Etape 2015 and the Alps - My story
Discussion
I thought I would share a few words and photographs from my recent trip to the Alps.
So the reason for the trip was Henry and I signed up for the Etape.
We hired a van
Threw a bikes and kit in the back
Henry managed to hire a van with no air conditioning. It reached 42c on the drive down.
We drove from Calais to St Jean de Maurienne with one stop. Obviously that involved a ham and cheese baguettes, cake and a Coke.
We headed for the sign on straight away to get it over and done with. This was very straight forward. By the tables where we collected our packs from was a huge wall filled with the names of all riders participating which I thought was quite nice. Found me.
We then found our hotel. As Henry drove this time, he claimed the double bed. I was left calling this home for the next week, great.
We headed down to the hotel's bar for our Last Supper. Sports nutrition, we piss it.
Getting ready for the next day
D-Day
There was no issue with parking in St Jean de Maurienne, all the businesses on the industrial part of town were closed and gave up their car parks.
Me looking so prepared / crying inside wondering why I didn't lose weight and put more training in.
Henry looking very pink
We made our way to our pens for the start which soon filled up. As we arrived, the early starters were already leaving.
Eventually our start time came around and it was a great experience setting off on closed roads with the police looking after us.
Straight away was the Col du Chaussy. A Cat 1 climb that snaked its way up to 1533m. It was a steady climb for me, I overtook a few, had many pass me. It was starting to get warm but manageable. I drank two bidons on the climb.
I got the top and to the first drink station. It was carnage. People scrambling for drinks. I fought my way through to get my bottles filled up. I had got there earlier than I had planned so was making time on the pace car/broom wagon.
I set off on the descent and approaching a corner I hear shouts and see arms being raised. I couldn't see the caused but we stationary for a while and then we were off our bikes and walking. WTF?! Now we're losing precious time. At this point I find Henry and we descended the rest of the way down together and to the first feed station.
The feed station was lacking, erm, feed. I saw bananas and pretzal crisps. What it was not lacking was riders, hundreds, all fighting for food. I grabbed handfuls of both bananas and pretzals and we set off.
The valley floor was not as flat as I expected, there were some short sharp climbs but on the whole we tapped out a good pace. We were soon at the next water stop. More fighting for drinks. Now it was getting really warm, to the point people are hosing themselves down with the drinking water hoses. Myself included.
Now for the Col du Glandon, the HC climb of the stage. On paper, it looked fine. I've ridden up HCs before and tapped them out at my own pace.
It was getting hotter and I could tell it was going to be a long climb. I told Henry to leave me and push on.
There was a drink station half way up, about 10km in and I had empty bidons by there. I was really struggling in the heat. It was up in the high 30s now.
The second half was less shaded and now I was in a bad place. I found myself regularly stopping for a lay down in the shade. I could feel sunstroke approaching. I was losing time to the broom wagon and it was going to be touch and go as to who will reach the summit first.
I reached a new low on the upper slopes of the Glandon. I was sat in a stream at the side of the road with an old lady pouring water from the stream over me. I was surrounded by other people looking for shade.
I kept getting back on my bike and turning the pedals. I passed people slumped at the side of the road. I remember seeing one man sitting in the sun, vomiting with what I assume was heatstroke. Another person, even worse, paramedics had given them a drip.
I could see the summit, it was 1km away. Most around me were walking their bikes and then it happened, the red Skoda passed me. I was swept up. Gutted doesn't come close. I had failed. Worse still, the summit of the Croix de Fer was only 2km away and visible. My parents had bought Henry and I road markers and I said I wouldn't display it home until I had ridden up it. I was so close yet so far.
As I summited, I was a little surprised at the sight. There wasn't just a few of us, there were this many...
Over the back, helicopters and medics evacuating the worse off riders.
The organisers were packing up the feed station when I got there. I was beyond hungry. I swept up anything that was left which included some very questionable cheese that had been sitting out on the sun all day.
Credit to the organisers for the lorries and coaches that collected us and credit to the drivers for negotiating the narrow roads. Each bike was carefully loaded and separated by cardboard. Now my bike was aboard the lorry, I boarded the fail bus
I sat on the coach headed for the finish at La Toussuire. At this point I got my phone out and saw a series of messages from Henry. He was in a bad place too. He was stopped at the Croix de Fer and effectively times out too. He was with a bunch of French riders who got into a very heated debate with the Police until the race organisers let them through on the condition they got to St Jean de Maurienne by a certain time. What followed was a fast descent of the Croix de Fer and a slow climb of the Mollard in the middle.
The next message from Henry was composed whilst slumped in a ditch somewhere around the base of the final climb. "Mark, I don't think I can make it. They've extended the finish by an hour but I don't think that's enough time". Come on, Henry. Rule 5.
