EIRE OG CYCLING CLUB

 
A great report of the 2010 etape Du Tour from Eire Og rider Brendan Leahy.

  Tourmalet tests stamina at 2010 Etape Du Tour.

When the route for the 2010 Etape was chosen back last September it looked familiar I having climbed the same HC mountain in the 08 edition before the finish on the first category Hautacam. Also having competed in 09 to finish on Mont Ventoux in searing heat the course this year looked a rather similar mix. However as any cyclist who has competed in one of these sportives each one is different and poses its own unique challenges.

  As usual training for the Etape starts a long time before the event. This season I started serious training back in February and got the requisite number of miles in for the challenge. The Tour of Sligo and Wicklow 200 are useful indicators of form and they give you the stamina required for the 181 Km distance in the Etape.

  Once again I travelled to France with On Your Bike(OYB) a cycle tour company based in Dublin together with my close training companion Hugh. OYB are great outfit to travel with as they are experienced cyclists and they know exactly the cyclists needs in terms of training food accommodation and general backup.

  Most of the travelling group met up in Dublin airport on Monday the 12th July for the flight to Toulouse with our bikes travelling overland to be there ahead of us. From Toulouse we were transported by bus to the Pyrenees arriving in Bagneres de Bigorre to a small family run Hotel 10Km up a quiet valley. The Hotel was an excellent base with several of the famous climbs within easy reach .

  The plan was to have four training days before a rest day and registration on the Saturday before the event. The training is graded and it is up to each individual to do as much as they are happy with. I think that the training is both very enjoyable and very useful in terms of acclimatising to the big climbs and the altitude. I did the four days with Friday just a light run with no major climbs. It is very easy to overdo it in the mountains especially with high temperatures and humidity. In those four days we encountered the the climbs of the Aspin Pyersourde Beyrede Horquette Dancizan and the mighty Tourmalet(East side). It is a great experience to get a go at these amazing and historic climbs and at this time with the Tour around the corner there are huge numbers of cyclists out training.

  Registration day in Pau was on the Saturday and with 10000 participants this year the place was humming. There was a huge exhibition of bikes and all the gear not to mention the nutrition product stands which were doing a brisk business. You get a good idea of the massive organisation that goes into running this event and also the global spread of the participants.

  Saturday dinner time was at 5.30 as we were heading for the bed early in preparation for the 3.30am early call. I’m not too keen on this bit especially trying to stuff breakfast in at this early hour. The bus departed for Pau including bikes at 4.30am and at this stage all I can do is try and relax and enjoy the day. Ad we approach Pau the traffic was already very heavy with the approaching roundabouts choked with cyclists heading to the start zone. All I want at this stage is to get going but the logistics of starting 10000 cyclists is mind boggling. We headed into our pen with about 3000 others and it was great to hear the beep of my transducer as I headed out over the start line and powered away towards the first climb of the day.

  With the major increase in numbers this year there was congestion at several villages in the early stages before it thinned out as we got away from the start. At that hour of the morning it was lovely and cool and in no time I was heading up a valley to the first climb of the Col de Marie Blanque at 50 Km. When the climb came it was harder than I had anticipated with the final 4 km very difficult. With 3 Km to go on the climb and at a steep narrow ramp section there was severe congestion and riders were coming to a halt. I was lucky to get through this section without a hold up but several of our group who came into climb later had to walk the last 3 Km due to the congestion.

  After the first climb it was on to the first food station at 70 Km where I had a quick stop to refuel. In no time I was heading into familiar territory , the Col De Soulor. The valley leading into this climb was very pretty and I took a chance to just relax and enjoy this amazing scenery. I had climbed this Col from the east side two years ago and it seemed quiet ok. This time with the temperature heading into the 30s and having the extra distance in the legs I found it difficult. I had a target in my head to get to the feed station in Argeles Gazost which is at the bottom of the Soulor and about 37 km from the finish. The decent of the Soulor is very fast and technical and as I sped down the hill I noticed I was having problems with my rear brake. I pulled over as I thought I had a blow out but on inspection I had broken a spoke and my wheel had a fairly serious buckle. Anyway I kept going and used my rear brake sparingly and was glad to roll into the food station in one piece. I had food and drink and a good stretch as my back was already a bit sore. As I made my way out of Argeles I had 145 Km done and was reasonably happy with my progress.

  Once you leave the town the road starts to rise and from there to the 2115 metre Toumalet it continues uphill. At 20 Km to go my energy levels were low and I felt a bit flat but motored on. The first of the Km signs indicating distance altitude and gradient came with 18Km to go. This indicates the start of the climb for real and each one of these markers can be used as your next target. This climb proved to be hellish and many cyclists were in trouble early on. After what seemed a lifetime I arrived at the water stop at 8.5Km. At this stop they had hoses and I washed myself down and recovered for the final assault to the summit. From here on I seemed to get into a better rhythm and a better frame of mind and I finally rolled across that finish line after about 9 hors of riding.

  The Tourmalet proved for everyone to be a very tough climb on the day. Compared to two years ago when I crossed over it in rain and cold this time it was so much tougher under the hot afternoon sun. There is very little shelter on the last 10 km of this climb so with the heat it drains your body and makes life very uncomfortable.

  Looking quickly back on the day the good memories for me was the amazing support from the public along the way. They really keep you going on the final climb and it was great to be able to get water to pour over your head to cool down and of course you can feel like a pro!

  Of the 10000 or so starters about 6800 finished inside the time allowed which was eleven and a half hours. The first rider home did the amazing time of 6 Hrs. I was reasonably happy with 9.33 but I have to say it was way harder than the previous two.

  The Etape is a super event for an amateur rider to experience a mountain stage of the Tour. With closed roads and the professional organisation involved it is right up there as the top sportive in the World but be prepared to suffer!!