etape du tour 2011
Discussion
Anyone thinking of doing it?
Anyone done it in the past?
A mate of mine can get us on it, and wants to do the mountain stage, I'm not sure if I'm up to it tbh. I know there is 6 months which in reality should be more than enough for most rides.
Love to hear any views on this glorious event!
Anyone done it in the past?
A mate of mine can get us on it, and wants to do the mountain stage, I'm not sure if I'm up to it tbh. I know there is 6 months which in reality should be more than enough for most rides.
Love to hear any views on this glorious event!
I haven't done L'Etape but have done La Marmotte which is largely the same route as this year's Etape but with the Col du Glandon thrown in for good measure as well.
The Telegraphe is a relatively easy climb, particularly as you'll be on fresh legs and Alpe d'Huez isn't too bad although you'll be riding it after 95km and 2 cols but the good news is that it's mostly downhill from the Galibier to Bourg d''Oisans you should should be well rested by the time you come to tackle it.
The real killer of that lot is the Col du Galibier, partly because if you include the Telegraphe as the first part of it you're climbing for 35km more or less in one hit and partly because of the altitude. The thinner air above about 2200m makes it much more difficult to get enough oxygen into your lungs with each breath so it will seem a lot harder than if you were climbing a similar gradient at a lower altitude. The weather on the Galibier can also be very changeable and I've had a very strong headwind blowing hailstones at me horizontally on one occasion and bright sunshine on another. Even with the sun shining it's still quite cold at the top so take a windproof to put on at the top, you can always take it off again at the Col du Lautaret or La Grave.
If you haven't done any alpine climbing before don't underestimate how tough it can be. There isn't really anywhere in SE England that you can train that will prepare you for it. I did all my training in the Chilterns and was going out for 40-50 miles most evenings and 80-100 at weekends but there just aren't any climbs that go on for more than a few minutes at best. The Telegraphe will probably take the best part of an hour, then from there to the summit of the Galibier another hour & a quarter to an hour & a half maybe more and Alpe d'Huez takes roughly an hour but you may want to allow a bit extra for this as you won't be on fresh legs.
From reports I've read online, L'Etape is generally well organised with the roads closed to traffic (unlike the Marmotte) and plenty of food, drink and mechanic stations if you need them.
As with any mass participation event like this one, your biggest danger will be accidents, especially as there will be 6,000 riders, many of who won't have done anything like this before, all screaming down a mountain at speeds of over 50mph in some cases. In the year I did the Marmotte they closed the road for 2 hours after 6 riders riding in line all hit a marshall and all of them went off the side of the road and down a bit of a drop. Not good.
I then saw another 2 accidents while descending the Col du Glandon even though we'd all been warned at the top to take it easy and were being released in batches of 15 at a time.
If you want to enjoy it, train, train & train some more or you'll really suffer on the climbs and if it's your first event like this, just aim to finish it rather than aim for a time only to be disappointed that you missed out on a Silver medal by 2 minutes because you had to queue up at a water station!
Good luck and let us know how it goes if you decide to do it.
The Telegraphe is a relatively easy climb, particularly as you'll be on fresh legs and Alpe d'Huez isn't too bad although you'll be riding it after 95km and 2 cols but the good news is that it's mostly downhill from the Galibier to Bourg d''Oisans you should should be well rested by the time you come to tackle it.
The real killer of that lot is the Col du Galibier, partly because if you include the Telegraphe as the first part of it you're climbing for 35km more or less in one hit and partly because of the altitude. The thinner air above about 2200m makes it much more difficult to get enough oxygen into your lungs with each breath so it will seem a lot harder than if you were climbing a similar gradient at a lower altitude. The weather on the Galibier can also be very changeable and I've had a very strong headwind blowing hailstones at me horizontally on one occasion and bright sunshine on another. Even with the sun shining it's still quite cold at the top so take a windproof to put on at the top, you can always take it off again at the Col du Lautaret or La Grave.
If you haven't done any alpine climbing before don't underestimate how tough it can be. There isn't really anywhere in SE England that you can train that will prepare you for it. I did all my training in the Chilterns and was going out for 40-50 miles most evenings and 80-100 at weekends but there just aren't any climbs that go on for more than a few minutes at best. The Telegraphe will probably take the best part of an hour, then from there to the summit of the Galibier another hour & a quarter to an hour & a half maybe more and Alpe d'Huez takes roughly an hour but you may want to allow a bit extra for this as you won't be on fresh legs.
From reports I've read online, L'Etape is generally well organised with the roads closed to traffic (unlike the Marmotte) and plenty of food, drink and mechanic stations if you need them.
As with any mass participation event like this one, your biggest danger will be accidents, especially as there will be 6,000 riders, many of who won't have done anything like this before, all screaming down a mountain at speeds of over 50mph in some cases. In the year I did the Marmotte they closed the road for 2 hours after 6 riders riding in line all hit a marshall and all of them went off the side of the road and down a bit of a drop. Not good.
I then saw another 2 accidents while descending the Col du Glandon even though we'd all been warned at the top to take it easy and were being released in batches of 15 at a time.If you want to enjoy it, train, train & train some more or you'll really suffer on the climbs and if it's your first event like this, just aim to finish it rather than aim for a time only to be disappointed that you missed out on a Silver medal by 2 minutes because you had to queue up at a water station!
Good luck and let us know how it goes if you decide to do it.
Thanks for that.
Yes I figured it was going to be bloody hard work, and that the problem with living in Laaandan was obviously the lack of hills, but the issue of being a long way from decent English hills.