The next message, this time from a lay-by "I have 6km left and 45mins to do it in. I'm not going to make it"
His final message, "I made it. A few of us blocked the timing car for the last few kilometres and it followed us over the finish line. If I had the energy to cry, I would, but I can't."
Henry waited for me at the finish however it was getting late now and the sun had set. I said I'd meet him back at the car. It was not fun descending La Toussuire in twilight as it started to rain. Luckily the rain only lasted a few kilometres and I arrived back at the car to a broken Henry.
We shared our tales of the day and then it hit him. "Mark, you didn't get to the top of the Croix de Fer. FFS. You're going to want to climb it again to earn your road marker aren't you?" "Yep. Sorry mate"
We rode up the Croix de Fer the next day, together, with a cake and Orangina stop this time. How it should be done.
Would I do it again? Yes. I have unfinished business.
To be continued...
So the reason for the trip was Henry and I signed up for the Etape.
We hired a van
Threw a bikes and kit in the back
Henry managed to hire a van with no air conditioning. It reached 42c on the drive down.
We drove from Calais to St Jean de Maurienne with one stop. Obviously that involved a ham and cheese baguettes, cake and a Coke.
We headed for the sign on straight away to get it over and done with. This was very straight forward. By the tables where we collected our packs from was a huge wall filled with the names of all riders participating which I thought was quite nice. Found me.
We then found our hotel. As Henry drove this time, he claimed the double bed. I was left calling this home for the next week, great.
We headed down to the hotel's bar for our Last Supper. Sports nutrition, we piss it.
Getting ready for the next day
D-Day
There was no issue with parking in St Jean de Maurienne, all the businesses on the industrial part of town were closed and gave up their car parks.
Me looking so prepared / crying inside wondering why I didn't lose weight and put more training in.
Henry looking very pink
We made our way to our pens for the start which soon filled up. As we arrived, the early starters were already leaving.
Eventually our start time came around and it was a great experience setting off on closed roads with the police looking after us.
Straight away was the Col du Chaussy. A Cat 1 climb that snaked its way up to 1533m. It was a steady climb for me, I overtook a few, had many pass me. It was starting to get warm but manageable. I drank two bidons on the climb.
I got the top and to the first drink station. It was carnage. People scrambling for drinks. I fought my way through to get my bottles filled up. I had got there earlier than I had planned so was making time on the pace car/broom wagon.
I set off on the descent and approaching a corner I hear shouts and see arms being raised. I couldn't see the caused but we stationary for a while and then we were off our bikes and walking. WTF?! Now we're losing precious time. At this point I find Henry and we descended the rest of the way down together and to the first feed station.
The feed station was lacking, erm, feed. I saw bananas and pretzal crisps. What it was not lacking was riders, hundreds, all fighting for food. I grabbed handfuls of both bananas and pretzals and we set off.
The valley floor was not as flat as I expected, there were some short sharp climbs but on the whole we tapped out a good pace. We were soon at the next water stop. More fighting for drinks. Now it was getting really warm, to the point people are hosing themselves down with the drinking water hoses. Myself included.
Now for the Col du Glandon, the HC climb of the stage. On paper, it looked fine. I've ridden up HCs before and tapped them out at my own pace.
It was getting hotter and I could tell it was going to be a long climb. I told Henry to leave me and push on.
There was a drink station half way up, about 10km in and I had empty bidons by there. I was really struggling in the heat. It was up in the high 30s now.
The second half was less shaded and now I was in a bad place. I found myself regularly stopping for a lay down in the shade. I could feel sunstroke approaching. I was losing time to the broom wagon and it was going to be touch and go as to who will reach the summit first.
I reached a new low on the upper slopes of the Glandon. I was sat in a stream at the side of the road with an old lady pouring water from the stream over me. I was surrounded by other people looking for shade.
I kept getting back on my bike and turning the pedals. I passed people slumped at the side of the road. I remember seeing one man sitting in the sun, vomiting with what I assume was heatstroke. Another person, even worse, paramedics had given them a drip.
I could see the summit, it was 1km away. Most around me were walking their bikes and then it happened, the red Skoda passed me. I was swept up. Gutted doesn't come close. I had failed. Worse still, the summit of the Croix de Fer was only 2km away and visible. My parents had bought Henry and I road markers and I said I wouldn't display it home until I had ridden up it. I was so close yet so far.
As I summited, I was a little surprised at the sight. There wasn't just a few of us, there were this many...
Over the back, helicopters and medics evacuating the worse off riders.
The organisers were packing up the feed station when I got there. I was beyond hungry. I swept up anything that was left which included some very questionable cheese that had been sitting out on the sun all day.
