Grand Raid Cristalp story

[Sylv]

August 1999 – after reading in the pages of Mountain Biker International – at the time edited by a certain Huw W – an article about the Grand Raid Cristalp, I decide to enter with my best mate Cyril. Dubbed the toughest mtb race in the World at the time, the GRC takes place every year since 1989 in the Swiss Alps between the ski resorts of Verbier and Grimentz, along a 131km course which includes over 4,600m of vertical climbing, culminating with the infamous Pas de Lona (2,775m), which is so steep it has to be walked on foot, and time gates which, if reached too late, will mark the end of your race. With a new job I have just built up a new titanium Litespeed frame with parts I could only dream of a couple years before – Shimano XTR, RockShox Sids, Mavic Crossmax, and am eager to try it out in those wild conditions, but somewhat overwhelmed we opt for the smaller course, which starts from the village of Hérémence.

[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/3854947593_379e8cc299_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/3854947593_25dd9709eb_m.jpg[/img][/url]
During the race in '99

We drive and sleep in my red 205 in some woods, awoken halfway through the night by a herd of noisy sheep. It takes us 10h43 to complete the 76km, but we are hooked – this is as awesome an event as it gets. The following year, we go for the full distance. Cyril has just built up a new Zaskar frame, but realises it is too big and giving him back issues, so we have to stop every other km. Just before the first time gate we are caught by the broom wagon which warns us that we probably will not make it in time. I sprint frantically up the next 2-3km climb and make it with seconds to spare, unlike Cyril unfortunately. I then have to race against time through the remaining time gates, and finish in 10h49.

In 2001 I have my best result to date, having done a bit of training for it. We split with Cyril at the start, I also give a lift to a bike mechanic guy from Lyon, who is taking his nutrition and training pretty seriously, he even has those electrodes on his thighs during the drive. He won’t make it to the finish of the race, and I end up in 8h45, a bit short of my 8h30 goal. The course record stands at 6h08 or 6h17 - depending on whether the source includes or not the result from (suspected) doper Daniel Paradis.

Two years later I manage to convince a UK contingent to take part – Aodan, Simon, Will, Rory join me. I begin to suffer right from the start, where Rory shoots past never to be seen again. On two of the final climbs my body simply refuses to pedal anymore and I have no choice but to walk entire sections. I finish in 10h11 and swear never to go back (famous Welsh phrase).

August 2009 – a month and a bit earlier I signed up for the GRC once again. I have booked a holiday in France at that time to visit family and it fits quite well with the plans, I am surprised they are still taking entries that late though. The course has been re-measured and now stands at only 120km but with 5,430m of climbing! The original plan was to ride it singlespeed, but this changes with a couple weeks to go. First I find out that it has been done before, and also realise it will require a lot of work on my bike to fit it with an adequate climbing gear (something like 32*18 or 19), but the worst is that it would leave me with a bike that would be totally unrideable on anything else than a 10% incline for the rest of my holiday. And riding singlespeed was only ever going to be an excuse for taking it easy, and I know in the back of my head this is never going to happen. So instead, and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of my first GRC (and the 20th GRC) I choose to rebuild the Litespeed with parts mostly similar to those of ten years ago, with a few concessions to modernity, like sub 400gm, high-rolling Conti tires, a must for the numerous fire-road climbs.

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3854810645_b6ab16d43c_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3854810645_f9c63c0e99_m.jpg[/img][/url]
This bike is a rocket

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/3854869901_fe4bbe7724_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/3854869901_1a8fff58d2_m.jpg[/img][/url]
The race is big news in Switzerland

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/3854921073_069ffe712a_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/3854921073_0466d5ee68_m.jpg[/img][/url]
2009 marks the 20th anniversary of GRC

It will be interesting to see how I fare, eight years older, but with a lot more training. And also a recent weight loss which seems to be doing wonders for my climbing.
I happen to mention the race to Joel and as he is missing our usual August mtb trip to l’Alpe d’Huez he really fancies coming along, but alas it is a bit short notice, so he’ll be training for next year I think. Cyril is up for it too and manages to sign on for the short course, but with only 700km in his legs this year.

