I’m off to do the Etape next weekend so thought I’d google average speeds, training regimes etc etc just one more time and make sure I was prepared. I can’t find anything on the average speed requirement other than guessing from the timetable and also if I’m in bib range ‘9’, does this mean I’ll be starting near the back of the field?

All this has just served to put last minute doubt in my mind…

Despite doing a lot of riding, its mainly been crit racing, chain gang, turbo, commuting with a few longer rides between 50 – 90 miles at weekends.

The route takes in the Tourmalet (avg gradient 7.3%) and Hautacam (7.8%).

I’m currently running 34 x 25 as my lowest gear. Will this be low enough? My only alpine comparison is that I got up Alp D’Huez on this last year and it was effort but fairly steady. My concern is that I’ll be lining up next to European “machines”, with perfectly honed athletic physiques who can sustain near to Pro-Peleton speeds.

Any last minute tips or other advice?

pray it doesn’t rain

You’ll be surprised how slow most of the fast looking Europeans are. That gear will be just fine. Try and find some fast groups to sit in and do some work for until you get to the uphill bits. Everybody tends to fly along at the start on adrenaline, then go backwards as soon as the road heads uphill. Just keep pedalling and you’ll get there. Beautiful mountains for a ride, enjoy.

Hi. Having just done the Raid Alpine the other week (6 days across the Alps) with some guys who are riding the Etape we all had 34×28 or 34×29 as our lowest gear. Although we were riding 3500m-4500m climbing a day.

Alp D’Huez is a fairly steady gradient (a bit steep at the start). The Etape guys both said that the Tourmalet and Hautacam got steeper at the end, so it might be worth a bail out gear, especially when you get to the 11%-12% average gradients.

I’ve had plenty of mates who’ve done it. Most of them have done a week in either Majorca or Alps as prep earlier in the season. Some of them where indeed climbing machines (top 750 I recall) but most where average cyclists and one more of a rugby player build. A 52yr old mate did it last year in around 10 hours, not exactly peleton speeds.

I’m no road expert but there seems little to lose in having some lower gears even if just to remove that doubt from your mind.

Good luck and let us know how it goes

I did it last year and with a few weeks to go i was worried i wouldnt meet the cut-off times. When i got there and the event started this fear disappeared pretty quick as there was loads of people going slower than me. i knew this didnt really mean anything, but it does make you feel a lot better when you see that most people there are really average riders – just like any other road sportive. The cut off’s are different every year, but as i guide i got my 100km time down to about 3hr40 (so nothing special) and i found i was never even close to the cut-off times, even on the last climb when i had to stop a few times to rest and take water on.

My smallest gear was 34×28, but i only used it on the last climb where i think the average was 9% over 10km.

other tips – might be too late but i would try and think in km’s, not miles as this is what the markers are in.

I think the best plan of action is to attack from the flag and try and hold off the peloton for the entire stage.

you can thank me later.

I’m currently running 34 x 25 as my lowest gear. Will this be low enough? My only alpine comparison is that I got up Alp D’Huez on this last year and it was effort but fairly steady.

I fitted a 12-30T cassette for La Marmotte and was glad of it on the final climb up AdH – my legs had gone to jelly by that point. For reference, I finished about halfway down the field so if you’re faster than me, I expect you could stick with higher gears.

@ransos – as I understand it the Marmotte is tougher than the etape ?

Yep, I think the Marmotte is tougher…that might be for another year…

Thanks for the input chaps, I think (hope) I’m worrying unnecessarily. I’m expecting it to be tough but not completely on the limit.

If I swap cassettes (I have a 28t on the other bike), I suppose I should swap the chains too…but this would probably mean the wrong length chain. So if I use a chain wear checker, and its below the 75% wear marker – should it be ok to use non-matching chain/cassette?

Whatever you do, do not try a last minute cassette change the night before you have to pack your bike away. Take some wet weather gear just in case the weather turns.

If you’re going to change your cassette (or any other kit) then do it now and get a ride in on it to make sure there are no surprises.

@ransos – as I understand it the Marmotte is tougher than the etape ?