I am not in shape right now and actually am fairly unfit, but last summer/autmun I was beginning to get rather decent at climbing considering my size (about 15 stone @ 6.1, I love weights too much to stop and end up looking like a cyclist lol)
But I think the training will step up big time. I will already do 25 miles a day to work and back, so hopefully that will ge some of the weight off quick. Issue being, would I be up for cracking out a long ride in the evening after work?
Yes I figured it was going to be bloody hard work, and that the problem with living in Laaandan was obviously the lack of hills, but the issue of being a long way from decent English hills.
I am not in shape right now and actually am fairly unfit, but last summer/autmun I was beginning to get rather decent at climbing considering my size (about 15 stone @ 6.1, I love weights too much to stop and end up looking like a cyclist lol)
But I think the training will step up big time. I will already do 25 miles a day to work and back, so hopefully that will ge some of the weight off quick. Issue being, would I be up for cracking out a long ride in the evening after work?
you really need to focus training on climbing and not rely too heavily on your commute or regular rides as sufficient as other have said, there just arent enough big hills in hte UK to replicate the alps. there are loads of good books on training, have a look for chris carmichaels as a starter for ten. you really need a turbo trainer or spinning bike to replicate the continuous resistance of a climb and you should be aiming for about 90 rpm over the period of the climb so get your legs use to that level of effort/time. nutrition and technique will make or break you.
okgo said:
the problem with living in Laaandan was obviously the lack of hills, but the issue of being a long way from decent English hills.
If you can get yourself down to the North Downs at the weekend there are some pretty decent hills to train on. Have a look on a map to the east of Guildford and you should see three villages called East Clandon, Shere & Ewhurst. If you ride from East Clandon to Ewhurst via Shere that's the best climbing route I know around these parts to give you an idea of climbing for any length of time. It's a 16 mile return trip and that's on top of any distance you cover getting there and back. Google Mapsokgo said:
I am not in shape right now and actually am fairly unfit, but last summer/autmun I was beginning to get rather decent at climbing considering my size (about 15 stone @ 6.1, I love weights too much to stop and end up looking like a cyclist lol)
But I think the training will step up big time. I will already do 25 miles a day to work and back, so hopefully that will ge some of the weight off quick.
I think I'd definitely want to reduce that by quite a bit before L'Etape if I were you. There's a reason you don't see any 15.5 stone riders in the Tour!But I think the training will step up big time. I will already do 25 miles a day to work and back, so hopefully that will ge some of the weight off quick.
okgo said:
Issue being, would I be up for cracking out a long ride in the evening after work?
Sorry to sound like I'm lecturing you but L'Etape isn't something to be taken lightly or you'll struggle to finish or finish but have a miserable time in doing so. I'm sure it'll be a fantastic experience if you decide to go but you will need to put the effort in between now & July and have to substitute beer & curry for a training ride, bowl of pasta & protein shake!Some of my friends do circuits round Zig Zag Rd / Box Hill
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
Edited by itsnotarace on Tuesday 18th January 11:52
Thanks guys.
Turns out the charity we thought we were going with want £200 per person before we even get onto fund raising. That's a little rich for me just for a long weekend when you factor the other bits in
Is there anything else I can train for in the summer that is going to beast me?
Neil, thanks very much, I understand your points exactly, and my club runs often go out that way.
Thanks, I know the zig zag well.
Turns out the charity we thought we were going with want £200 per person before we even get onto fund raising. That's a little rich for me just for a long weekend when you factor the other bits in
Is there anything else I can train for in the summer that is going to beast me?
Neil, thanks very much, I understand your points exactly, and my club runs often go out that way.
Thanks, I know the zig zag well.
okgo said:
Is there anything else I can train for in the summer that is going to beast me?
I would have suggested the Marmotte but having just checked their website it's full for direct entries so you'd need to do it through one of the organised tour companies like Graham Baxter or Sports Tours Internation but they both want upwards of £600 for a 4 day package with flights, transfers & accomodation. When I did it I got a direct entry and caught the Eurostar / TGV for a fraction of that.For UK based stuff in the south I'd do Circuit of the Cotswolds if it's running this year or the Anthony Maynard Sportive or just take your pick from this list.
Thanks guys.
We might still head over to france and do some riding on our own.
But I want to get into some of these organized events for sure. I'll see what he thinks.
Neil, obviously we talked about weight, just how much easier would it be if I weighed 13 stone as opposed to 15? I mean I'd lose power surley?
We might still head over to france and do some riding on our own.
But I want to get into some of these organized events for sure. I'll see what he thinks.
Neil, obviously we talked about weight, just how much easier would it be if I weighed 13 stone as opposed to 15? I mean I'd lose power surley?
Dunno, never been either of those weights. 
I notice the difference on the hills between being over 10 1/2 st at the start of the year and about 10st 4 at the height of summer but a lot of that comes down to fitness I guess. I've never used a power meter so couldn't comment on what difference it makes but to me it makes no sense in carrying any more than I need to.
I notice the difference on the hills between being over 10 1/2 st at the start of the year and about 10st 4 at the height of summer but a lot of that comes down to fitness I guess. I've never used a power meter so couldn't comment on what difference it makes but to me it makes no sense in carrying any more than I need to.
itsnotarace said:
I've done that one, some really steep climbs up on to the mendips. I've signed up for the Tour of Wessex over May bank holiday weekend - 329 miles in 3 days. 2290m - 3000m per dayhttp://www.tourofwessex.com
I would also recommend the Cornwall Tor (April sometime).
Loads more events listed here: http://www.cyclosport.org/
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