The week before the race I have two awesome hilly 70km races around Lyon, mixing road and off-road, on trails that for some I haven’t ridden in ten years. Weather is beautiful (did I mention the heatwave?). Then it is off to the Jura farm with my dad and a bit more riding there, before driving towards the Geneva region where I used to live until 17.

[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/3855603334_d74b27f8e6_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/3855603334_3439499e1b_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Back to the old Jura farm

Thursday at 9am I start the climb to the Col de la Faucille on top of the Jura (600m to 1,323m) which is roughly equivalent to the first climb of the GRC. I feel great but take it fairly easy, HR at 140-145, and make it to the top in exactly 45”, Cyril joining me on his motorbike for the final km (I have to resist the urge to grab his shoulder). From the top we race each other down, just like we used to do on our bmx bikes, Cyril with his engine switched off and mirrors folded. I can draft a bit but lose ground on the long straights, then can accelerate out of the tight hairpins whereas he is powerless, so we’re pretty much even in the end, making it down in 12”30, having overtaken many cars. Exhilarating!

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/3854916657_e718755a5e_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/3854916657_39d156dcc0_m.jpg[/img][/url]
The Jura in the background

[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2605/3854819625_94929b1ca6.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2605/3854819625_94929b1ca6_m.jpg[/img][/url]
One-handed riding

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3855610496_c965f6a4f7_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3855610496_b3cbbd2aa8_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Top of Faucille

The afternoon is spent doing some crazy riding in Geneva - I’ve done enough red light jumping, wrong way riding, pavement riding and such for a year – before having my bike checked by an authorized mechanic (Swiss singlespeed champ) which is mandatory for the race. The ageing rear wheel didn’t survive one of my rides in Lyon and cannot be trued back, mechanic confirms it won’t pass the test, so I have no choice but to borrow one of Cyril’s – much heavier – spare wheels.

[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2606/3855629808_d9109e6b1a.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2606/3855629808_d9109e6b1a_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Pre-ride feed

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3854918673_1c7b9a605a_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3854918673_3d09e822e6_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Windy Geneva

On Friday we move to Verbier and I ride the now World-famous 8km climb from Le Chable, again pretty steady to save the legs for the following day. There are amazing displays put in place for the Tour, and hundreds of names painted on the road – think I saw only two of Lance though.

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/3855648144_656f2e76e8_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/3855648144_623ee41ae5_m.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3854863461_bfdba8b7fa_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3854863461_e2a0c6e9a6_m.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3855648586_0d1ee07ed3_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3855648586_2e46c72916_m.jpg[/img][/url]

Display from the Tour


[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2578/3855649658_731fd6995b_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2578/3855649658_f1d7f6206a_m.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/3854862705_be7d9ce081_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/3854862705_38d78da205_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Verbier


[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2662/3854873637_c9bf8d4001_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2662/3854873637_e76de2d855_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Verbier climb

We have to drive to Sion which is 55km away to sign on, and take the scenic road which allows us to reccy the first climb and descent.

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/3855674964_a7615020a6_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/3855674964_380cfc5fe1_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Mountain drive

[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/3855668126_89edf16ffc_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/3855668126_8c6aacb4b7_m.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2584/3854920589_55302c2510_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2584/3854920589_ca93b68005_m.jpg[/img][/url]
The view down on Verbier

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3855088215_9191dab15a_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3855088215_6c0a5aeac3.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3855089053_8e938fbf75_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3855089053_19b768033e.jpg[/img][/url]
Panoramic views of the first climb and descent

At sign on I am told that the bike needs to be checked again in case the brake pads got worn in the meantime. Fine ... except the bike is back at the hotel, with not enough time to go and get it. One guy seems to think it might be ok, but the head mechanic he directs me to is adamant it would be unsafe to let me start. I happen to mention who it was who checked my bike two days before, and all of a sudden things seem to take a better turn. Serge (the guy) is actually here working, we discuss and after a while I am finally given the all clear - phew!


