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Feb
1
Written by:
Pete Doubleday
01/02/2011 20:59
"The Best Triathlon in the World Ever!" - I know that's a bold claim, but if you're looking for a race that provides a proper tough challenge round the most scenic course with absolutely stunning views, great support from the crowd, and above all, a huge sense of achievement, then it's very hard to beat.
I'd wanted to do this race since I first heard about it a few years ago, and when I discovered a small group of Ful-on triathletes were heading to the Alps for this race I wasn't going to miss out. As a bonus, being a mid-week race it seemed only reasonable to turn the trip into a weeks holiday in the mountains, so Nathan Goss, Nick Kensington, Mia Barry, Nick Malynn, Nick Altman & myself loaded the cars with bikes, wetsuits, lycra, running shoes & a ton of sports nutrition products and headed to France to take on the Alpe D' Huez.
There are 2 race distances on offer -
Short Course - 1.2Km Swim, 30Km Bike, 7.3Km Run
or Long Course - 2.2Km Swim, 115Km Bike, 22Km Run
Of course, these distance only tell half the story with both bike courses taking in mountain cols and finishing on the iconic 14km & 21 hairpin climb up to Alpe D' Huez, then the run around the resort at over 2000m altitude......We were all doing the long course!
To start the race, the swim is in Lac du Verney, a beautiful turquoise mountain reservoir at the base of Alpe D' Huez. Typically the lake is a chilly 17C, but once in and swimming the temperature was fine, and the clear fresh mountain water an absolute joy to swim in. As always, I knew that if try to swim too hard my swim stroke just falls apart, so I cruised round the swim, enjoying it whilst trying to save my energy and looking forward to the race really starting on the Bike.
The first 25Km of the bike is a super-fast slight downhill blast along the freeway, averaging 50-60kph all the way until the turn-off and the first climb of the day, the Col de L'Alpe Du Grand Serre. This is a nice climb, 13km and averaging about 7%. Still feeling fresh and now properly fired up into race mode, I'm ready to nail this climb, but trying hard to ride conservatively, knowing this is just the first of 3 big climbs today. A few french guys shoot off ahead of me (including one guy who must have been well into his 60s) leaving me feeling totally outclassed by the locals in the mountains, but I carry on at my pace and manage to pass a lot of other riders, and towards the top was surprised to catch and pass the same guys who left me behind at the bottom. Now I was feeling pretty pleased that I'd paced that well.
The next section descending from the Grand Serre ski station and through the village of Valbonnais was fast and fantastic with nice roads and some amazing views. The next climb, the Col D' Ornon hardly felt like a climb at all. Unlike the usual alpine switchbacks it's a long straight climb along the valley averaging about 5%. It's open and doesn't feel that steep, but it did feel like a long drag as you can see the Col ahead all the way. Towards the top my legs are feeling tired which is a bit of a worry with the biggest climb still to go. At least I had a chance to recover on the descent.
For anyone who enjoys a good fast mountain descent, this one is a dream, with lots of sweeping turns, but nothing too tight or blind that you have to slow down much, and in no time at all I was down and riding through Le Bourg D' Oisans, and looking up at the final climb to Alpe D' Huez ahead of me.
As I start the 14km climb to Alpe D' Huez I'm thinking, "Here we go! This is what this race is all about". I'm feeling good that I'm now on the last climb, but still very conscious that I've still got to run 22km when I get to the top. The crowds on this iconic climb are just fantastic. On every hairpin bend you get cheers of encouragement, 'Hup, Hup, Hup, Hup. Allez, Allez!!'.
After an hour of climbing I'm riding through Alpe D' Huez. I stagger into transition feeling like I've overdone it on the bike and dreading the run ahead, but I'm surprised to find the bike racks mostly empty. Encouraged by the thought that I'm closer to the front than I've ever been, I set out on the run thinking I just need to get round this course and I've had a good race. It's a 3 lap run around the resort, up and down hills, along rocky dirt tracks and paved roads. As a run on it's own it would be a great course, but after racing for 5hrs already I was just looking forward to getting it over. Lap 1 was tough. Legs still recovering from the last climb on the bike it was a real mission just to keep running. Lap 2 was also tough but I get through it thinking there's only one more to go, then I'm on the last lap and I know I'm there - I've done this twice already, only one more lap to go and the last third is all downhill. Amazingly, I actually enjoyed the last lap, spurred on by the finish line within reach and the thought that I must still be in a good position. Once over the last hill, the last 2km was amazing! Downhill back into the town then through the crowds lining the roads and into the finishing chute, and the best feeling of satisfaction for completing this amazing course.
It's an awesome race, unlike any other, and that's why I'm writing this blog. I'm already signed up to go back this year and it would be great to see lots of other Ful-on Tri club members out there on the course. So, if you're up for the race of a lifetime, and some of the worlds most famous bike rides in the mountains then sign up here - http://www.alpetriathlon.com & If you don't fancy the long course, then the short course race is definitely worth the trip too.
See you there,
Pete.
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