london based triathlon club and coaching
Alpe d'Huez race report
Four Windrushers ventured over to Bourg d'Oisins in the French Alps to do the iconic Alpe d'Huez triathlon in July, myself and Malcolm the long course, Tony and David the short course, along with Tony's friend Roger. Staying in a cabin at Camping la Piscine at the base of the 21 bends, we had the use of a beautiful pool and access to various stunning rides in the mountains around Bourg in the days leading up to and after the races, which are held on the Wednesday and Thursday.
Congrats to Malcolm who completed the long course race at Alpe d'Huez in a very creditable 7:31 (2,200m swim, 115km bike over two passes and up Alpe d'Huez, 22km run around ski station). Malcolm is getting a reputation as a serious mountain goat, and scorched up the big climb in 1:10, 50th fastest in the entire race. Chapeau! I trundled through the race at a less scorching 8:08, but still managed 4th in my V3 age group (also known as the Old Crocs Who Refuse To Give Up Triathlon category).
The swim is in a cold, clear lake surrounded by mountains; they don't come more scenic. On the bike, you are either climbing or descending the whole way round, some of the descents quite technical on mountain roads with nothing more than a foot high stone wall guarding you from a very big drop. Best not to look... The final climb is the toughie, with the afternoon sun radiating heat from the stone walls and a sign telling a cycling legend at each bend, named after Tour de France riders who have won stages finishing on the Alpe (you are going slowly enough to read them, I can assure you). The run is undulating, partly on a road and partly on an alpine track, all of it with amazing views of the surrounding high peaks and glaciers of the Parc des Ecrins. At just under 2000m, it also feels more than a bit breathless.
Tony and David faced scorching conditions and a midday start for the short course race, making the climb particularly tough, but both completed the race in decent times and in good spirits, and with fine tri-top tan lines to boot.
Both races are extremely well organised and there is a great vibe amongst the competitors. Strongly recommended to all Windrushers for next July, particularly if we are having another washout UK summer.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tony on -
Hey Charles your race report really doesn't do justice to your approach to tapering before a race!
We spent the week in Bourg d Oisans - at the base of the Alp d Huez climb so had a few days to acclimatise before the races which are in mid week. So
Saturday
We decided on a quick ride down the valley to see Lac Vernay where the swim takes place. Somehow on a straight road we managed to lose David. I suggested heading back to find him but was told that as the road only leads up to the Col du Glandon he would probably stop before the top at 2000m!
The lake itself must be the most spectacularly beautiful location for a tri swim though and the water is crystal clear.
Sunday
A Sunday ride with a difference as we decided to recce the long course bike leg (I know three days before he race!). So we pile off down the valley from Bourg getting faster and faster and going down further and further. I needn't have worried as exactly as I had anticipated we reached the bottom of what looked like a very big mountain. Then began the climb up the Alpe de Grand Serre. Over an hour later David pulled up at the cafe where we were enjoying a coffee and was given all of two minutes before we set off again this time down - and down and down and down. Until we are at the bottom of another big mountain and we started the climb of the Col d Ornon. Whereas Grand Serre was quite shaded this climb is in the open and doesn't look as steep - just the pain in your legs gives the game away. Another coffee at the top and another two minutes break for David before we were off again on what I found to be a hair raising descent into Bourg...
Lazing by the pool looking up at the Alp in the evening I commented to Charles that it looked a long way to the top. As he pointed out though I wasn't looking at the top but at la Garde which is about a third of the way up! Hmm
Monday
Recovery ride - so Charles leads us up a 18k valley with an average gradient of 6% on a blazing hot day! David and I spotted a very inviting cafe next to waterfall and bailed half way up. Decided to check how cold the water flowing down from the glacier above was and then wished I hadn't.
Tuesday
Finally the realisation that totally exhausting ourselves on the bikes before the race wasn't perhaps the best strategy set in so we took the hire van back up the recovery ride route. The van struggled its way up but we had a great picnic complete with posh French cakes at the village at the top. At that point I thought amble back to the van but Charles and Malcolm had spotted a glacier at the top of the valley and decided to take a closer look. No doubt the local mountain rescue teams were getting nervous. Fortunately Roger had gone for a walk up a mountain at the end of bike climb before and eventually got us to see sense! But the scenery was shockingly beautiful.
Wednesday
Day of the long course race and we waved off Charles and Malcolm in the swim which looked errr busy at the start. You'd want to get in a few mass start practises in the Lido if you are going to do this one next year. The first two swimmers out we're both women and the third woman came out not far behind elbOwing men out of her way. There are some pretty tough women doing this race. Not far behind came Charles beaming from ear to ear (must have forgotten Sunday already I thought!) and then Malcolm who had a kind of determined look in his eye.
Then off to town to buy new tyres so that the colours wouldn't clash with the frame of my bike in the race next day - I reckon it's probably worth at least two minutes. We actually calculated when they'd be on the Alp d Huez climb quite well and passed Malcolm on the way up looking like he was on a ride to the shops! We think he managed to overtake over 400 swimmery types on the bike leg and must have been in the 50 fastest in the race over what is the hardest traithlOn bike leg (and which attracts some very very good cyclists)
Suffice to say that both times were very very good - Charles 4th in his age group and Malcolm 82nd overall.
Thursday
The "short" course - shorter even than the Bridge triathlon. With the notable difference that you cycle straight up the side of an alpine mountain. Well not exactly straight up but up the famous 21 bends. And it was very very hot. But actually a fantastic race - I targeted under three hours but was thrown by the heat on the climb. I managed to get under 90 minutes for the ascent which was on target but it took so much out of me that running at the top in thin air became too hard and I was 19 minutes over in the end. So next year....
Having finished the short course all I could think was how the hell did they do the long version?
On the Saturday before we left I thought I'd have a go at Deuz Alpes which was apparently easier than ADH - it is but frankly Im never going to worry about going up Toys Hill again.
Malcolm also did a warm down ride - the Marmotte. Google it if you are not familiar with what that involves.
A great race with fantastic organisation and a very friendly and international atmosphere. Good company and some bizarre tan lines. What more could you ask for?
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Permalink Reply by Laura A on -
Fantastic reading guys! You really seemed to have a great time, and some amazing riding. Congratulations to you all.
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Permalink Reply by nichola roberts on -
Great report guys, more than a pang as I read it. Next year it will be the long course for me, but I will avoid cycling to work the week before! We should do an alps trip in the spring in preparation. Congratulations all.
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Lloyd on -
Well done all of you. Sounds a great trip. Next year . . .
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Permalink Reply by Charles Barclay on -
Oh yes, I had forgotten about the tapering rides.... just thank our lucky stars Malcolm didn't lead the ride two days before the race or we'd have been up the Col de Galibier before we knew it!
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Permalink Reply by Sarah Wright on -
Sounds fab - brilliant job all! This race (short course) is on my 'Must do before I'm 40' list so that means I've only got next year and 2014 to take the plunge - I'll be keeping an eye out to see who else is up for it!
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