10 riders were in our party of participants although there were various lengths of holiday around the event, 4 of us flew into Geneva, collected hire cars and drove to Alp D’Huez. See that sounds so easy, but so deceptively awkward, unbelievably the Swiss and French are like an estranged couple sharing the Geneva airport, you can’t do this, you must do that, blimey great start !!
Having never climbed a mountain pass abroad before I was going into the unknown apart from watching Le Tour on TV and DVD’s, mainly the cyclefilm Marmotte DVD from the Trilogy series. I was both very nervous and very excited 
We arrive first at Bourg dOsain and grab a coffee, looking up I see a small zig-zagging road rising up the mountain, its the lower slopes of the infamous Alp D’Huez climb. Now it may just be me but I was awestruck, phone calls between the 2 hire cars were just expletives  whether it was excitement, fear or both, this mountain was certainly having an effect before a pedal was turned. By the third hairpin, Bourg suddenly looks like a model village, passing the 1st church and the road ahead can be traced by the terracing rising before you. We arrive at the 2nd church and just have to stop. Looking down is surreal, then you look up as your jaw drops to the floor, D’huez seems as high again as what you have just climbed !!! 
On the morning of the event, my brother and I get suited and booted into our forensic-like paper white jump suits to protect us from the fore-warned 'cold' on the descent, what cold? About half way down I’m done like a boil in the bag ready meal  Into Bourg and the town is awash with thousands of cyclists, we get into our pen and having entered so early we are near the front with all of us, bar one, having dossards in the 900’s. The buzz of anticipation in so many different languages is bizarre. A short wait and we are off and running, considering how many cyclists are here they quickly disperse along and across the road. My brother and I try to carefully tag onto a group at a pace suitable for us but still groups of riders ‘fly’ by at 30mph+ speeds. We ride to the first climb up the dam at between 25-28mph but as the road rises, more of a hush arrives amongst the riders, a few false starts interrupted by a few descents and then the Glandon starts. With no let up in the gradient I settle into a rhythm of sorts, a little surprised by the toughness of the first lung opener. My brother and I part company as he climbs quicker, but I feel rubbish as scores of riders zip past effortlessly, in their big ring, I guess I’m paying the penalty for such a high start number  After what seems like an age I reach La River D’Allemont, drink and gels and a lovely descent around a couple of hairpins before the gradient kicked up again. The second half of this climb seemed to go quicker, aided by the now more open views to distract the mind from aching legs. At the top of the Glandon there are masses of supporters glaring at the constant peleton of multi coloured cyclists hoping to pick out ‘their’ rider  My arrival at the feed station on top of the Glandon is almost bang on 2hrs, both bottles filled in a scrum for the water taps. I did try the wait in line approach but in hindsight the scrum method seems acceptable and done by all  I felt on top of the world, even a little watery eyed as I was actually living in a dream I’d had as a teenager, that of climbing cols in the Alps on a bike 
No time for sentiment I had a descent to enjoy and that is exactly what I did  Even early on, a few crashes had occurred on the first few switch backs, a lot of riders being over cautious but a few either excellent descenders or fresh back from brain removal surgery were free-falling down the hillside at phenomenal speeds. I thoroughly enjoyed these high speeds with next to no energy expenditure Motorcycle outriders escorted the group I was in, down to the bottom with the vehicles horn blasting on each and every bend, a constant warning to any on-coming vehicles, of which their were very few.
At the bottom I had a stupid grin, ear to ear, what a fantastic experience Now for the transition main road section, drink, drink some more and gels and then settle into a group. Legs took a while to get going again following the long descent but the group I was with started off at a steady pace but as faster groups caught us and we jumped on the back for a tow of various lengths, that group splintered. I started feeling very hot and on reflection, a little rough  The surrounding scenery was jaw dropping but as I started the climb of the Telegraph I felt heavy-legged, everyone had said that I’d enjoy this climb (if only) but things didn’t go to plan. As I got further into the climb my cadence was painfully slow and as riders went by, I felt like I had engaged reverse  Everything felt so hot, my body core, my head and my feet. Helmet and shoe straps loosened, I was beginning to question whether or not, in these temperatures, I could actually finish ! Halfway up the Telegraph I had noticed a feed/water station that I had mistakenly thought was a private travel firm but it was an expensive schoolboy error not stopping as it was an official water stop and I was all out of water, the top of the climb couldn’t come too soon. I was “fried” by the time I reach the water stop at the top, I must of increased my body weight considerably the amount I drank, which was probably equalled by the amount I threw over myself !!
A short descent to Valloire to clear my head but before too long I was climbing through Valloire towards the feed station and the start of the Galibier ! I got to the feed station feeling spent, refilled my bottles and reminded myself to enjoy the surroundings, after all I was now in a battle to the finish, which seemed very long odds at this point.
