La Marmotte!

We kicked straight up the Telegraphe, 11.8k long and 856m of climbing, this was just more of the same, one gear all the way, beautiful scenery, it was hard work but more a steady slow burn not the good old lung bursting you get time trialling up Howth.

At the top, my wife Grainne was waiting with the Sportactive support car. Derek had a slow puncture so we fixed that, had something to eat and descended again. That was the first and last I saw of the support car and in my head decided it was time to ride ahead of the rest of our group. Derek was having a ball and it was obvious he wanted to get moving too. Our laughing and joking was probably annoying everyone anyway.

As if to ruin our frivolities, out of the blue came thunder, lightening and heavy rain. We were heading for the Galibier, 18.1k and 1245m of climbing, people were taking shelter but we were used to this (training through the winter in Ireland has its benefits) we pushed on, hoping it would not be raining at the summit. The rain eased as we started to climb - this was one of the toughest sections but also the best fun. We weaved through the other riders and gasped in astonishment at a man with only one leg and one arm cycling his way up with us! I was starting to feel better and not worse like you’re supposed to.

At the summit it was very cold with snow still on the ground. It wasn’t wet however I could see the rain clouds closing in. Derek ate his food as I descended. This descent was incredible and I had to remind myself to stay on the road as I had no parachute or spare lives to save me if I made the slightest mistake. As I tried to take it all in I searched for higher gears to keep my legs spinning and pushed the chain off, my hands were numb from the descent and it took a minute or so to get it back on. I presumed Derek had passed me while I was fixing the chain so I put the hammer down to try to catch him. This descent was 45k long with a few lumps in the middle. It was great fun going fast at this point - jumping between groups and hitting the pitch black tunnels through the mountains at full speed, it was like a video game, kind of unreal, beautiful and terrifying in equal measures. My time trialling training came to the fore here and I was feeling great. 160k done including 3 of the most iconic mountains in cycling, now the alpe.

Heading for home now with only twenty one things between me and conquering La Marmotte - the 21 hairpin bends of Alpe d’heuz, 13k and 1103m of climbing.

I had lost Derek, I later found out he was not ahead of me and he had called the missus from the top of the Galibier before descending. It was now very hot and I decided to ration my drinking to one mouthful per hairpin so I did not dehydrate, cramp or mentally go into a dark place before the top.

The first 3 hairpins felt the steepest but I was going strong and passing everyone, I had spun all day and had plenty of power left. The count down to the top is tormenting, some hairpins are much further apart than others but I knew this is just as much a mental challenge as a physical one and tried to stay focused.

Towards the top locals were pouring water over competitors to cool us down, I as good as did a track stand while I got a good drenching from them because my bottles were nearly empty and my sips were getting smaller. 100m was feeling like 1000m but nobody was passing me, I was hurting now but I was on Alpe d’heuz, the Wembley or Albert Hall of cycling I was going to love it, even if it was trying to beat me. Getting off was out of the question, no matter how hard it got.

Each hairpin is named after a legendry cyclist, 2 is Marco Pantani and 1 is Lance Armstrong. At hairpin 1 you’d think the is job done, but I new there was another 2k to go. I still had enough in me to stick it in the big ring and get it over with. I crossed the line at 9h33mins (8h46m riding, 47m stoppage time).

There was no slow motion, hands in the air style glory I had day dreamed of (which kept me going). In fact there was no medal, no bag of goodies and I forgot my free meal ticket. I just rode back to the hotel, sat on the bed and noticed my transponder was still around my ankle so had a quick shower and walked back down to the finish line - forgot my free meal ticket again!! Handed in my transponder and got my medal. Now I was feeling good, a medal, first man back out of our group and I still felt human!

Sorry if this disappoints anyone. I know reports are meant just to contain misery and pain. I loved Alpe d’heuz so much I did it again the next day in the rain, it was like riding up a river - it was bloody great!

Derek also had a great ride finishing in exactly 10 hours.

I’m not sure what’s next or how to top La Marmotte or even if I’d want to! It is an awesome event - I’m keeping my mouth shut for now.

Would I recommend it? Well if it’s pain you want, just race up Bellewstown from every angle or do a 50mile time trial, but if it’s beautiful scenery, never ending iconic climbs and descents to test the nerves, then La Marmotte could be the ultimate personal challenge on the bike.