Haute Route Alps Day 2
August 22nd, 2022
Start: Cuneo, Italy
Finish: Serre Chevalier Briancon, France
90.2 miles
6:57 riding time
13 mph average
11,835 ft elevation gain
Climbs: Col d’Agnel (20K). Featured in both the Giro and TdF, the third-highest paved road in the Alps. Col d’Izoard (14K). Featured in 36 TdF.
We woke up aroud 5:30am and made our way to the hotel breakfast. We started to recognize familiar faces as similar people would stay in the same accomodations (based on our package - we purchased 3-star hotels, middle package). I found myself pretty hungry for breakfast and there were a lot of great options to choose from. The coffee machine was always the first priority for Karel (and everyone else). Every morning I would review the athlete briefing (online on our app) from the night prior and also review the course. This helped prepare us mentally for what's to come. If I would look too much into the stage the night before, I wouldn't be able to sleep due to fear as to what's to come. Sometimes I would look up the climbs online (pictures) to get excited for the views.
After we ate, we made our way back to our room, packed up our stuff, dropped off our luggage downstairs to be picked up by the Haute Route stafff to take to our next accomodation and got everything ready for another long day in the saddle. Although less miles than on stage 1, it was another day of riding over 12,000 feet. I think we have only ridden over 10,000 feet about three times in our life and here we were, conquering classic cols and well over 10,000 feet, 4 days in a row.
Our bodies were exhausted and we were tired. A lot of mental games are played before and during the stage. For example, on stage 2, I just told myself "only two climbs." And it was nice knowing that the finish of stage 2 was at the top of the second climb. The other nice thing about stage 2 is that we had 20K of descending that was not included in the stage to take us to the town of Serre Chevalier Briacon (where we were staying). Also, we had 20K of neutralized to start the stage, which was a really nice way to get things started.
During the neutralized section, it was more or less a controlled group ride (unless we were climbing or descending to start, then it was a little more chaotic with varying levels of fitness and skills). During the start of every stage, there were plenty of people (guys) stopping on the side of the road to pee (which is totally normal and accepted in Europe) and also removing layers before the first timed section (depending on the weather).
After around 12 miles 46 minutes of neutralized riding, it was time for our first timed section. And for the next 38 miles and 3 hours and 20 minutes, we would be climbing - a constant grind up the Agnel. The top of Agnel was at 9000 feet high and in 38 miles we climbed 7700 feet of elevation. This climb was unlike anything I've ever seen before and despite the suffering, I really tried to take in the sights.
When I got to the top, I was happy to see Karel and we both had another moment of wow, this is really, really hard and also really really epic.
After an 18 minute break to eat, refeul, layer up for the descend, pee in the bushes and take some pics, it was time for another glorious long descend on the tight, narrow and twisty roads of the alps. For the next 15 miles, I tried to let my legs recover before the next climb up the the Izoard (~7700 feet high). Although the Agnel was much more pitchy with the grades, with many segments over 12% in the last 7K, the Izoard was not any easier as we were exhausted, tired and mentally broken. But we made it to the top. 8.75 miles and 3200 feet in an hour and 18 minutes. I worked really hard for that 6.7 mph average up the climb. It was really neat seeing all the signs (going from Italy back into France) as well as going through the small villages and seeing so many people on bikes (either tackling the climbs or just casually riding).
When we got to the top, it was a relief knowing that we were done for the day. We spent about 20 minutes at the top taking in the sights, grabbing a few snacks for the descend and then enjoying the next 12 miles of descending to arrive to our next village and accomodation. Karel and I both got massages after this stage and although only 20 minutes, it was nice to just lay down and try to get some of the soreness out. We then ate our post race meal, climbed a hill to get to our next accomodation, walked to the grocery store to get some more food for dinner.
From 7am (start was 7:30am) to 4pm - it was another long day and we were both looking forward to a "shorter" day on day 3 (only 70 miles and 10,600 feet of elevation gain). The nightly routine was the same as day 1 - charge the gadgets, wash bottles, repin the bib number on a clean jersey, fill bottles with sport nutrition, try to eat as much as we could and question how we would get through another stage.
