Marmotte Gran Fondo
Riding one of the biggest sportive’s in France that include roads ridden on the Tour de France
Summary
The Marmotte Gran Fondo is one of the most important events to take place in the French Alps in Summer, after the Tour de France that is. You ride up three well known climbs that are used in the tour; Col du Gland, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier and finishing up the Alpe d’Heuz. It is a big day out that covers 107 miles / 172 km and 16,000 ft / 5000 metres of Elevation. 7,500 people take part in the event, so you can imagine the atmosphere as you pass through French villages. You feel like you are in the Tour de France, especially when the locals are waving cow bells and shouting ‘Allez Allez Allez’
About the day
It was in the heatwave of 2019 when temperatures were soaring over 30 degrees / 86 farenheit. We drove down from the North of England to Folkestone to catch the channel tunnel to France. It took us two days to arrive in a place just outside of Le Bourg-d Oisans, high up in the mountains in a ski resort called Auris en Oisans. The journey took its toll on me as my friend’s car didn’t have any air conditioning, so we were melting for the majority of the journey.
We had a casual ride around the area the day before just to check out the place and sign on. To sign on you have to ride up to the top of Alpe D’Huez. The views are incredible as you can see peaks of the Alps for mile and miles, and some still with snow on. At the top of Alpe D’Huez there is all sorts going on, from stalls selling merchandise to food stalls. It was a very vibrant environment to get you excited about the day a head.
On the start line there are thousands of people. I’ve never seen so many riding bikes before. Because of the volume of people, you set off in different times, depending on what your race number is. The pace was relatively fast until we started climbing. It was a bit like an obstacle course moving your way around people. There were a number of feed stations throughout the ride which helped, providing coca cola, fresh oranges, Brie and crackers, energy bars etc. It was just what you needed and coke never tasted so nice.
After climbing the Col du Gland and Col du Telegraphe, it was onto the largest of then all which was the Col Du Galibier at 2645 metres! I have never experienced anything like it. I was crawling up that climb trying to maintain speed but it was proving difficult in the current climate. Always in and out of the saddle rocking side to side, switch back and switch back. The finish wasn’t getting any closer! As I arrived at the top I had to stop and just take a moment to sit there for a while. I think the altitude got to me or something…it was a strange feeling. Took a few snaps and then onto the last leg deciding towards the last and final climb which was Alpe D’Huez.
After 100 miles / 160 km or rolling terrain my legs new about it! The Alpe D’Huez made it 10 times harder than what it should be. There were people on the side of the road cheering you the whole way up the climb, screaming ‘Allez Allez Allez’ playing loud music. It was good motivation but yet again I was crawling and really struggling. My legs were cooked and I had gone way past that red line. By the time I arrived past the finish and awarded by medal. I was given a bag of food, water and coke. I forced myself to eat it and just sat there for ages not knowing what to do with myself.
Lost for words but amazed at what we had just achieved, it will be a day I will always remember.