22 August 2011 #24 Hello Haute Route Day Two

Next Stop Les Arc - La Haute Route 2011 - Cable car to the top of Les Arcs

Monday 22nd August 2011

Megève - Les Arcs (100 km)

Weather - HOT - Min 18C - 30C

Stats (slight problem - I forgot to start the Garmin as we left ... my guess 2k into the adventure)

Time 4:19:01

Distance 92.65 km

Elevation 2,843 m

Avg Speed 21.5kph

Max HR 164 bpm

Avg HR 139bpm

Winning Time 3:10:47 - two finished at same time 

The official review of the Haute Route Stage Two from the organizers is below.

Food - The very simple thing, vegetable soup which I have just finished. My roommate from last night and next door neighbour tonight, just boiled up some soup. Just what the cramp doctor ordered! I had a few near misses again today, especially on the last climb to Les Arcs and then when getting off the bike, oh and also while stretching!

Weather - one word, again, HOT! Then again much better than cold and rain. What is even better is that most of todays ride was in the shade, hard to believe but true. Actual weather conditions were 

Mode of Transport - Cable car which goes to the top of Les Arcs. Not that I caught it, or even saw it, but how awful it was to ride under it time and again while riding up to 1800m over 16km.

Conversation - The brief video interview while climbing up Col du Cormet de Roselend. Just trying to ride up the 25k was enough effort then to add in having a chat with a camera lady to tell her how I was feeling just priceless. 

Animal - The marmots, well the lack of them, I’ve been promised that I’ll see one ... I’m not going to hold my breath but I’ll put $5 to say that I don’t see one this trip.

What else of note: After talking about cramps last night, and above, I’m going to leave that alone. On a completely different note, the views, countryside around here is just amazing. I love living in Sydney but a holiday house here wouldn’t be such a bad idea, a shame that it is only, around, 24 hours away.

Parting thought of the day/blog: If I use the word EPIC to describe today, what word can I use to describe tomorrows ride!? We’ll just have to wait and see - till then people in computer land.

A summation of the day from the organisers:

What Claude Droussent, French cycling specialist, says about Stage 2

Weather 18C at 7:20am and into the 30’s for the day

What Claude Droussent, French cycling specialist, says about Stage 2

“It starts with the Col des Saisies which should be ok. After the funny hairpin bends overlooking Flumet, there will be 15 kilometres of irregular but never nasty slopes offering even a section to recuperate at mid-col near Arcanière. And above, weather permitting, the enchanting mont Blanc! Keep some strength for the Cormet de Roselend that is split in two parts when you tackle it by Beaufort. The first ten kilometres go up on a 6-8% gradient to the levee and balcony of the Col du Méraillet where you will need to recuperate; and then another 6-8% gradient on the last five kilometres up to 1967 meters of altitude. It is high but not so difficult. Be careful at mid-descent, after the Saint-Antoine bridge, it goes very fast on a very narrow road, even some professionals have fallen off into the ravine! After Bourg-St-Maurice, 16 kilometres of ascent on a beautiful road up to Les Arcs 1800 remain with a regular ascent of 6-7%. A day a bit more demanding than the previous one.”

Main feature of Stage 2

· Start from Megève, Palais des Sports, Monday 22nd August at 8:00. 

· Arrival in Les Arcs 1800, Centre Taillefer, between 11:30 and 15:00 

· 100 km overall, 90 km timed 

· 3000 metres ascent / 2300 metres descent 

· 2 refreshment stations on the route, at the top of both cols 

· 1 refreshment station after the finish line

3 cols and ascents on the menu of Stage 2

· Col des Saisies, 1650 meters, summit 25 km from the start - 11 times TdF

· Col du Cormet de Roselend, 1967 meters, summit 63 km from the start - 9 times TdF

· Final ascent between Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Les Arcs 1800 (16 km)

----

A little about Will Levy, la Haute Route and twowheeltours.com.au

TWT, mtnbike.com.au and bike shuttle.com.au are three companies based out of Sydney that offer road and mountain bike trips from Sydney to Canberra, New Zealand and Europe. We also transport/shuttle bikes to various races around Australia including the Noosa Triathlon and the Tour Down Under.
Will is apart of the Haute Route Race in 2011, an innovative, prestigious and international cyclosportive with a unique concept: link Geneva to Nice by road bike in 7 timed consecutive stages on a legendary race course taking on 15 mythical cols and ascents of the Alps whilst covering 730 km.
twowheeltours.com.au will be at the Haute Route again in 2012 - we will be providing logistical support for riders, and their non riding partners, from Australia and New Zealand. This will include early arrival and pickup from Geneva Airport or CFF train station. Riders and their non riding partners will have first class accommodation on the lead up the race. During the race, non riders will have a bilingual guide taking them to daily activities. The trip will conclude with an extra two days, again in first class accommodation in Nice on the Promenade des Anglais.