A guy I know who’s done both reckoned La Marmotte is about 1/3 harder.

That said, I doubt anyone finishes the Etape and says “gee, I wish I’d fitted bigger gears”.

If you’re going to change your cassette (or any other kit) then do it now and get a ride in on it to make sure there are no surprises.

+1. I fitted a new chain, cassette, tyres and brake pads, but did a couple of long rides with it first so I was sure everything was nicely bedded in.

OP: watch your braking on the descents. La Marmotte was littered with people who’d dragged their brakes until their inner tubes exploded. I believe carbon rims are more susceptible.

first off, it’s too late to be worrying whether you’ve done enough or not, you’ve done what you can, there’s no point in doing some last minute panic training if you were thinking of doing that, just do a couple of easy rides to keep the legs going

you’ll be fine on that gear, again, no point in last minute kit changes, something will only go wrong 🙂

use other riders as much as possible on the flatter bits and stick to your own ‘happy effort’ pace on the climbs, don’t be tempted to stick with faster riders

Enjoy It, it’s a lovely part of the world

I’ve done the Marmotte. 5600M of climbing and 110miles. Definitely harder than this year’s Etape.

So does anyone know how the numbering works?

I’m in bib range 9, number 9 thousand and odd….does this mean I could be starting 9000 riders back??

Roughly yes, think it means you are in pen 9 or 10, think there are 12 pens in total, I’m in pen 5

What time you aiming at Jakey? Have you done it before?

Hi first time attempt, hoping to finish it, not sure about time, anything from 7 to 10 hours depending on conditions, what about yourself?

Assuming it’s similar to the big Spanish sportives, my top tips:

* Keep your head at the start – the amount of ambulances you see on the smooth, flat start at the Quebrantahuesos is incredible. People brake without warning, swerve from side to side, etc. It starts to calm down after 15-20km.

* Brightly coloured lycra and a decent bike doesn’t mean they’re actually any good. You’ll be surprised just how bad some of them are descending. Give them a decent amount of space when you overtake.

* Take it (relatively) easy on the first climb.

* Get in a decent group on the flats / gentle downhills and let them do the work.

And enjoy it, it’s great riding on closed roads with a gendarme escort!

Jakey – probably in the same sort of timescales. I blindly followed my mate and put an estimated time of 6hrs 30 like he did when we entered. Maybe somewhat optimistic, but with the right weather and getting in a reasonable group on the flats I’m hoping I won’t be too far out. Finishing will be success enough this first time out.

I’ve checked the chains on both bikes and they’re different lengths, so I think I’m going to stick with 34 x 25. I don’t have much time to test any changes this week either.

Solo breakaway for the glory 🙂

Finally…

Can I take energy drink sachets (powder) and electrolyte tabs in my hand luggage?

Do I need to let down my tyres? I always have slightly for the mtb, but I might not have access to a track pump at the other end and just won’t get them pumped up hard enough again.

I’ve put my gels etc in with the bike in my bottles, there is a mavic stand there that will have a track pump etc so if you do let the tires down then you will be able to get them back up to a decent pressure though looking at the forecast you might not want them too hard, good luck and hope you enjoy it

I put gels/powder etc in with the bike and checked it all in as hold luggage, and let your tyres down (at least to about 50psi).

As pointed out above there were loads of punctures last year on the descents – don’t over-inflate your tyres and go easy on the brakes.

If you’re concerned on time, ask the marshalls at food stops how long you have before the food station closes. They will be able to give you a pretty good indication of how you’re pacing yourself vs cut-off times.

Finally, haribos and chamois creme are both required, but not to be mixed up!!

Most of all, enjoy it!

Good luck,
Nick

Thanks chaps. Forgotten the haribo – good point! Chammy cream….need to find myself a small container rather than taking the full tub.

So, I’m flying with easyjet – it says nothing else is allowed in the bike bag other than bike – I’ve chucked in a few extra bits and pieces like tools to put pedals on etc before now, but has any one had any horror stories about having to take stuff out?.

I’m aiming to get all my kit in hand lugage and/or bike bag.