Credit to the organisers for the lorries and coaches that collected us and credit to the drivers for negotiating the narrow roads. Each bike was carefully loaded and separated by cardboard. Now my bike was aboard the lorry, I boarded the fail bus
I sat on the coach headed for the finish at La Toussuire. At this point I got my phone out and saw a series of messages from Henry. He was in a bad place too. He was stopped at the Croix de Fer and effectively times out too. He was with a bunch of French riders who got into a very heated debate with the Police until the race organisers let them through on the condition they got to St Jean de Maurienne by a certain time. What followed was a fast descent of the Croix de Fer and a slow climb of the Mollard in the middle.
The next message from Henry was composed whilst slumped in a ditch somewhere around the base of the final climb. "Mark, I don't think I can make it. They've extended the finish by an hour but I don't think that's enough time". Come on, Henry. Rule 5.
The next message, this time from a lay-by "I have 6km left and 45mins to do it in. I'm not going to make it"
His final message, "I made it. A few of us blocked the timing car for the last few kilometres and it followed us over the finish line. If I had the energy to cry, I would, but I can't."
Henry waited for me at the finish however it was getting late now and the sun had set. I said I'd meet him back at the car. It was not fun descending La Toussuire in twilight as it started to rain. Luckily the rain only lasted a few kilometres and I arrived back at the car to a broken Henry.
We shared our tales of the day and then it hit him. "Mark, you didn't get to the top of the Croix de Fer. FFS. You're going to want to climb it again to earn your road marker aren't you?" "Yep. Sorry mate"
We rode up the Croix de Fer the next day, together, with a cake and Orangina stop this time. How it should be done.
Would I do it again? Yes. I have unfinished business.
To be continued...
Great writeup 
I had almost the same experience doing the Marmotte in 1996... grovelling along in 35C heat was no fun at all. I hope you enjoyed the rest of the week. A couple of days after that horrible Marmotte experience, we rode up Alpe d'Huez early before the Tour went up, now that was really good fun.
I had almost the same experience doing the Marmotte in 1996... grovelling along in 35C heat was no fun at all. I hope you enjoyed the rest of the week. A couple of days after that horrible Marmotte experience, we rode up Alpe d'Huez early before the Tour went up, now that was really good fun.
outnumbered said:
Great writeup I had almost the same experience doing the Marmotte in 1996... grovelling along in 35C heat was no fun at all. I hope you enjoyed the rest of the week. A couple of days after that horrible Marmotte experience, we rode up Alpe d'Huez early before the Tour went up, now that was really good fun.
It's not fun is it. The cold I can deal with and dress for, the heat you can't dress for. Also the sheer number of riders isn't pleasant. I had almost the same experience doing the Marmotte in 1996... grovelling along in 35C heat was no fun at all. I hope you enjoyed the rest of the week. A couple of days after that horrible Marmotte experience, we rode up Alpe d'Huez early before the Tour went up, now that was really good fun.The rest of the week was fun and relaxed but due to the weather, we chilled in the pool and watched the Tour during the day and cycled in the late afternoons and evenings.
To ride the Alpe lined with people awaiting the Tour must have been a great experience. We always got a good reception from the people camped by the side of the road, be it a high five or and a simple "Allez". I rode the Alpe last year and it was a great experience although I was suffering due to doing the Ventoux three times challenge the previous day.
scubadude said:
Great write up but sounds frighteningly disorganised... was it just the weather that was causing people to drop out in vast numbers just past half way or the lack of food and water (and time?)
I think starting later, we were catching people who stopped at feed and water stations and backlogs formed causing delays for us all. Having never done an Etape before I couldn't say how busy they normally are. Had we started earlier, I think we might have missed the crowds and climbed the Glandon earlier in the day and maybe a few degrees cooler? Sweat was pouring off me, I've never sweated so much even with my jersey fully unzipped. I'd have never of thought I'd plough through two bidons in 10kms on the first half of the Glandon and still be thirsty. I normally remove my helmet when climbing a categorised mountain and clip it over my handlebars, you couldn't remove your helmet on the Etape and I was cooking under it.
On paper I thought I should have finished but a number of factors prevented me finishing, some under my control, some not. The only consolation is thousands of others also failed to finish. I just need to get over it, controls the factors I can and try again. Next time I want to be several kilos lighter and I'll bring my own food rather and just rely on their drinks.
Enjoyed that write up. There's no shame in dropping out in those conditions. Truth is that you could lose a ton of weight and still be no better off in the heat (I bet there were plenty on skinnies in the bus with you). You need to acclimatise to it over a period of time (not just a few days pre ride). I did - half did - the Marmotte this year and riders were dropping like flies. Both figuratively and literally: one reported death from heatstroke. I was very happy to have jacked it when I did.
Brilliant write up, and great effort at what must have been a very tough ride on the day. You can't explain to people who haven't suffered in heat like that what it does to you - I've tried a climb in Italy twice now, first time the heat did me, second time the road was still iced over 600m from the top! I feel I have unfinished business too...
