take their toll on the way back to bourg,
Then L'alpe, it's a toughie but a decent gradient to get a rhythm going on, nails though as when you start on it, you've already done 100mile.
Never suffered so much in a day, but god, what a day! Took me a sniff under 7hrs but that was before they neutralised the timing on the decent from the Glandon.
Enjoy it. I need to get back one day.
I've done it twice and it's a very big day out. Glandn is long but it's early so you are fresh. just take it steady and don't get too excited.
Telegraph is the easiest, a lovely climb through the tress. Keep eating.
Galibier is the jewel though - long and tough at the top but just stunning views. Similar to the top part of the Iseran, if you've ever been up that.
But the big one is last. Hot and hard at the bottom - you must eat and drink really well or you'll suffer here.
Good luck.
L'Etape the next day? love it... 😆
Did it last year and last minute entry again this year. Not expecting to better last years time, even sub 7 (full route) I'd be happy with.
Glandon is the hardest IMO, but its first so you are fresh. Lots of gradient changes and some steep pitches. Descent is fine, just watch for those who can't go downhill and watch for traffic, don't take risks. Get in a group for the valley, you WILL have a headwind and its hell on your own but a great chance to chill and refuel.
Telegraph is fine, nice and steady and Galibier even is OK. Last 8km are toughest and especially last 5km on the plateau and the last ramp. Descent is nice to the main road, then another place where getting in a group is important. I was lucky here last year and a group of 4/5 who were all willing to work. It meant a good time to the bottom of the Alpe and fairly fresh.
AdH is steepest at the start, then relentless but not too savage. It's only 12km.
will - Good luck in the Etape next day too, I did that double last year and actually did OK surprisingly, maybe your body will surprise you too 🙂
Télégraphe has always been my nemesis and relatively floated up the Galibier afterwards. But then you know that. Goodnight Kisses by the way from too far away.
Thanks Matt. Least the Etape isn't a "mega" stage. Just making sure I get losts of carbs and protein in me on Saturday night, and get a good nights kip. Although still a very early start as i'm in the first pen!
All you guys talking of sub 7 hour rides like it is the norm. I wish.
Done similar sportives, although not La Marmotte. You'll be fine, they're not that hard. Just take it easy at the start, and avoid grinding up the climbs thinking you're being a hardman by not dropping down a gear or three. And don't forget to eat!
All you guys talking of sub 7 hour rides like it is the norm. I wish.
Me too! My sole aim is to get round the course, and if it takes 10 hours, so be it.
I've put in some pretty decent times on hilly UK sportives this year, but there's nothing really to compare with 20km + climbs.
If you see someone in a Bristol Cheesy Riders top, number 1148, shout him some words of encouragement...
[in 2010] a sub-7hr ride would put you in the top 230, out of 5200 finishers (top 5%)
I was happy to squeeze under 9hrs.
That was incredibly tough! I grovelled round in 9.28. Bonking on the Alpe in 38 degree heat was less than ideal, but I still managed to enjoy most of it.
Excellent, how was the Galibier? I'm there next week, can't wait!
Long! If you climb the Telegraphe first there's only a very short descent before Galibier, so you're climbing for over 30km.
Snow's all cleared from the road, and the descent is fantastic.
We're out and back Telegraphe side so missing the descent to the Lautaret.
I do like the look of that descent though so may climb it from that side later in the week if we get time.
Event looks great though, you having a crack again next year?!
I really enjoyed that. The heat didn't affect me as much as most, although I am from South Africa originally so more used to it.
Official time was 10:15, which I am not that happy with as I stopped a few times on the Alpe, and walked a bit when I really didn't need to. More head problems, and probably wasted 20 mins.
I went out this morning and rode over the Col du Sarenne, down to Bourge, and up the Alpe. I did the climb in about 1:25, which I am very happy with, although I'm still upset about walking in the event.
I think the weather made it a bit tougher than last year. Couldn't quite stick with the leaders up the Glandon, tried to bridge on the descent but ended up in the second group which is always so pedestrian through the valley.
Struggled on AdH in the heat and a lack of miles in my legs I think.
Official finish time was 6:20, full time around 6:44.
Did the Grimpée this morning. Killer! My legs were not happy, but got up in 52min (48 to the Chrono finish).
Heard that someone died after a crash on the Glandon, very sad news. A guy behind me had a tyre blowout in the top 1/3 at ~70kph, pretty scary to think about. Lots of other stories about accidents, ambulances, cows in the road and punctures.
Well done, we did that run last summer and it's a tough day out.The ride down from Galibier to the AlpeD lulls you in to a stupid place( and they can be scary fast,those bloody tunnels),when you almost forget about the finish 🙂
Had a fantastic ride. Official time is 8:50 which means gold by more than an hour, which was my goal.
enjoyed all of it. I was expecting to suffer all along so i was mentally prepared for grinding but my legs were good and I felt strong and comfortable all around.
The bottom of the Alpe was hot though and it's bloody steep but I knew that so I kept going strong to thhe end.
Super race and a much better atmosphere than I expected.
and some fantastic riding. top of Galibier to Bourg is a grinning experience when you're with a fast group.
Vive le vélo !
Matt that is a fantastic time, very well done. Where did that put you overall?
I loved it, although did a 7:58 which was ok, could have done a bit better but was pacing myself for the Etape lol. Anyway ADH almost had me crawling up, that hurt!
Sad news indeed about the fatal if its true, there was a very nasty crash in front of me on the Glandon. Nasty sight.
Bit of a rush from the finish upto Annecy for the Etape, not ideal prep, but I felt ok and had a good ride, 5:20 for the Etape which was 727 overall. Monday was a well earned rest day lol.