[Closed] Multi Day Enduro Stage Races (Trans - Provence , Savoie, BC) experiences?

More XC then enduro but raced three 4 day events and one 2 day (weekend after the 4 day)
Recovery is the key, nutrition, fueling and that stuff needs to be good so you can got on with thinking about the riding. Working bikes is key and all that. At times it's more mental than anything.
Throw in knowing your body and how it reacts under stress and strain is important to know how to measure your efforts. If you end up over committing when it gets technical chances are you will pop at the wrong time. It's bad enough in trail/XC (gapping something on a well I didn't spot that as I was knackered and dehydrated with a touch of heat stroke)

I'm not an experienced racer but did enduro 2 this year which is "only" a 2 and 1/2 days of riding - and it is physically one of the most demanding things I have done.

Personally if I was going back I would just ride and not race as the trails were great and when racing you don't get to experience them fully in my opinion (but then I'm a stop and look at the view / session a jump type of rider not a race as fast as you can on every single trail rider.

I was struggling to hold onto a bike on the last day and was glad it was finished - we did the megavalanche a couple of weeks later and that was a like riding a bluebell trail in comparison to the multi dayer event

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We've done sani2c (three days) three times and singletrack 6 (new version of the trans-rockies)this year. Not really at the sharp end by any stretch of the imagination, dfl is more my sort of pace 🙂
For me the issues are fitness and logistics. You need to be fit to enjoy the event so there is the strange concept of having to go out training for a holiday.

The two races I've mentioned both took place thousands of miles from home so getting some local tips about accomodation, the nature of the racing, transport between stages and the like, etc all made it easier for us and took a bit of the stress out of it.

Tbh I'm not sure I'd bother with anymore "stage races" I really cba'ed training and being rubbish and getting older doesn't help with that. I would say give it a bash. I might have an entry for sani2c in may 2017 for a two man team available if you can commit quickly.

I've done a few events and would say do it if you can get an entry, but for both the TP and TS you'll need to be able to sell yourself as part of the application process as it's not just a lottery pick.

Going on your own is fine, but it is often easier to have one or more people you already know going on the trip as well. If you're going to be at the sharp end of the compeition it might be different but if you're mid-pack or further back it is your holiday as well so it's good to enjoy the social side of the riding too.

Both TP and TS are lift assisted, so you'll get some 'free' mechanical height gain, but don't kid yourself that it will be easy because of that. They still contain plenty of riding climbing and some obligatory hike a bike, plus you take a pounding on the downhill sections. Other races such as BC Bike Race, Trans Rockies, Cape Epic etc are more about your ability to keep pedalling and finish the day within the time limits.

Make sure you are fit - you'll need to train a lot to make the most of the rides and be able to recover in time for another long day in the saddle. The Alpine ones are predominantly rocky, so if that's not your local riding type, then factor in plenty of weekends away to get used to it. TS and Trans-Rockies involve quite a lot of riding at altitude, TP slightly less so but there are still some sections at over 2,000m. For the less enduro events, long steady rides (including plenty of road riding) will be the most helpful training, and in particular, being able to do that back to back over several days.

You will ride amazing trails, see incredible sights and leave with new friends from an incredible week - do it if you can!

The events are also quite hard on kit, so budget for replacement parts (ooh, new shiny things) on top of the cost of the trip.

I've only done Enduro2, but what I learnt was that consistency is the key. Try not to get a mechanical. There were a lot of teams faster than us, finishing lower than us most probably because they had at least 1 real bad stage. Remember it's multi days, and a puncture will ruin your overall. We had no mechanical or stupid crashes, finished 43, yet most stage times were 50s. Tubeless tough tyres, pumped very high and Tbh I didn't notice them being so hard, the suspension did the work.
I'd love to do more, I think we raced more stage time than a season of UK racing in those 2 1/2 days 🙂

I've ridden the TP tour and as a result of that worked the last 3 TPs as your local friendly timing monkey, so I've got a pretty good idea of the highs and lows.

Firstly - be really, really fit. A typical day is about 1800m up (ie Snowdon twice), but descending between 2500 and 4500m (sing down Snodon between 3&5 times!). Days vary in length between about 6 and 12 hours of riding/pushing/carrying. (top tip - wear bike shoes you're comfortable walking in for several hours at a time!)