[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2672/3855675600_cfda6cb9c7_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2672/3855675600_4d95d1e96c_m.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/3854884513_ec52ae6d71_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/3854884513_c51b143c62_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Sign on

Race day starts at 4.30am with breakfast, 5.30 drive to the start, and 6.30 start. Even that early at 1,500m high the temperature is mild enough to allow to start in a short sleeve jersey and shorts, which is great as I didn’t fancy hauling along a windbreaker and arm and leg warmers. There are no public toilets open so people have to resort to use those from the tourist info office. I see Ian Leitch, 24h racer and runner extraordinaire, who is frantically looking for his bike. Also see Roy from the Netherlands, but at the time am busy trying to locate the lorry where to drop my bag with clothes, phone and food for after the finish (top Swiss organisation) so only have time to say hi. I am in such a rush that I forget to take the energy drink tablets I bought especially, bugger. I am now pretty far back in the field on the line (over 1,000 starters), but it isn’t much of a problem as we have timing chips. At 6.30 the guns is fired, and we are off!

[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/3854922757_4e1e9c3731_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/3854922757_f247592818_m.jpg[/img][/url]

tbc ..

[Antloony]

Brill stuff, hurry up and get writing...

[Sylv]

You can watch some videos in the meantime http://www.tsr.ch/tsr/index.html?siteSe ... d=11111307

[Michelle]

Aw man, those pictures of Verbier bring back some memories. I've skied pretty much every bit of that section. Even through people's gardens

Come on Sylv, where's the rest of it, I made a cup of tea especially for this you know. It's just too exciting, I can't wait much longer.

[Sylv]

Part 2 of 2

So onto the first of many climbs, with about two minutes warmup, 7km with 700m ascent - I'll let you work out the gradient. It takes a minute to get going but after that I begin to overtake dozens of riders. We have the whole village to cross and despite the early hour people are lining the streets shouting encouragement. My heart rate is rising steadily, now past 155. Twenty minutes in and I catch Ian, who says he is pretty tired from a busy last few weeks, including organising - and racing to 2nd place - a 12h race in Brighton the previous weekend. We hook up and my HR is now in the high 160s - bloody hell this is 2h UK race pace not all-day mountain marathon!

[img]http://www.sportograf.de/gallery/503_090822_grand_raid/503_MM_03185.JPG[/img]
Ian Leitch - he once beat Tinker Juarez!

At this stage I must confess I have never actually really enjoyed the climbing all that much, despite what people might be thinking - I just happened to be a little less worse at it than most. But since recent times I've taken a real shine to it and am getting a real kick at riding uphill, especially off-road. I can only begin to feel what Bradley Wiggins has been experiencing recently, like when he was talking to himself on one of the Tour climbs going "that's what I'm talking about!" (and everyone around him was giving him funny looks). It's like I'm a whole different rider and someone is constantly giving me a push from behind, great. We are still catching up loads of people including some fast women but already way ahead of them all is Marielle Saner, a plump little Swiss who used to be pretty good at downhill racing, and who is being paced by her huge husband. We pass her just before reaching the top at La Croix de Coeur in 34 minutes. Someone tells us we are in 45th place. Holy Swiss cow!

[img]http://www.sportograf.de/gallery/503_090822_grand_raid/503_GJ_04127.JPG[/img]
Marielle Saner and Pacer

Though foggy it is not exactly cold but I am sweaty so I don some newspaper in my jersey for the 13km downhill and lose a few places in doing so. The start of the descent is all crazy fast fireroad switchbacks, where in a previous edition I went off course into the high grass and narrowly avoided riding into some hidden boulders. I almost make the same mistake, probably at exactly the same place. It is great fun though a little scary, I try to find somewhere smooth enough to allow me to take in the first of five gels. We then hit the tarmac and increase the speed even more, going all aero, reaching the village of La Tzoumaz and the first feed stop, where I grab some of the fruit available (banana, orange, kiwi), energy bar, and a stop as quick as possible to top up my bottle with Isostar (preferable to Iced tea).

