Day Five - interview with Three Cyclists from La Haute Route

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Location Pra Loup

Name	Lynn Girdwood
Where From	Glasgow
Age Bracket	37
Why Haute Route	It was Jo’s fault (her teammate - interviewed Jo on first day). It is also a challenge, I’ve only done a few sportifs, I was over in Annecy (France) last summer and did some of the Cols from the TdF and wanted to do some more.
Bike	Scott Contessa CR1
Secret for Haute Route	My gloves - I’ve used the same ones each day, I’ve also got two pair of shoes but only using the one set. NOTE - Jo and Lynn are currently in first place in the Womens Duo standings
Top 3 Excuses	I don’t do excuses.

Name	Graham Edwards
Where From	Bath UK - two from the Bath Club
Age Bracket	46
Why Haute Route	Done the Etap three times, Marmot twice and I suppose I’ve done a lot of one day events. I originally planned to do the coast to coast ‘Pyrenean Raid’ but once I saw this, I couldn’t resist. It ticked all the boxes, it was timed, it was 6 sportifs back to back, had a TT hill climb and in the mountains. What’s better than riding the classic mountains.
Bike	Focus Izalco - bought through Wiggle
Secret for Haute Route	I read up a lot more on recovery, compression tights and protein recovery drinks. I bought some carbon wheels, tubulars, and have no regrets in buying them. They are fantastic, best bike investment I’ve ever made, Olympic Gold, Jan Ullrich’s wheels.
Top 3 Excuses	Not really an excuse but I was concerned of failure, doing 7 days riding on the trot and really wondered what the level of competition would be like.

Name	Simon Kenyon
Where From	London England
Age Bracket	42
Why Haute Route	The Haute Route seemed like a good idea when it was announced, and it still seems like a good idea. Originally entered as a solo but now as a team of 4. Surprising we are winning (the team classification) by miles.
Bike	BMC Pro Machine - 2010
Secret for Haute Route	Recovery - including eating, staying off feet and compression gear (currently not wearing due to smell).
Top 3 Excuses	If I do have an excuse it would be due to not eating pre ride, mainly due to be unorganised. Thank goodness, it hasn’t happened while at HR.

Day Four - interview with Three Cyclists from La Haute Route

Tuesday 23 August 2011

Location La Salle-les-Alpes

Name	Beat Stauble
Where From	Zurich Switzerland
Age Bracket	42
Why Haute Route	Always wanted to ride in the French Alps and by coincidence this fitted in perfect for training for the Ironman in Hawaii!
Bike	Cervelo S3 2009
Secret for Haute Route	Trying to stick to schedule after race which is immediately nutrition, massage then 60min nap.
Top 3 Excuses	Today - everything went wrong, but it was good prep for Hawaii. I got a flat, I rode alone during the 20k flat section and into the wind!

Name	Marg Fedyna
Where From	Edmonton Canada
Age Bracket	46
Why Haute Route	I found out about the Haute Route two weeks prior. I road and MTB and said to someone, if you can find me a 7 day stage race I’m in, I’ve been spending the entire summer on the sofa. A friend found it, emailed me and I’m one of those people who need to do things NOW, so I worked over time at my job and booked my flight one week out. I also wanted to ride all the French Alps.
Bike	Trek Madone 6.5 WSD - 2008
Secret for Haute Route	Recovery - especially drinks, I’m into healthy products, lots of plant based products such as Vega - a brand from Canada
Top 3 Excuses	No excuses - can’t even think of things! Today, Day 3, because of the heat, 4000m of climbing and brought my camera, I set reasonable goals and wanted to chill out on the day (note - she finished second in the ladies solo)

Name	Cedric Kohler
Where From	Geneva Switzerland
Age Bracket	42
Why Haute Route	I am not so good at going uphills, so it is good practice. Once I saw the Haute Route, I thought this is something I need to do, so I am here.
Bike	Cervelo S2 - 2008
Secret for Haute Route	Don’t give up
Top 3 Excuses	There are no excuses

Day Three - interview with Three Cyclists from La Haute Route

Monday 22 August 2011

Location Les Arc

Name	Chris Hill
Where From	London
Age Bracket	56
Why Haute Route	Entered with a bunch of mates - now a duo
Bike	Milani Stainless Steel
Secret for Haute Route	Riding with someone, doesn’t have to be my ‘duo’ particularly on a climb gets you to the top
Top 3 Excuses	I would have got a time if I didn’t spend so much time at the feed station and adjust the gears.  Sorry missed his photo - he left dinner before I got it!

Name	Alberto Carzaniga
Where From	Milano Italy
Age Bracket	70 in Dec 2011
Why Haute Route	My friend Gabriele convinced me, tomorrow I will hate him (due to Galibier)
Bike	WR (small Italian company - started making Carbon Fibre for cars, BMW etc - then they started making carbon hubs, then handle bars, stem, next step frame. Now they do wheels as well.
Secret for Haute Route	I powder which is carbohydrates - called Maltidestrine
Top 3 Excuses	He will not make it tomorrow, I will do the first col then after I may decide to wait for the broom bus, because I was so shatter in last 5k, I could not see the road.

Name	Dorina Vaccaroni - Fencing Barcelona Olympic Gold Medal Winner, plus attended the Sydney 2000 Olympics and was also World Champion
Where From	Venice Italy
Age Bracket	47
Why Haute Route	I’ve been to Trans Alp now Haute Route. Champion in Italy, I have won Grand Fondo’s, inc Campag Italy.
Bike	Sponsored by Beraldo
Secret for Haute Route	I’m a vegetarian - pasta, cheese, tomato, vegetables, bread, fruit and coffee
Top 3 Excuses	No excuse!

Haute Route Riders 2011 Part2

Day Two

Day Two review can be found here - 

Name	Francois Lemaut
Where From	Nice France
Age Bracket	68 - weight 52kg - 90th place - 4:30mins
Why Haute Route	Because this is my last opportunity due to my age, it is now or never
Bike	Trek Madone 6.9 2009
Secret for Haute Route	Training in the mountains around Nice, home ground advantage as this is where we are finishing
Top 3 Excuses	If I could do better, I would try and do better, so I have no excuses. Maybe I went too hard today.

Name	Jeroen Wijngaard
Where From	Utrechd Netherlands
Age Bracket	25
Why Haute Route	Prize winner - sent in to a magazine and won
Bike	Cervelo R3 - 2009
Secret for Haute Route	His Holy Tatoo
Top 3 Excuses	Throwing up at the top of the first Col today Dutch

Name	Mirjam van Dijk
Where From	Pijnacker Netherlands
Age Bracket	40-50
Why Haute Route	Long story - first cyclosportif, competition in Holland and broke her pelvis and tried to recover but not on same level as last year. It was very hard to compete, in Holland you have to compete with the best. Also also had her back slipped 3 times, now going against his orders, if I come back after this trip, I know I am healthy and can come back in 2012.
Bike	Museeuw - famous Belgian cyclist
Secret for Haute Route	Compact crank tomorrow - did today without it, 39-27 - OUCH!
Top 3 Excuses	No excuses - did have pain in back but that was because of the standard crank today. I’m 180cm 69kg and it is hard to climb. In Holland, everything flat, I do well in the rain and wind, this is race is not like that, 37C!