Today a week after the event is the first day I can actually say i have recovered fully from the hell I put my body through during this years World champs in Pra Loup France. I think the French course designer was trying to make a statement to next years hosts (somewhere in Brazil) that no matter how hard they try they will not be able to make it as hard as 09, it was totally brutal.
The Course; well it went up, alot and very steeply. As soon as you left the arena you started climbing luckily the first climb was only about 100 meters but it was one of two climbs on the course that registered 37% on my garmin at the top it spat you out onto a rock strewn twisty near vertical descent which only the brave managed to ride out it then kicked you down a flight of metal steps into another rock and rooty descent that once again had johnny bloody foreigner off his bike and running and that was it the fun was over welcome to hell.
It then climbed almost entirely for the rest of the 6 k that was left.
The conditions; For a start you are at 1700 m altitude it's the middle of a very hot summer so the dust was insufferable, and as I said it is hot as I started my warm up at about 10.45am it was 37 degs. Luckily though during the second half of the race some cloud gave some amount of relief from the intense sun.
The preperation;
I had been in the alps for about a week and had plenty of time to pre ride the course and I was totaly happy with every part, I knew it was going to be super tough and I must admit to feeling a little fearful as all of my practice laps were completed around the 30 min mark it meant for a five lap race it was going to be a long slog. Another thing was playing on my mind, what gears to use, on one bike, my Giant I had a triple chainring setup but on my S-works the one I felt most comfortable on I only had a double which felt fine on the practise laps but for 5 race laps I wasn't sure I would be able to manage. I had plenty of time to change things about but crucially i decided to stick with the double on the S-works.
The Race;
I was gridded second row which was excellent and meant I had quite a clear run to the first corner, as I looked around me I noticed just to the front was Riccardo Milesi two time and current world champion directly to my left was Geoffry Maes current 30-34 world champion top company indeed but I was never in awe and was there to race just like them. I got a good start and up to the first climb I was in touch with the leaders I lost a few places but felt comfortable. As usual with any race you trade positions alot with the riders around you and for the rest of the first lap I could of been at any point as high as 15 but as low as 25, the dust was already causing problems with vision and breathing. The second lap was much the same with all riders jostling for position but for me I was having trouble with breathing, the heat and altitude were making my lungs and throat scream I knew if I was to finish I would have to back off and try to settle in to a more sustainable rhythm.
As I started the third lap I was really starting to suffer and each time I hit a climb, scrabbling around for more gears, I now knew I had made the wrong decision and it was a big one, my legs were starting to hurt my lungs were on fire I still had 2 more laps. Things were starting to pass in a bit of a blurr as the pain from my legs took over and I started to make small mistakes like not making gear shifts when I should and having to get off and run and not be able to tackle technical sections that I was able to cover easily earlier in the race. I was starting to worry about being lapped so I tried to give a push to get round for my final lap which I achieved, but at a price, my breathing was now very ragged and I was virtually riding the whole course in my easiest gear but I also knew I was going to finish. I crossed the line after 2hrs 32 mins and promptly collapsed in a tired heap hoping that if I was suffering so much then others were too.
The support; There was a brilliant gaggle of Brits out there shouting and cheering from what seemed like every corner on the course and it is true what they say about it giving you a lift, without the support I dont know whether I would have finished. A big thanks go to Paul Morris and family for making the journey, your support and company was very much appreciated and to my family who made the whole week very very special.
The aftermath; My legs hurt for two days, I was coughing up dusty slime for five and like I said at the top I think I have only just fully recovered. Without a doubt in my mind it was the toughest course I have ever rode which goes hand in hand with saying it was the toughest race I have ever done made doubly difficult by my choosing gears that are alright for blasting around the Central flatlands of the UK but for the French Alps.. what the hell was I thinking.
Before the race I had the goal of top twenty which at some points of the race I achieved and I honestly think if I had made the right gear choice I would have achieved easily but in the end I finished 24th five places better than last year so a bit happy but...lesson learned!!!
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