The start of the Galibier is arduous, around each bend seems to reveal another long section, identical to what you have just climbed. I was passed on this section by the rider from our group who had a number in the 5000’s (I think) He is a quality rider and with a pat on my back and a word of encouragement, he drifted on by. As I approached Plan Lachat my legs were still not fully functional just before the 180’ turn, I stopped at the cafe to reassess my survival chances, bought a coke and put my feet up and watched the world go by, well hundreds of cyclists if not the world  I looked in amazement at the steep pitch out of Plan Lachat but comforted myself at the shear amount of cyclists riding that it can’t be too bad. A rider arrives at my table at the cafe and following several attempts in various languages, asks in English is it ok for him to join me. He was dutch and also feeling the heat but he was very positive and reassured me that I would conquer the Marmotte. I regained my own positive ‘mojo’ and said my farewells before setting off on the upper slopes of the Galibier. A combination of coke and the cooler air due to the height gained, I was now feeling alive again, a couple of hairpins and fellow riders looked like ants meandering their way up to Plan Lachat. The remainder of the climb is tough but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, about 2km from the summit I passed the rider from our group with dossard 5000+, he was stood bracing himself from the cramp. Only later did I realise how bad the cramp was and how long he must have been there. At the summit I took time to take in the surroundings and sense of achievement of cycling up such a beast
Up until this point I thought the descent of the Glandon was a long enjoyable descent but this was off the scale. I whooped with delight as the wind whistled past my ears, angling your bike 45degree+ through the long hairpins and drifting past cars with bewildered kids starring at the ‘lycra clad’ skydrivers on bikes After many miles of descending a line of queuing cars momentarily stalled progress on the approach to the first tunnel. Had there been an accident? I couldn’t tell you cos in the tunnel I could only follow the silhouettes of the riders in front. A Cevelo kit clad rider was driving the lineout and each time he moved over and someone else took up the cause, within 30secs Mr Cevelo was back on the front pounding out the pace for the rest to follow Eventually the descent comes to an end with a shallow climb followed by a flat section, allowing me to drain both bottles and a little snack, just prior to the feed station at the foot of Alpe D’Huez !
Only 13km to go, yes only 13km, do not under estimate those 13km of climbing in possibly oven like temperatures. The day before someone had advised to drink on each hairpin where it flattened momentarily, great advice cos as you tire you can easily neglect this essential function. Knowing the road between the first 3 hairpins are the steepest and hottest, I set myself a very steady pace. The heat immediately starts to get too me. Helmet and shoes loosened, the heat, seems unbearable, I keep loosing concentration and I can’t remember which bend I have just negotiated I arrive at the first church, where water is being passed out in plastic cups, I gratefully accept one, pouring it over my head whilst still on the move, same with a second cup and I’m going that slow I grab a 3rd which I guzzle down unashamedly The terracing ahead is daunting as the road meanders up the steep mountain but at a more acceptable gradient. When the wall is on my right (nearside) the sun rebounds off the wall and road cooking me like a microwave, followed after each hairpin by a slight cooling off period in the shade of some bushes. In the hot sections I’m gasping for any air, not sure if I’m still sweating or if I’m all dried out. I reach the second church on the open left hander and this time I’ve got to stop. I feel sick, cooked and the only thing left to do is to make my skin crispy and I’d be ‘done’ and ready to serve I gulp down water but the nauseous feeling is not going away. I wander away from the main water station into some shade and I start retching unable to be sick (sorry not a pretty thought but its true) I feel dizzy and weak. I stand hunched over my bike for a period of time (not got a clue how long I was there for) before again regaining some sort of dignity and climbing on my bike. Luckily I set off in the right direction and pedal stroke by pedal stroke made my way to the top. Approaching the ‘day to day’ summit banner, I now know only 2 bends to go and what a lift that gives you. I manage a grimace / smile as I descend down to the crowded finish line, I’m there, done, finished, deep down I’m elated, nearer the surface I’m gutted to be finishing in such a mess. I speak with my brother who finished a few hours before, my shoes and helmet are off, my feet feel twice their size and I still feel sick but I’ve achieved a monumental feat for me, a ‘Joe Average’
Time to eat drink and be merry !! Not Quite. The 4 of us that travelled together are sharing a room. Into the late evening 2 of our number need some looking after.The rider with the 5000+ dossard has crippling cramp and can’t move and I mean can’t move. Another room mate suddenly gets ill, not a pretty sight but eventually we have to call a doctor. Heat exhaustion at this level is not good, surprised looks appear on our faces when the doctor prescribes 2litres of coke cola. It worked and exceptionally quickly. Finally we managed some nights sleep interrupted only by the odd scream of cramp
This was a fantastic event, we had fantastic accommodation just a stones throw from the finish, they catered for our every need and the food was outstanding. My suffering in the heat came as no big surprise but I thought I’d get to the Alp before it became an issue.
Thinking about doing it ? DO IT It is a great experience but do train hard and prepare for a tough test. I found the standard of rider very high but treat it as your challenge and enjoy. Will I do it again ? Oh definitely, I finished with a silver, 10hrs 22min, I want to return hopefully to take a Gold off the Marmotte
Two weeks later I had L’Etape which finished on top of Ventoux Things couldn’t get any worse, could they??
Sorry no photos, seem lost somewhere in my temperamental computer |