Haute route report

[Marcus]

Well, wow, this is a challenge although sipping a beer in the St. Moritz youth hostel is not too hard and neither is the scenery. I trained into Geneva on Sunday at 1:00 and was set up by 3 when I found out that the bunker, as in a nuclear fallout shelter, I was staying in closed at 4 before opening again at 8 so off I go with no lunch and dead beat tired. Made my way back downtown at 5 and had a delicious $30 salad before the 6 pm briefing and pasta bowl. Monday dawned hot, wake up call at 5:30 and rollout at 7 for a 178 km jaunt to Crans Montana with 36 degree heat in the Rhone valley after 4 mountain passes in the Haute Savoie. Despite leaving the refreshment station with two full bottles I was out of water before the next one 55 km later at the foot of the 21 km climb into Crans Montana and they had no water there because those darned fast guys had used the water in the bottles to have showers. So four of us set out to scour the vicinity and a Brit found a tap outside a boulangerie and off we went. Totally hard day, heart was beating higher than I would like and I was cooked. Took me just under nine hours, 3700 metres of climbing. The other hard part is the logistics. The event is quite the production and things go wrong like telling me my accommodation was 4 kilometres away when it was 15. Fortunately, the map provided was good but I was 15 kms down the mountain and the exact location was not marked. Now it's getting dark but a French rider arrived who knew that the accommodation was another bunker this time under tennis courts. But nothing is open in the town and I am not climbing 5 kms back up to the next town to have dinner. Wake up call at 5 and shuttle back at 6 for the 7 rollout downhill. This day dawned cooler and after the 50 km neutralized start during which two rider touched wheels and crashed in front of me, we began climbing. Up and down for a while before rounding a corner to find a 1200 meter wall with a dozen switchbacks in front of us. I think I was exhasted already not having had dinner and dehydrated from the day before and didn't know how I was going to get up the wall when we rounded another corner to see that our road led to a different 1500 meter wall with 15 switchbacks. Anyway i did manage to grind up the Furkapass. It was only 6 degrees at the 2600 metre top elevation and I was shaking all the way down the two dozen switchbacks to the valley trying to pedal to stay warm with my hands on the brakes. Now we only had a flat 10km run to the final 11km climb up the Oberalpass. 144 kms with 2800 meters of climbing not including the final 11 km downhill chill back to Andermatt and the bus transfer station. Took me just over 7 hours. After a short 4 hour bus ride up and down on narrow roads we arrived in St. Moritz where the welcome person sent me in the wrong direction to the youth hostel. So I walked back to the drop off hotel and found out they were serving dinner due to the late arrival. The youth hostel here is like a hotel, very nice. Things were looking better and I was feeling better before it started to rain an hour before my 10 time trial start up the Bernina pass. Not long after I set off the rain eased off and it was a fairly pleasant 640 meter climb. Took me 1hour and fifteen minutes to cover the 24 kms but the first 9 kms were neutralized so I don't know what my official time was. Anyway when you are ranked 355 out of 395, official times don't really matter. Just before I set off back downhill it started to rain hard again and I was soaked and cold but I had an inner smile seeing all those darned fast guys riding up in the rain and knowing that if I stayed upright I was going to have a hot shower and massage before they had a chance to use up the hot water and booking times. Sweet. Anyway tomorrow is another day back up the Bernina pass with three other passes before the Stelvio up the easy side with only 36 switchbacks. I definitely felt better today so I am optimistic even though I am definitely not a climber. If you are looking for a cycling challenge this an event for you. They are supposed to come to the US Rockies in 2017 so start climbing now. If you are like me at least your sprint will improve. Cheers Marcus.

[mlawless]

congratulationsmarcusonachallengingbutrewardingexperience.agreatracereport.Ihopeyouenjoytherestoftheevent.Theextramileagefromincorrectdirectionsarearealfitnessbuilder-waytostaypositive!

Michael

[Rolf]

I've watched clouds of blue smoke choke the valley behind me while driving an old van up the Furka. And I once rode a bike down it towards Crans-Montana.

I can barely conceive of the miles you're riding uphill, Marcus. But I know you're enjoying the view!

Let us know how the next four days shake out...

[Bosie]

Congratulations Marcus!

[sailor]

Thanks for the report Marcus. Inspiring reading. Wow.

[BRob]

Wow - what an experience. We're cheering for you. Hope you have time to take some pictures.

Blair

[wonger]

Great report. I am never doing this event.

[Marcus]

Thanks for the encouragement. Tripleshot is the best. The forecast last night was for heavy rain and snow above 2200 meters so the organizers cancelled the Stelvio. Very disappointing. This morning it dawned cold and wet and you could see snow higher up but just as we started the rain stopped and there was not a drop all day although I am glad I wore nearly full winter gear. The race stopped at 68 kms which took me about 3 hours and 15 minutes with 1650 meters of climbing. Just as we finished the 20 km descent into Bormio a sign indicated that the Passo de Stevio was to the left so I turned left because the weather was pretty good considering the forecast and I am a Canadian. We have pluck and want to get good value. Besides if you are in Bormio at noon with a bike what else are going to do? It was awesome, 36 switchbacks from the easy side. Several dozen other riders made the same left turn. Took me about 2 hours and 45 minutes to ride 21 kms with 1600 meters of climbing, pretty slow but with no timer ticking there was lots of time to enjoy the day despite some moments of questioning. When I got back down the race village was nearly empty as most people finished 4 hours earlier so lots of hot water for my shower and the masseuses were not busy so I had an hour. Now I have a hotel room to myself so the day turned out really well. These riders are fit. I am 305 out of 323 but about 60 people have not been willing or able to finish all 4 stages. As long as I finish and don't come last I will be happy. Tomorrow the Gavia awaits. With three challenging climbs starting from Bormio it is easy to see why pro riders come from or live here. Salut.