We then have a 7km climb to Nendaz, some of it on the road, where I pass M. Saner, and meet Ian again. Legs are feeling good and I begin to wonder whether I might have started a little fast, even Ian seems to be holding back a bit. The weather, which has been very (too) hot the previous days, is absolutely fine today. There had been storm warnings, but there will be none in the end, the temperature is just cool enough and there are just enough clouds to obscure the sun that would be too hot otherwise. It sounds like records will be broken today. The bike, for its age, is performing faultlessly, well the forks only have about 40-50mm travel and I have to hold back a bit on some of the more technical downhills, but other than that it is awesome, and it fits better than any other bike I've had - I'm so glad I've never sold it, but don't know why I've hid the frame behind a sofa for a good few years! I absolutely want to avoid punctures though, my tires are quite fragile, so I am making a point of riding smoothly through the rocky sections, at the expense of a few seconds sometimes.

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3444/3859087194_c1b3a04fa9_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3444/3859087194_da19aecd3d_m.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/3859087242_a61c298f5f_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/3859087242_f7ae1dcb38_m.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3525/3858297813_4f328f1e8b_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3525/3858297813_c994f0ec93_m.jpg[/img][/url]
In the woods – photo sportograf.de

The feed zones come and go, I have to stop at most, unlike the leaders who have helpers all along the course. I can't have lost more than 5-6 minutes overall though. I feel the need for a pee but it soon goes which is a relief. Later on the same happens but at some point I realise I cannot delay my drinking anymore at the risk of dehydrating so have to stop for 45 seconds - wise choice. I seem to have lost Ian on one of the downhills which is a bit surprising. We have reached Hérémence and now have to deal with the slower riders who have started from there for the shorter course, thought it is not much of a problem. There are some brilliant singletrack sections and magnificent views, I only get quick glimpses though. The next climb is the longest at 13km. I hook up with two guys, one who has done the race 14 times, and a young guy who is there for the first time, and we ride together for a while, sometime yo-yo-ing depending on the gradient.

The GPS is great for this race as the altitude figures are pretty acurate, moreso than the distances, which I have both stuck on my top tube on the profile of the course. So at any point I can tell myself - Ok I only have another 350m to climb, then it will be downhill for a while.

[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2536/3855377533_b07c42967f_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2536/3855377533_7089710160_m.jpg[/img][/url]
The course profile

The HR has calmed down a lot too and is now stuck at around 145 on the climbs. I realise I have made the mistake of not stopping at the previous feed zone and topping up my bottle, as there is 22km to go until the next one, and it is already almost half empty. The Swiss guy I am riding with gets a bottle from a helper who offers me a big sip of ice-cool water - heaven. I am wearing a Swiss-cross jersey and he goes "it's great what you Swiss guys are doing" - I don't have the heart to tell him I am half French half English. Some kids have painted snails on bikes on the road, I look down at my computer and I am barely doing 10km/h, they are not that far off.

[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2496/3858297041_4cd6c31d5b_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2496/3858297041_74493b945c_m.jpg[/img][/url]
In the meadows – photo sportograf.de

Next is a 12-inch wide winding singletrack singletrack section at 2,200m high littered with rocks, one of my favourite sections. In previous years I've been stuck in traffic jams there and litterally had to walk, but today the path is clear and I am enjoying it all the way. Then it is a long fast descent to Evolene, the start of the shortest, 41km course. Cyril, who started from Hérémence at 7am, had planned to wait for me at the top of Pas de Lona, but I catch him way before that, on the long climb to Eison. He is not doing great with his back/hips giving him issues - he will give up a few kms later. I am still feeling ok but fearing a spectacular blowout, either on this climb or on the one after Pas de Lona. I ease off maybe a touch and a few riders pass me. Hang on a minute - this is Marielle Saner - she is coming past me! How the hell! She is doing really well, I tell her she must be going for a course record but she is too busy trying to breathe. I am not even trying to keep up with the people passing me, just trying to keep my rythm. I am happy enough with my race so far, and want to make it to the finish. Soon, well not that soon, we reach the final time gate of L'A Vieille, where chaos reigns - people are having massage, some are lying on the ground, the feed zone is swamped, and in the distance, high in the clouds, looms the dreaded Pas de Lona.

