Triathlon de Gerardmer XL

This was one of those events which takes over a whole town, the surrounding valleys and cols, for a whole weekend, a festival of triathlon in the Vosges mountains. Saturday is the XL event, on Sunday they host an olympic distance, a "decouverte" (roughly half an olympic) and a kids race.

The 9:30 start time was very kind to allow a drive out from Basel, leaving before 6am but still easily able to arrive, register, sort out my clothes into swim/bike/run bags and drop them off at the transition area. No stress at all, it was all very relaxed, and well organised.

This felt like my best swim, I was out to the far left on my own keeping out of trouble so able to swim constantly the whole distance without any kind of claustrophobic attacks amid the frenzy. The water was 20 degrees, and clear enough though the skies were cloudy all day long. We even had an Australian exit, where we get out on the opposite bank, run a short distance, then back into the lake for the final section.

With all my recent mountain cycling, of course the cycle leg was going to be strong for me, this is a very hilly course from start to finish and we had 3 laps. It all added up to 1887m ascent, a fair amount for 92km. Large crowds  on the first hill felt like a mini alpe d'huez, but generally easy slopes up and down, so I was able to use the tri bars on the way up most of the climbs. On the descents, there are very few places you would need to brake, except for all the triathletes who don't go downhill as well as the AlpenBrevet riders thats for sure. So I was overtaking from start to finish,
up and down, moving up from 1391st to 307th overall! This is the best part for me, it doesn't last long as the run is always the true test in any triathlon, and I haven't done any half marathon training this year but just enough to get me round at a steady pace.

Great event, I'd like to come back again next year for sure. All triathlons should be this hilly, maybe Belfort could be similar, with a climb up Ballon d'alsace.

Swim: 1391st 45:25
T1: 7:31
Cycle: 78th 59:24 1:01:16 1:03:21 3:04:02
Cumulative position: 307th
T2: 6:39
Run: 575th 37:40 37:23 39:34 1:54:38
Total: 372nd; 5:58:18



1427 finishers

AlpenBrevet Gold

Yeah! AlpenBrevet sunny and hot! No cancellation for heavy snow, no freezing cold descents in the fog, but this time - too hot!
I had a great day, descents were all super fast as zero wind gave a lot of confidence for the high speeds on these super long alpine roads.
But the Susten is always the final climb, the final memory for all if its Silver, Gold or Platinum. Today, there was a strong tail wind up the Susten - but this wind was wamr, and heating up as it rose, the majority of the climb was over 34 degrees, reaching 39 degrees maximum! There are many streams, to the side of the road but they are all frustratingly bricked off, I guess to prevent splashing on the road and freezing any other day of the year. So many people were walking up, I've not seen this before on previous brevets.

For me, the best section was the Gothard, la Tremola is a friendly gradient, unique cobbled complexion and the descent to Andermat was really enjoyable today.

Official time 7hr 42min 43s

Engadin - Umbrail - Livigno

Starting in St Moritz, heading east to Zernez then the Ofen/Fuon pass before dropping down to Santa Maria you could continue further to Italy and Prato for a full climb of the Stelvio from the east. For a nicer ride, shorter, much much less traffic head up from Santa Maria and climb the Umbrail pass. The most stunning part of the Stelvio is yet to come, as you descend towards Bormio. I'd been up the east side of the Stelvio before, and its impressive, but I have to say the west side was jaw dropping. Some immense rock formations rise up around you as you begin to take a wider view of the drop below. On a day like this its astounding, it really is a memorable landscape not just an altitude measurement on a signpost.
Slightly too much traffic heading up to Livigno to be a classic, but Livigno to Bormio must be an amazing ride on day like this.

AlpenChallenge Lenzerheide

Driving towards the start line at 6am, the rain poured down on the early arrivers, most without lights in the dark morning in Lantsch/Lenz. I decided to stay in the car until 10 mins to go, and it was worth it. The rains stopped, and didn't fall again until a breif shower before St Moritz. The roads were of course wet, but on the way up the Albulapass this wasn't a hindrance.
Once in the Engadin valley, I worked with a group of four to catch another group, which stayed together all the way to Italy and Chiavenna. Two guys were doing a lot of work, and annoyed with the rest of us, however when we tried to ride through the pace dropped as we just weren't as fast as these two.
I still don't know if the descent of the Maloja pass was neutralised, I just know I was clinging on the back of this group all the way down, and it went down and down forever.
Finally, once on the Splugen at a point with a reasonable incline I could stop to remove the hat, gloves and rain jacket for the 30km climb to the pass. 
The descent was fun, joined by two other riders to Thusis, then face the dark tunnels on the way to Tiefencastel. Why racing cyclists don't use bike lights is still a mystery, these tunnels were dark and we had been warned. 

The climb back up to the finish in Lenz was steep, tough and the final battle of the day. 

Great event, great scenery even in this weather. 

(Photos taken a few days later ;)

Viamala

Lower down Albula, at the first real kick

Bergün

7hr 36m 48s, 69th out of 298 finishers.

Etape du Tour - St Jean de Maurienne -> La Toussuire

6hr 40m 29s. 830 / 9877 finishers (12092 starters) L'etape was won in 4hr 52 44, in the pro race Nibali won the stage in 4hr 22 53, even Cavendish rolled in at 4hr 52m 5s!

BlackForest Ultra MTB - Mud edition

Cold and wet edition of the BlackForest Ultra, but still great to have this event back on the calendar after last years absence.

Basler Hobbyfahrer Meisterschaft Gempen Bergzeitfahren

Cyclotour du Leman

Franches-Montagnes

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