If I had a pound for every tale of suffering that I’ve heard since the ‘Old Guard’ started their annual pilgrimage to the ‘Marmotte’ then I’d be an extremely rich man. Every year the mountains have got higher, the temperatures have got hotter and the rest of the field have been even fitter. It was time to see the truth for myself and have a go at ‘Europe’s Hardest Sportive’. Dave Dixon was ‘Honoured’ with the sorting out leaving the rest of us just to turn up and ride. We allowed a couple of the Bob Jackson Racing Team to come along both to experience the atmosphere of being amongst a busy club and also to see if Marathon Man and Co could actually  manage a ride over 50 miles (twice their usual training distance!)
After arriving in Turin we then had to try and fit 11 people, 11 bikes and 11 sets of luggage into 4 cars. This was eventually achieved and off we set in search of the Alps. Marathon Man had brought his Tom-Tom to navigate us to Alp D’Heuz which seemed like a great idea until we all had to pay 32 Euros per car to go through the worlds longest tunnel just to find we were actually going in the wrong direction (Oh how laughed !)  Anyway, at least going this way we could travel over some of the course in the car and get a feel for what lay ahead. Sheer terror and panic began to creep into my head as I realised that the mountains were far steeper and longer than I had ever imagined. Suddenly I didn’t feel as strong and a sense of impending gloom descended upon me. It wasn’t just me feeling the pressure, as we neared the resort we passed Russell Hepton and Dave Meaking throwing up at  the hairpins on Alp D’Heuz (both claiming travel sickness but we all know that it was fear!)
After building up the bikes on Friday morning we decided to go for a short ride on the flattest part of Alp D’Heuz. After turning around on bend 6 (out of 21) it was straight into bottom gear and slow twiddle back to the top. Even on fresh legs it seemed hard and this was on the easiest part of the climb! At least we had a laugh with Mike ‘Iron’ Dixon who was having to do the event on a conventional chainset after snapping the carbon crank on his compact whilst removing his pedal with a scaffold tube (yes it was the left hand pedal with the opposite thread – but Mike can never remember which way to go!)
After a sleepless night we all rose at 5 O’clock ready for the 7 o’clock start at the bottom of Alp D’Heuz. Here we were all divided into starting groups, Russ was with the elites in a group of about 500, we were all in the next group of about 2000 with the remaining 3500 held behind us. The chance to ride amongst such large numbers was a real experience especially as we were averaging about 28 MPH until the first climb. The Croix de fer soon sorted us into a more manageable stream with the different rider abilities becoming more obvious as the climb progressed. Mike Kershaw, Mark Hunter and Dave Dixon all climbed well and left the rest of us panting at the bottom. After a short 20Km we managed to reach the top! On the decent we went passed a memorial to the riders who had died the previous year after going over the edge and landing on the road below. If a reminder was ever needed about the dangers of descending in the Alps then this certainly seemed to be it. The next climb was the Telegraphe which was undertaken in what seemed like ever increasing temperatures. This tree lined ascent seemed to be everyone’s favourite with the summit being followed by a descent and then a climb to Valloire. Here a few of us met up at the main food station with the temperature showing about 33°C. The Galibier was the next challenge and this really seemed the one to make us all suffer (all except Alistair who went from looking for a taxi at the food station due to exhaustion – to finding his legs and describing the Galibier ‘Not so bad’!) The reward for climbing the Galibier is a completely downhill 30 mile spin to the base of Alp D’Heuz. This super fast decent is punctuated with tunnels of various lengths and darkness. I suddenly had a feeling of imminent disaster as our group of about 50 riders entered the first tunnel in sunglasses, going from brilliant sunshine into almost total darkness at nearly 40 mph! My tactic was to follow the only bright jersey I could see and hope for the best! After the descent we arrived at the final feed station of the day at Bourg d’oisans
Stood at the base of Alp D’Heuz and looking up certainly focused the mind as to what was going to occupy us for the next couple of hours. One of our group had recorded a temperature of 39°C on his computer and it definitely felt as hot as that. After taking on water at the food station we began the slow climb up the first part of the climb which leads to the famous 21 hairpin bends. The climb was lined with well wishers all shouting out encouragement and the YRC jerseys certainly gave them the chance to practice their English!  Many of the riders seemed to be really suffering and all the way up you could see people walking, weeping, and just generally laid about in various states of collapse. The temperatures were taking their toll and the chance to cool down the head and hands in the roadside waterfalls (flowing straight from the glaciers) was a real highlight! Anyway the summit arrived (eventually) and a quick sprint through the finishing banner and into the carnival atmosphere of the arena soon had the aches and pains disappearing and there was certainly a sense of achievement in completing the ‘Hardest of all sportives’.   Just how hard it is, is difficult to quantify, it seems to be a combination of all the factors. The heat really caused problems especially after the weather we’ve been having and hydration seemed to be the key to getting round. Without doubt it was well worth the trip and Dave Dixon’s first class organising meant that we all could enjoy a hassle free break, even if he didn’t!  By the following day we could have all gone loads faster and the rose coloured glasses were well and firmly on. If you ever fancy a trip that will get tougher by the day then this probably the one to do. At least now I will be able to join in with the tales of the Marmotte even if they are all more fiction than fact!

Mark Hunter, Mike Kershaw, Mark Wilson, John Colman, Russ Hepton, Dave Meakin, Nigel Baldwin, Mike Dixon, Alistair Pickard, Dave Dixon