I was lucky enough to get a place in the ballot for this event this year and now it's looming over me like a set of craggy limestone peaks, being but a fortnight or so away. I'm flying out via Innsbruck with EasyJet and planning to hire a car to get me and the bike to and from Alta Badia.
Beginning to regret all the days, like today, when I've sat on my arse reading STW when I could have been out training for it.
Has anyone ridden it in the past who has any hot tips or pearls of wisdom to impart re: survival strategies for riding the thing, places to stay, eat? Any STW-ers riding it this year?
Also, has anyone done the Sella Ronda circuit on a mountain bike? I'm planning to try and squeeze in hiring a bike and having a go at that while I'm there. Is it fairly obviously well signposted or are you better off getting a guide? Is it worth doing?
Thanks in advance for any and all advice.
Haven't done it but plenty of mates have. General consensus is take a compact!
I have done Sellaronda. I didn't use any lifts and it was awesome fun, some decent tech riding on the red/white hiking paths but i think they may be OOB now? Anyhow, every major ascent has a lift if you want to do that but its an epic ride round and beautiful scenery.
don't hang around at the start! (Maratona) The cutoff for the full route is earlier than you think. If you stop for too long at the feedstops and/or have a puncture etc. then you can miss the option to do the Giao and they'll send you up the Falzarego instead (the shorter route). You've gotta do the Giao. This is the hardest of all the climbs. Once you've nailed the Giao you can grind it to the finish. Descent off the Falzarego is ace!
It's hard but it's not as tough as the Marmotte, if that means anything to you.
I did it in '11 and will be there again this year. Its a fun event, the front end is deadly serious and televised live on TV. There'll be some famous faces there - Paola Bettini was riding round with Alex Zanardi in '11.
Don't go mad on the Campolongo and the descent off it is pretty hairy due to the numbers of riders, after that it all starts to open out and becomes much more fun.
Last time we stayed in San Cassiano, but this year we're in Corvara itself. I'd think that accommodation will be tricky so close to the event.
Sorry for thread hijack - I have a place in the event, which I now cannot use. Has anyone had experience with transferring a registration - is this possible? And if so - does anyone want a highly-discounted place?
I've got a place too but can't ride, so if anyone else wants a place let me know. I haven't actually paid for it.
I have a place booked in Badia, which is the next village along from La Villa, where it starts, so hopefully shouldn't be too much of a logistical nightmare.
I have a compact with a 13-29 cassette so I'm hoping that's forgiving enough for the longer climbs.
In terms of tyres and brake shoes, do you want to be doing anything different in the Alps from what you'd normally go with? Normal, for me, being mostly fair-weather rides on the Isle of Wight.
From what I recall (and dont quote me on this) but the cut off for the long route is about 11 or 11.30ish but after you climb the Campo Longo for the 2nd time it isn't as easy as down the hill & up the Giau - there is another climb in between. Depending on what start box you are in it could take you about 1/2 hour to get over the start lines. Dont get distracted by the people playing the rather odd wooden musical instruments and the men wielding long whips !
Just received my entry number... apparently I'm starting in Pinarello.
Wondering what goodies they've got in the event village this time 😉
What does that mean, starting in Pinarello? Is this successive waves of cyclists on the start line named after bike brands? My name is on the list but I have no idea if I'm in Pinarello or anywhere else.
There are 4 starting pens - your number decides which box you will be in - generally
0 - 1000 = Enel box (front box with Cipo)
1001 - 4000 Selle Italia = all women and fast Italians
4001 - 8000 Pinarello = all non-Italian men
8001 - 12000 - everyone else
Thanks for that, London Lady. Can you suggest any choice Italian colloquialisms that will smooth my path through the peloton? 🙂
Did it last year and doing it again this year. A few tips:
- the cut-off time for the long route is OK as long as you crack on and only stop very briefly at any feed station
- if you're a guy and haven't done the event before, you'll be in the last pen. That means you'll have about 8000 riders in front of you, so if you want to make it round the long route you'll need to get past as many as possible
- stay to the right hand side if you're a slow climber as faster riders pass on the left (that said I ended up on the left as I climb quicker than most - so try to avoid getting boxed in if you're a quick climber)
- take care on the descents, and have 360 vision - faster riders will pass you on both the inside and outside lines of hairpin bends.
- save something for the Giau, it's the hardest climb, and everyone suffers on it!
- expect your average speed to go way down! That amount of climbing in relation to distance (14,000 ft in only 85 miles) is going to be relentless.
- watch out for weather (the roads get very slick if it rains), and poor roads surfaces in some places
Having said all that it is without doubt the BEST event I have ever done 🙂 Stunning scenery, incredible atmosphere, fully closed roads, music, helicopters filming overhead, friendly riders, and the best-ever cycling jersey as a reward!
Maybe see some of you there?
I would be keen to meet up with any STW-ers that are out there for this as I'm going to be mooching about on my jack for a week. Having said that, there'll be 8000+ likeminded souls out there so hopefully I won't struggle for company.
what Sue said.
By the way, if you do miss the cutoff for the Giao, then you can remove your dibber and carry on anyway. You won't get a final time for the event but you will do the full distance.
Stef - have a look at the "riders week" info, there are some organised rides in the week before the event. Also, there are so many riders just out and about, and everyone just chats to each other 🙂
A few other practical tips -
- there's a good supermarket in La Villa, plus lots of very nice places to eat and drink
- good comprehensive bike shop for parts / repairs / bling bits in San Cassiano
- if you want an alternative to riding, drive to the top of the Passo Valparola / Passo Falzarego and visit the reconstructed war trenches - impressive, moving, and an incredible reminder of how harsh it must have been fighting in the mountains
- take an evening stroll in La Villa to see the magical "alpenglow" turn the mountains an amazing hue of orange / reds / yellow.
Re tyres / gearing etc - grip is important and run your tyres at a slightly lower pressure than normal to reduce the risk of a front blowout on the descents. You'll be fine on the climbs with a compact and a 28/29, but might find the final "mur dl giat" which comes right at the end and ramps up to a really steep 20% a bit tough (it's short and there's no shame in walking this, many people do).