I only stop for food/drink and carry on, it is rideable for another few minutes but soon you just have to get off the bike and walk. Some are carrying their bike, I always chose to push it. My plan is to take it relatively easy. Well that goes out of the window pretty quickly. A rider behind me, Gérard as you can see on the photo, has a walking pacer who is clearing the way for him - the path is littered with hundreds of people walking at turtle pace - shouting "VERBIER! VERBIER!", or in other terms "move away you chaff from the shorter courses, here are athletes from the long course and you owe it to them to let them go pass". This is too good a chance to miss, and is working a treat but means I have to climb at almost running pace. This is crazy. There are lots of different possible paths so you have to pick the ones that look the less steep, or the less busy. I am glad I took the precaution to buy new spikes for the front of my shoes especially for this climb. The pacer sometimes even goes as far as to physically move over the walkers. He asks his guy if he needs anything, an engine I say. It seems he has a slow puncture and will require some sealant at the top. Stupidly I forgot to change the setting of my GPS and, although we are moving pretty fast, it still thinks we are static so has stopped the timer. At some point it is so steep I cannot see more than a few metres and think the top is just round the corner, but as we reach that point it reveals itself to be another good 100m. It's generally accepted that the climb takes at least 45 minutes, but I think we make it in about 20.

[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/3858297403_0b72f37059_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/3858297403_5e10e87b8b_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Pas de Lona – photo sportograf.de

[img]http://www.sportograf.de/gallery/503_090822_grand_raid/503_LB_01007.JPG[/img]
Note different climbing style with winner!

Finally, we reach the top. I stop a few seconds to grab an obligatory cup of bouillon (stock) but forego the cheese, and get going again. Next we have a cool singletrack next to a lake before the final climb, which almost made me cry last time. On the singletrack a rider comes from behind shouting VERBIER VERBIER, I am just about to let him pass and let him know that I am in the same boat, but take a wrong line in doing so and have my first tumble of the day, grazing the inside of my arm, nothing too serious. A minute later I see the guy overtaking a woman and both of them end up hurtling down the side of the track - well maybe it wasn't all down to my fault in the end. Then starts the last climb, about 3km of increasingly steep and rough track. The legs are heavy, the granny gear is permanently engaged, and the sun is making a late appearance. Most people are by now walking (or stopped on the side!), but for me the summit comes earlier than expected. The battery from my GPS has died halfway up the climb so all I have now to rely on is the watch, which is showing 1.30pm exactly. The hardest is done, but now there is still a chance to get a puncture, or worse a serious injury, so it's not quite time to relax yet.

So, with 13.5km of descent to go, I will now make it my aim to finish in 7h30 - or 30min for that final section. That's 27km/h, which sounds doable, but if you could see what kind of downhill that is, you would think twice about it. It's not even all downhill, there are some flat bits, a few climbing bits too, some streams to cross. It starts with a switchback descent towards the barrage of the Lac de Moiry. Here the hardest is keeping your eyes off the mesmerizing emerald colour of the lake, and on the treacherous corners. All the while overtaking numerous slower riders on the loose ground. The GPS is now stone dead and is not even showing the time.

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/3858296907_e9e8eda700_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/3858296907_6c4211eabe_m.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2669/3858297249_61ba7670b5_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2669/3858297249_8e1b096019_m.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3858297637_557518a1f5_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3858297637_529ce48a5f_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Barrage du Lac de Moiry – photo sportograf.de

Then you ride towards below the damn and across the stream several times, before it gets proper steep and rocky. Again, I plan to make a fast, but smooth downhill. Again, this plan is thwarted, by another of those crazy "VERBIER VERBIER" riders coming from behind and whose wheel it would be wrong not to take. People just stop to let us pass and shout encouragement. The guy is absolutely flying, I am scaring myself. On a super steep drop off I just have to get off the bike and let him go, I then ease off the pace a bit.

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3858297453_b53decd953_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3858297453_1ed40d691e_m.jpg[/img][/url]
The section where I had to get off the bike! – photo sportograf.de

[img]http://www.sportograf.de/gallery/503_090822_grand_raid/503_MM_01701.JPG[/img]
Seems the winner chose to get off his bike there too!