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, even though it wasn't a good one for you.
I did finish and when I crossed the line I was overwhelmed, emotional, delighted etc etc. I can only imagine the disappointment at the opposite end of the scale. Actually I can't... I think it's only when you have been through the ecstasy of finishing or the agony of being swept up that you can imagine what it feels like.
Good attitude about the "unfinished business". Good luck next time :-)
I did finish and when I crossed the line I was overwhelmed, emotional, delighted etc etc. I can only imagine the disappointment at the opposite end of the scale. Actually I can't... I think it's only when you have been through the ecstasy of finishing or the agony of being swept up that you can imagine what it feels like.
Good attitude about the "unfinished business". Good luck next time :-)
Kudos for this.
I'm hiding indoors waiting for it to cool down, it's 36 in the shade and showing 43 out in the open.
I'm in the Sarthe near Le Mans and it's been hard work getting out.
Monday night was 50k and I got through 2 litres of fluid, I have to refil out on the ride.
It's extreme this summer.
Just find myself riding on wooded roads where I can.
I'm hiding indoors waiting for it to cool down, it's 36 in the shade and showing 43 out in the open.
I'm in the Sarthe near Le Mans and it's been hard work getting out.
Monday night was 50k and I got through 2 litres of fluid, I have to refil out on the ride.
It's extreme this summer.
Just find myself riding on wooded roads where I can.
great write up.
one fill up is cool. i had to fill the M3 up 3 times on my drive down (though it was hot and i did have a roof rack and 3 bikes on the back...)
mate told me beforehand that even if I got passed by the timing car to carry on...(well, until the Gendarmes finally pull you off). this year his mate was passed by the timing car only for him to re-pass it one the descent. he just scrapped through.
one fill up is cool. i had to fill the M3 up 3 times on my drive down (though it was hot and i did have a roof rack and 3 bikes on the back...)
mate told me beforehand that even if I got passed by the timing car to carry on...(well, until the Gendarmes finally pull you off). this year his mate was passed by the timing car only for him to re-pass it one the descent. he just scrapped through.
Edited by velocgee on Wednesday 12th August 20:34
Edited by velocgee on Thursday 13th August 12:23
velocgee said:
great write up.
one fill up is cool. i had to fill the M3 up 3 times on my drive down (though it was hot and i did have a roof rack and 3 bikes on the back...)
mate told me beforehand that even if I got passed by the timing car to carry on...(well, until the Gendarmes finally pull you off). this year his mate was passed
I left my M3 at home. I dread to think of the fuel we'd have used. It was only £250 for that van for 10 days. one fill up is cool. i had to fill the M3 up 3 times on my drive down (though it was hot and i did have a roof rack and 3 bikes on the back...)
mate told me beforehand that even if I got passed by the timing car to carry on...(well, until the Gendarmes finally pull you off). this year his mate was passed
Edited by velocgee on Wednesday 12th August 20:34
They were stopping people at the Glandon. I did see them let one rider past but his race numbers and transponder were taken off him.
Longers said:
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, even though it wasn't a good one for you.
I did finish and when I crossed the line I was overwhelmed, emotional, delighted etc etc. I can only imagine the disappointment at the opposite end of the scale. Actually I can't... I think it's only when you have been through the ecstasy of finishing or the agony of being swept up that you can imagine what it feels like.
Good attitude about the "unfinished business". Good luck next time :-)
Chapeau, Sir! I did finish and when I crossed the line I was overwhelmed, emotional, delighted etc etc. I can only imagine the disappointment at the opposite end of the scale. Actually I can't... I think it's only when you have been through the ecstasy of finishing or the agony of being swept up that you can imagine what it feels like.
Good attitude about the "unfinished business". Good luck next time :-)
Mark83 said:
I left my M3 at home. I dread to think of the fuel we'd have used. It was only £250 for that van for 10 days.
They were stopping people at the Glandon. I did see them let one rider past but his race numbers and transponder were taken off him.
£250 quid for 10days? you gotta be joking?! They were stopping people at the Glandon. I did see them let one rider past but his race numbers and transponder were taken off him.
my son was keeping a log of the fuel on the drive down. i'll check it tonight and share the result. what i do know is the computer showed an av. 17.5mpg making it a real 15.5mpg
edited: just checked - 208 euros on fuel! just getting down there (stayed in Bardonecchia, only 50mins away..)
Edited by velocgee on Thursday 13th August 23:43
I enjoyed reading that, and all those pictures really helped with getting a taste of whole the trip. Thanks for taking the time to put it up.
Hiring from Europcar was a neat touch. What are you going to do next year after they've pulled out? Can you rent an Etixx Quick-Step logo'd van from anywhere?
Hiring from Europcar was a neat touch. What are you going to do next year after they've pulled out? Can you rent an Etixx Quick-Step logo'd van from anywhere?
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