The Buttress from Hebden up to Heptonstall
who takes two and a quarter hours to do 44km downhill?
I've worked on ride-leading gigs where stuff like that hasn't been uncommon. Bad weather, fatigue, cold, mechanicals, getting lost...
A friend did Marmotte a few years ago in one of the bad weather years where they stopped most riders from going up AdH as the wind and rain and cold closed in, plenty of people were verging on hypothermia.
I know someone who took nearly an hour to descend Ventoux (20km) due to the wind and the associated cold along with being terrified and riding the whole thing hard on the brakes.
Is it not a good thing if they stop you going up AdH in the Marmotte? That climb is evil at the end of a big day out. Last time I did it there was bodies all over the place on that climb lying in the shade, stopping at streams etc. 21 hairpins of hell.
I've fancied a long weekend in Nice for a while, warm up on Col d'Eze and the Madone one day, then next day climb the Col de Turini from Sospel which looks like a beast but also quite stunning in places.
Is it not a good thing if they stop you going up AdH in the Marmotte?
They don't physically stop you, just take your number and give you a time for the Marmotton - sufficient disincentive for many. The first year I did it, I missed the cut but limped on up AdH in a couple of hours yet still managed to finish before the last finisher - I think he must have stopped on the climb for some refreshment so he guaranteed last place. Every time I did it I would arrive at the top of the Galibier around 5 ish but making the cut was very doable. Now I wouldn't have a chance even if I was as fit as I was then. Anyway this should probably be on the midlife crisis thread.
Ah I see mefty. I wish someone had stopped me. I felt fantastic at the bottom after the long descent from the Galibier. I was flying. Started up towards the first hairpin and it all started to unravel. Overheated and had painful hotspots pushing the pedals. My gearing wasn’t big enough to allow me to spin a high cadence. I had to keep pushing and suffering up through all the 21 bends to eventually finish totally knackered. Can’t believe how quickly the wheels came off for me. Still was a grand day out and I did get my gold standard but boy was it painful.
You may already know this, but “FulGaz” has most of the big climbs on their platform complete with 4k video. If you’ve got a smart turbo and looking to train this winter, it may be a good platform for you. <br /><br />
Did Sa Colabra yesterday. coaches everywhere. and we left early too. Juice wasn’t worth the squeeze. Soller was much more pleasant with a lovely ride along the peninsula. i won’t bother again.
https://www.cycling-challenge.com/lac-de-cap-de-long-and-la-route-des-lacs/
Probably doesn't count as iconic as don't think it gets raced up, but this has to be my favourite climb in the Pyrenees. Higher than Tourmalet and reckon I saw no more than a dozen cars when I did it.
