UCI Gravel Suisse

 

Dreiländergiro

 

La Marmotte 2023

 

Official ride time 8:49:07 but this of course has several neutralized descents, elapsed time was 9hr 32m 59 s and more. Slightly more, as my garmin battery gave up in the alpe d'huez town, but really not much more to add there.

This years marmotte was extended due to the col du glandon being resurfaced. So we had a bonus climb over the col du mollard.

UCI Granfondo Suisse

 

Fast race and a lot of pain for a pair of new socks.

Les Trois Ballons

 

 

 

6hrs 46m 7s

	7:01:42	0m
Sommet Servance		26.6km
Ramonchamps in	8:27:46	42.42km	1:26:03
Ramonchamps out	8:31:20	44.05km	1:29:37
Sommet Grand Ballon	10:23:43	92.87km	3:22:00
Willer-sur-Thur in	10:41:49	108.7km	3:40:06
Bitschwiller-les-thann out	10:45:56	110.1km	3:44:13
Sommet Ballon d'Alsace	12:21:48	144.3km	5:20:05
Pied Planche Belles Filles	13:11:06	174.8km	6:09:23
Finish	13:46:30	181km			35:24

Les Trois Ballons

 The course has been modified several times in various editions of this event, but this year feels like they've got a home at La Filature de Ronchamps. Walking through the covered aisles to the registration, large photos are hung from the roof covering the winners atop La Planche des Belles Filles, giving a sense of gravitas to the challenge which lay ahead. 

A final heavy rain shower dropped just before 7am, its already warm, and the rest of the day is to be perfect weather, but it means wet feet for the rest of the day.

 

489 overall 127/596

Pied Servance	7:37:30	9.2km	30:08	9.2km	30:08
Haut Servance	8:20:46	29km	1:13:23	19.8km	43:15
Début Neutralisation 1	8:40:20	40.75km	1:32:57	11.75km
Fin Neutralisation 1	8:43:25	41.95km	1:36:03	1.2km
Sommet Oderen		58.9km		16.95km
Lac de Kruth	9:39:26	69.1km	2:32:04	10.2km
Sommet Markstein		83.4km		14.3km
Sommet Grand Ballon	10:47:47	90.25km	3:40:24	6.85km
Debut Neutralisation 2	11:06:34	106.4km	3:59:11	16.15km
Fin Neutralisation 2	11:09:03	107.6km	4:01:40	1.2km
Sommet Hundsruck		110.7km		3.1km
Sommet Gentiane	12:53:51	143km	5:46:29	32.3km
Pied Planche	13:48:28	171.5km	6:41:06	28.5km
Finish	14:23:43	177.2km	7:16:21	5.7km	35:14

Les Marcaires

Very nice day in the Vosges, this event being based around the Munster valley and including a decent section of the route des crêttes means the roads are wide, smooth with mostly gentle gradients so no problems with losing water bottles on bumpy descents today. 

I spent much of my time between groups containing ladies battling for the 2nd to 5th spot, each was hoping the mini groups forming would distance themselves from the others, or indeed catch up to the next in front. Catching up rarely happens, only stragglers, so really its all about damage limitation. 

This time I paced it well, knowing the climbs and knowing that the final climb up to le Gashney ski resort is very gentle, yet if you're tired at that stage it will take an eternity. Not so today, I finished strong, and enjoyed the food and beer waiting at the top. - but not for long, it's a chilly day up there!

Time for some Munster cheese back at the maison du fromage, and a bottle of gewurtztraminer from François Bauer in Turkheim for some real souvenirs of the day!

4hrs 40min 49s , 29th in age group.