After we ate, we made our way back to our room, packed up our stuff, dropped off our luggage downstairs to be picked up by the Haute Route stafff to take to our next accomodation and got everything ready for another long day in the saddle. Although less miles than on stage 1, it was another day of riding over 12,000 feet. I think we have only ridden over 10,000 feet about three times in our life and here we were, conquering classic cols and well over 10,000 feet, 4 days in a row.
Our bodies were exhausted and we were tired. A lot of mental games are played before and during the stage. For example, on stage 2, I just told myself "only two climbs." And it was nice knowing that the finish of stage 2 was at the top of the second climb. The other nice thing about stage 2 is that we had 20K of descending that was not included in the stage to take us to the town of Serre Chevalier Briacon (where we were staying). Also, we had 20K of neutralized to start the stage, which was a really nice way to get things started.
During the neutralized section, it was more or less a controlled group ride (unless we were climbing or descending to start, then it was a little more chaotic with varying levels of fitness and skills). During the start of every stage, there were plenty of people (guys) stopping on the side of the road to pee (which is totally normal and accepted in Europe) and also removing layers before the first timed section (depending on the weather).
After around 12 miles 46 minutes of neutralized riding, it was time for our first timed section. And for the next 38 miles and 3 hours and 20 minutes, we would be climbing - a constant grind up the Agnel. The top of Agnel was at 9000 feet high and in 38 miles we climbed 7700 feet of elevation. This climb was unlike anything I've ever seen before and despite the suffering, I really tried to take in the sights.
When I got to the top, I was happy to see Karel and we both had another moment of wow, this is really, really hard and also really really epic.
After an 18 minute break to eat, refeul, layer up for the descend, pee in the bushes and take some pics, it was time for another glorious long descend on the tight, narrow and twisty roads of the alps. For the next 15 miles, I tried to let my legs recover before the next climb up the the Izoard (~7700 feet high). Although the Agnel was much more pitchy with the grades, with many segments over 12% in the last 7K, the Izoard was not any easier as we were exhausted, tired and mentally broken. But we made it to the top. 8.75 miles and 3200 feet in an hour and 18 minutes. I worked really hard for that 6.7 mph average up the climb. It was really neat seeing all the signs (going from Italy back into France) as well as going through the small villages and seeing so many people on bikes (either tackling the climbs or just casually riding).
When we got to the top, it was a relief knowing that we were done for the day. We spent about 20 minutes at the top taking in the sights, grabbing a few snacks for the descend and then enjoying the next 12 miles of descending to arrive to our next village and accomodation. Karel and I both got massages after this stage and although only 20 minutes, it was nice to just lay down and try to get some of the soreness out. We then ate our post race meal, climbed a hill to get to our next accomodation, walked to the grocery store to get some more food for dinner.
From 7am (start was 7:30am) to 4pm - it was another long day and we were both looking forward to a "shorter" day on day 3 (only 70 miles and 10,600 feet of elevation gain). The nightly routine was the same as day 1 - charge the gadgets, wash bottles, repin the bib number on a clean jersey, fill bottles with sport nutrition, try to eat as much as we could and question how we would get through another stage.
Two stages done. 207 miles covered. 25,681 feet elevation climbed.
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For some reason, I remember very little from stage 2, specifically post event. I don't remember the last 20K after the last climb, I can't really remember where we stayed (except it didn't have AC and it was a warm day) and I can't recall much from the evening. Not sure why - probably out of pure exhaustion from doing something that I have never done before. But I did learn that I am capable of so much more than I thought. These two epic climbs forced me to dig really deep and to rely on all my tricks and tips from long distance racing in order to keep my legs turning over (and not falling over or stopping). The Haute Route encouraged us to download a free app called Epic Ride Weather. This app really came in handy throughout the event as we could look at the weather for our entire ride to help us plan how to dress. Although we would get really warm on the climbs, the weather was much cooler on the top of the climbs. And then it got really chilly descending. I downloaded all of our Haute Route Alps routes to my phone and then uploaded to the app.
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