Next we have a rock garden, where you have to pick your line literally every second for about 5 minutes, pretty bone-jarring. Phew, almost there. One last super fast straight section, and I can see the banners and spectators, sprinting to the line.

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/3858296943_8479d2ac21_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/3858296943_be6be8f816_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Final downhill – photo sportograf.de

I look at the analog Swiss watch of the official there, it seems to show 2'o clock - could I have just made it? I follow the line of riders ahead of me to have my timing chip taken off, bottle of water offered, and bike automatically cleaned. I wait a few minutes to see if Ian has finished, then go to the timing tent to enquire about my time and position. 7h29"00! 18th place out of 467 in age group, 44th overall out of 944 finishers, and first Brit. Only 795 will have made it to Grimentz though, the last one in 12h25. I am stoked, this has to be my best performance of the year. I was originally vaguely hoping of getting down to 8h30, and I've sliced a full hour off that time. M. Saner beat me by 5 minutes, with a new women's course record. Alexandre Moos, the Swiss champion and favourite, also set a new course record despite a wheel change and finishes in 6h05, a full 12 minutes clear of second place. Ian is 9min behind me at 7h38.

I grab some food and lie down in the sun for a bit, taking in the atmosphere of the bike show. I've never gotten to Grimentz that early in the day, and the first bus for Verbier doesn't leave until 5! It's only when I call Cyril that I learn he's packed, so he offers to pick me up in his car down the valley - all I have to do is ride down the road for about 25km - sounds good. And much more fun than the agonising slow bus trip (which sometimes has to reverse to negotiate hairpins), as well as the excruciating sight of your bike being thrown into a trailer with a hundred others, unprotected. There are a few uphill sections but on the whole the ride is easy, and a nice way to unwind the legs. I meet Cyril half way down the hill and once again we have a race, car versus bike, and there are a few slow cars to overtake. I win this time, easily.

[url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/3855376189_537b3386e2_o.jpg][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/3855376189_3b1a8a69d2_m.jpg[/img][/url]
The bike post-race

[url=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3502/3855510963_d8a32caf84_o.jpg][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3502/3855510963_3ccd7e66b5_m.jpg[/img][/url]
Diplom

[Antloony]

Well that was well worth the wait. Thanks Sylv for taking the time and effort to write that report, awesome stuff. You must be over the moon with your result. Sounds like you had a great time out there. Epic.

Some of the pictures are stunning, the 'in the woods' pics and the 'Pas de Lona' really stand out.

[Andrew G]

[quote]7h29"04! 18th place out of 467 in age group, 44th overall out of 944 finishers, and first Brit.

[Sylv]

And here is the (incomplete) Garmin file, with splits. Elevation is somehow overstated : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/11847751

[Keith]

Thanks Sylv. Top ride, top write-up.

[Graham O]

Brilliant stuff....

[Scott]

Thanks for having a friend called Cyril. I thinks thats just great in this day and age!

Nice one Cyril..
Nice one Fred....

[Michelle]

This is so good, it beats Williams' write-ups. In fact it's better, Huw Williams could never do that course in that time . I can't beleive you managed to pull it off. Chapeau, Sylv, that is a seriously fantastic result. You have made all us ACCers really proud.

First Brit? Do you consider yourself a Brit? Or are you just wanting to grab the glory

[Sylv]

I just signed as a Brit because of home address. I see Liz Scalia signed as an Italian so I'm not alone!

I've just had a look and as a French would have come 3rd, wasn't expecting that . Their times were 6h26 (3rd overall) and 7h24. There were lots of nationalities including Belgians, Dutch, Germans, Italians, but the majority (and the faster riders) was still Swiss and local.

I guess I have to aim for 7h15 next year. With a modern drivetrain and forks, and disc brakes.

Thanks for all the comments.

[Sylv]

Scrap that, it's 7th French in fact!

[Toks]

Sylv, you gotta be ACC's competitive rider of the year. All the plaudits are so well deserved. Chapeau Dude!