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Etapiste

Por Ben Brown • 30th July 2012 12:37pm • Publicado en Events

First timer

I've never ridden in a big bunch before, so the initial 16km was rather exciting and equally as nerve racking. A motorbike, complete with cameraman, whizzed up and down the peloton which lent an air of actually participating in a professional road race. The first climb went very well but I ascended too quickly, highlighting my inexperience riding alpine climbs. I was exhausted at the top and still had another two cols to overcome.

The descent was a fantastic relief and first time for me on such roads. The initial feeling of excitement, as I looked down at the series of switchbacks, will remain with me for some time. Once I reached the flat it was hot and for the climb up to the Col du Glandon it remained so, with very little shade. In truth, I have never suffered so much on a bike. Up to this point, it hadn't occurred to me how tough climbing can be on the mind. The body can take the endless pedal rotations, the dehydration and the cramps; but the mind stubbornly and frequently argued for cessation. This conflict continued for the entire ride. Although my dialogue was internal you could clearly see other participants openly talking to themselves.

The last 2km were fantastically arduous but the large turnout of spectators spurred my progress. My initial thought upon finishing was a renewed and revised respect for what the pro peloton put themselves through for three weeks. How insignificant my suffering was!
by Barney Ingram

The Veteran

I love the anticipation in the preceding days before an etape, and try to reassure those who show nerves – "What's the latest weather? Are you taking any gels? What tyre pressure should I use?" – with a suggestion to concentrate on enjoying the day, not worrying about it.

It's great fun working at the Start Village, but not so good for the preparation. Long days on your feet, no time to check the bike, an exhibition diet and little sleep the night before, gives the ride more of an edge. The one good bit of preparation I did manage was taking full advantage of the organised 'pasta party' and put away an almighty amount of guilt-free pasta.

The ride itself was amazing. So good to be blasting away on open roads, there was the best arrangement of feed stops I've experienced on any sportive, and plenty of camaraderie with fellow etapistes. Descending through rain and cloud is a hoot, made safer by the marshals and gendarmes flagging up dangers …including a herd of cattle high on the Tourmalet.

Seeing my colleagues come in safely and in good time was a highlight. Everyone had a different look on their face, some exhausted, some exhilarated, but all with tales of highs and lows.
by Graeme Raeburn

Roadside Support

It was very exciting to see so many people visiting the Rapha stand in Albertville. I talked to a lot of riders, most of them were really excited and some were a bit nervous, as they had never done the Etape before. Each person had their own challenges and motivations.

For the first Etape we arrived in La Toussuire on a scorchio day and were positioned just before the finish to cheer our colleagues. There was a long wait but fortunately we were able to enjoy delicious French canapés in the A.S.O. tent in the meantime.

The second Etape was on a cold rainy day where we were giving snacks out to the brave riders on the Col d’Aspin. It was worth standing all day in the cold to give riders a push and see their grateful faces when we handed out food. The Etapes is not just a bike ride but a cycling event that brings people from all over the world together. An amazing atmosphere.
by Franziska Stenke

Comentarios

Fergal Quinn

30th July 2012 08:13pm

Acte 1 this year was my first etape, running head first into a metre tall wooden post on a ride the day before didn't help my chances (it also meant I didn't have time to visit the Rapha stand at registration as I was queuing at the Mavic service whilst they valiantly removed a vicious buckle from my front wheel, courtesy of the post!).
I think I realised about 5km from the top of the Madelaine that it was not going to be my day. The Glandon / Croix du Fer was infernal, I turned left at the bottom of the Mollard instead of right and quit. Full of regrets but plenty of experience to tackle next year's etape, unfinished business!

justin riley

1st August 2012 11:23am

Congratulations Barney!
Totally agree with your comment about how tough climbing can be on the mind… What a sense of satisfaction though when you achieve what you set out to do.
If everything was easy life would be so boring.

Charles Pearch

1st August 2012 06:05pm

7 years, 7 etapes completed. Carried 103 (nude!) kks over four Pyrennean cols this year. If you see me doing this again, shoot me. My thanks go to Rapha for helping me keep the weight up half way up col d'Aspin with 3 cheese and tomato rolls. Commiserations to Fergal. Charlie

Iain McCarthy

2nd August 2012 11:02am

I was one of the 300+ Eejit's who did both Etapes this year. So got to visit the Rapha stand in both Albertville and Pau and was a very happy recipient of a cheese roll on the Aspin (would have gladly bought a rain jacket at that point!)

Alistair Reid

2nd August 2012 11:48am

I too qualify as an "eejit".

An eventful 10 days in France. Got off to a bad start with a car accident on the M1 one hour after setting off Thursday evening before Acte 1. Two bikes on the back written off, car trashed. Abandoned one car and driver and picked up two spare bikes (one of which is specially adapted, so he ended up with his old steel frame with old gearing). One team mate flew in and picked up a hire car, which set up start and finish jugggling puzzle. In short five os us managed to be in France with a bike each and two cars. Old spare bike got Phil up the Glandon and no further. The other four of us all finished, well ahead of the broom wagon but not in times that will impress against some of the fine efforts recorded!

Big beef about lack of proper food at end of stage. Last year there was sausage and mash. This year an apple and a packet of cakes. We were also left waiting for our abandoned colleague and the broom wagon which didn't get in until something like 8 o'clock. By the time we drove back to start to collect hire car, it was nearly midnight when we got back to our hotel in Chambery. Didn't get a proper meal!

However, 4 days down on the Med coast, eating sleeping and watching tdf on telly got two of us back in the frame for a bit more of the same. We took the line, with 2 others supporting and promising to meet at the finish with some roast chicken and decent grub. Once again the objective was to finish. Got up and over the Tourmalet over 2hours ahead of bw, albeit in the worst conditions ever - worse than Acte 2 last year, and made it to the food station. (managed to hit the slurry in La Mongie and descend sideways but still stay upright ) Set off for the Aspin, and then my chain broke. Having resigned myself to a cold wait for the wagon, and having established that in France, the Urgent phone line people and the various motor cyclists do not talk to each other, the yellow man from Mavic finally arrived, and with a cliched Gallic shrug set about changing my chain.

Having lost exactly one hour at the road side, a quick look at the clock suggested I was still in the race. Fired up like Lewis Hamilton after a pit stop I flew up the last two climbs (complete poetic licence here - I've seen the video). A welcome interlude here was being presented by the Rapha man with the "very last" of his cheese and tomato treats. Finished in time to be presented with a cold roast chicken by our two supporters. Fat bloke on bike completes 2 Etapes in a week, and I still don't know what the broomwagon looks like. Result!

Nic Tilling

23rd August 2012 02:48pm

Etape fever is becoming a pandemic. Preparation is is the only antedote @VaiTappa Just ask Merckx.

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