Secondly be clever. There's always pros or semi pros who end up costing themselves loads of time because they've missed a turn when they're in head down race mode. Know your maps, and don't be afraid to stop for 10 seconds and check - better that than 2 or 3 minutes pushing back up. Also - you've no idea what's coming up, so going a hair slower on the straights and being able to ride the corners neater will gain you time in the long run. (unless you're name is Nico Lau, then you can ride everything blind at warp speed). A bit of mechanical sympathy goes a long way too. Likewise don't throw away time by accruing penalties for cutting corners or forgetting to swipe in or out on the stages, or not handing your chip back (or indeed forgetting it full stop).

The body takes a beasting too, so get your fueling and recovery strategies sorted. Know how you respond if you're stuck in blazing sunshine for 4hrs with no shade; or like this year if you end up above the snow line and cold and wet.

That all said - I find the atmosphere of the event awesome. The riders are excited about the riding and the trails - the "race" bit only really impinges momentarily at the end of the day when you clock in and then on Friday on the beach in Menton. The cool bit for me is seeing a bunch of guys from all over the planet who've never met each before turning into great mates over the course of a few days of riding bikes through awesome terrain and chasing each other for a few seconds here and there.

Trans Alps, Portugal, Joberg2c, Singletrack 6, BC, Ex 3 day plus other UK/Euro multi/1 day, loads MTB Italy, India, Poland etc

Ride your own race at your pace, as above consistency smooth. Able to ride unseen trails. Ride with your ability don't be tempted. If it looks bad, walk the section and ride on. Its a long race

100% reliable bike, service mine 4 weeks before event then ride to ensure all is working. Never start a multi day with new untried/tested stuff including your clothes. Worn comfortable. Tubeless tyres, good solid tyres like Maxxis. You simply don't want to stop repair a tyre. A light weight one isn't worth it. You know the ones I mean.

Feed and fuel in training as you intend to race. Should be nothing new. Don't train on pasty and pies then switch to Gels.

Have a good plan for your personal and bike maint and admin, get in sort bike and/or dump at bike park for mechanic, wash gear, shower, feed, set alarm and sleep. I have a written plan for the whole trip, with a page in a waterproof sleeve for each day which goes in camlbak. Shows route, hotel, transport times etc. After 5 days your brain wont be functioning and mistakes can prove fatal. Its great to pull out the written plan.

If abroad arrive at least 2 days before the event. Get bike built, recover from jet lag trip and relax. Don't be tempted to cut this

You need to be fit @ 12 hours in the saddle each week back to back 4 hour rides over single track, turbo winter, road blah blah blah

I'm slightly surprised this thread isn't eliciting more information.

I've done BC Bike Race for 2015 and 2016 finishing top quarter for each. Absolutely loved them both and will certainly be back for the BC Bike Race again likely in 2018 as I am now fully committed to 2017 with The Pioneer and Singletrack 6 booked. These should keep me quite busy over the next 12 months.

Lessons learned.
- downtime may be significant so prepare to amuse yourself.
- be as fit as you can be.
- make sure you have the right bike for the event. It must work reliably and have functional kit attached.
- racing for 3 or 4 hours a day in a week is a good fun. It is however hard work.
- racing on a course with no pre-ride is also interesting.
- taking a couple of comfort items is great.
- clean kit for every day.
- eat well & enjoy.
- keeping yourself and your kit fresh and clean is very important.
- pace yourself.
- if you are racing as a team - have a good understanding of the team goals and priorities before you even book the event. Otherwise you will not be friends for long.
- read all the stuff the organisers send you. They make the rules and know what they are talking about.
- drink enough.
- chamois cream is good.
- if you're having a bad day, accept it and push on. You're not alone.
- enjoy it, these things are expensive.
- take time to make friends with those around you, they are your ride buddies for the entire race.
- enter other events ahead of the main race to keep you on your toes and motivated for racing.
- don't forget a lot of the team supporting the event are volunteers so enjoy and be nice.
- yes, it is a race but you don't have to be a tit about it. Especially if you are not in the front 10 (and they are fast enough that they are playing nicely too).
- weather is unpredictable, be prepared for rain on 7 days on the trot, it may equally be hot for the entire week so be prepared for that.
- event tents are not waterproof. You could wake up to find your mobile in the only puddle in the tent with no means to dry it out.
- an occasional beer is ok.

Enjoy.