[barton bourassa]

From Geoff:

Great report. I am never doing this event.

+++++++++

Marcus, just keep climbing!!!

Barton.

[mfarnham]

My heart sank when I saw that they cancelled the Stelvio on you. Way to give us a happy ending!

Martin

[Marcus]

Two more days done. It is all becoming a blur. Up at 5:30, ride at 7, climb 3500 meters, over 150kms, have a shower, massage and a meal. Find the hotel. Have another meal. Get ready for the next day.. Even with the support team pro riders have I have a new appreciation for what they go through. Yesterday started off well with a climb up Passo Gavio, 2000 meters. 2 degrees at the top and no air. They list it at 7% but what they do not tell you is that there are 4kms at 2% which means there are 4kms At 13%. On the way down the other side the lights were out in a 1km long tunnel. Could hardly see a thing then a car came up for a bit and then passed. Could not believe it. This guy from Montreal who was just ahead of me crashed into the wall when the lights went out while was in the tunnel. He is okay. Then another shorter climb with a final climb of 10 kms at10% in 28 degrees with your winter woollies packed away as best you can. Today dawned with thunder and lightning and a heavy downpour. When we arrived at the first 31 km climb up Passo di Sella there was only a light rain but being wet at 2200 meters is cold even with 6 layers. By the end of the third climb there were 50 riders in the broom wagon and I was the last rider on the road. Steve Richard who is a beast and the lantern rouge sweeper paced me up the last 3 kms with lots of vocal support. The the sun came out briefly and we could see the Dolomites. After gobbling 3 cupcakes at the top we were off down a 17 km descent into Cortina D'Ampezzo. Steve on the front picking the line. It was really special and brought a few tears to my eyes. Just surviviving today was a challenge and finishing with the broom wagon behind us was a really good feeling. Tomorrow looks and a whole lot easier and the weather forecast is good. Venice is calling. Now I am 295 out of 301 finishers but there were 393 starters on Monday. Ciao, Marcus.

[sailor]

Now that is mental toughness. Keep it up, you will finish. We are cheering you on.

[wonger]

By the end of the third climb there were 50 riders in the broom wagon and I was the last rider on the road. Steve Richard who is a beast and the lantern rouge sweeper paced me up the last 3 kms with lots of vocal support. The the sun came out briefly and we could see the Dolomites. After gobbling 3 cupcakes at the top we were off down a 17 km descent into Cortina D'Ampezzo. Steve on the front picking the line. It was really special and brought a few tears to my eyes. Just surviviving today was a challenge and finishing with the broom wagon behind us was a really good feeling. Tomorrow looks and a whole lot easier and the weather forecast is good. Venice is calling. Now I am 295 out of 301 finishers but there were 393 starters on Monday. Ciao, Marcus.

What an awesome effort Marcus! Keep it up!

[mlawless]

Marcus,

Another fantastic report! What an effort to stay on the road! Enjoy the rest of the trip.

Michael

[Fozzy]

Chapeau Marcus!!! Truly inspirational.

[steve w]

Great job, Marcus. Wish I was there. Looking forward to seeing some pics of the epic ride.
Steve

[Marcus]

The finale: beware salsiccia. Woke up at midnight with a bloated stomach, proceeded to the washroom seven times, with diarrea and vomiting, got an hour of sleep at 4:30 before the 5:30 breakfast call. Best breakfast spread of the week by far and all I could eat was a glass of milk and a few tablespoons of yogurt. From our hotel it was a 7km roll downhill to the start line so I decided to go and see how I felt. The stage started with a 16km, 1100 meter climb up the Passo Giau with several stretches at 12%. My motivational supporter Steve Richard was with me the whole way. I had zero energy and every pedal stroke was a grind but I made it just at the two hour cut off time. There was five centimeters of new snow at the top the sky was all blue and the Dolomites were golden. Truly an incredible moment with a big embrace from Steve. After a final flush out at the hotel at the top I proceeded down a forty km descent to the next feed stop where I managed to eat two rice krispie bars. With only one short climb to go 30 kms down the road I knew I could make it. At the top of the climb Steve and I had another big hug and then I rolled down the last 20 kms to the finish line. I knew there was a final 52 km run to Venice but I didn't know we had to wear our day packs and mine was heavy. I had to give mine to the motorcycle escort and it was still tough to get to the end where a big smooch from Nancy put a finish to the grittiest, most determined day of my life. If you want to see how hard you can push yourself sign up for one of these events. If not stay very far away. See you on the road in a couple of weeks.
Marcus

[mlawless]

Chapeau! Great job and incredible perseverance to finish this event.

Michael

[barton bourassa]

This is so very inspiring Marcus. Well done in finishing! Enjoy the rest of your European vacation!!

Thank you for the reports!

Barton

[Rolf]

Respect, Marcus.

(And I hope one day you'll be able to forgive the sausage.)