I won’t bore you with the minor details of our travels from Perth, our overnight in Paris or our train rides which brought us to our Belgium destination. Instead I’ll get right to it ‘THE RACE’……
Sunday morning and a wake up to crappy weather and thoughts of the difficult descents that we would be up against. Dry was going to make it hard enough- wet would make it 100 times worse. Now skip straight to the start of the race, wet roads and hordes of people. By the look of it people that where a lot more prepared for what lay ahead- people with world champion and national champion jerseys, people with legs like tree trunks, people that looked like this was going to be like a walk in the park or just a Sunday afternoon ride. We had ex-pro’s in our race which made me feel well out of place.
Oh well we where here and my aim was to finish, and to finish on my own bike and not in the back of an ambulance. There where 7climbs with around 1900 meters of climbing with a total of 107km in distance. Unfortunately or fortunately there was 40kms of flat to start with, which means the 1900m of climbing would be in the last 70 kms, with the hardest climb being the final climb, the Côte de Stockeu.
The start was delayed by about 40 minutes due to the ambulances not being back in time. Another story which I’m sure Mike Bonner will be able to tell you more. But I believe 7 people where taken to hospital with 6 of those being for broken pelivises. This put another dampener on my thoughts of the race. Dangerous descents, wet roads, no ambulances, 7 huge climbs- for which I’m not the best hill climber at best.
The 16- 34 year olds where set off first which meant we could move forward to the line. Already it had started people barging their way to the front. 2 minutes later and we where set off, for our 2 km neutral zone. I found myself at the back of the bunch, probably not the best place for me to stay as I soon found out. I felt like a yoyo back there, but thought it was going to be the safest place for me. I used too many beans too early as the pace saw us hitting the 50’s quite early, so the back was not the place to be, too late for that now though….
There was one little crash in front of me very early from a motor bike slowing too quick and someone probably being too close and reacting to much. He went straight over the bars, not sure if he ever got back on as the pace soon picked up.
In the 40kms of ‘flat’ riding there where a couple of little rolling hills which stretched out the peleton and got my heart rate up and my legs feeling good.
The first climb saw the peleton string out even more, and I was slowly moving my way forward, although in hind sight, I left this way too late. About half way up the climb I saw Chris go down, apparently the guy in front of him cut straight across and took out his front wheel. As I rode past ,I asked if he was ok, I slight nod and I was off on my merry way. When I reached the top of the climb I knew it was going to be a fast descent. This is one place I knew I was going to loose time. I should be good at the descents coming from a motor bike racing background, but with wet roads and thought of the previous race and all their ambulance trips I wasn’t taking any chances. I got over taken by quite a few people, disappointing but at least I stayed upright.
The second climb was short and steep, but I felt good and again gained quite a few places on the way up, only to loose them on the descent again.
The third climb and the final climb for the first loop and of the first 70kms again saw me gain a few places on the way up, with the descent even more technical than the first two, I lost quite a few places again on the way down. The peleton was well and truly gone by now, but there was a group in front that was just slightly out of reach and would remain ‘just’ out of reach, I gained time again going up with the group slowly getting closer and closer for me to reach. Then the descent saw them slowly get out of reach again. Damn frustrating I can tell you. Between the 4th and 5th climb was a flat section, I managed to catch up to someone and we worked together into the head wind, this diddnt last long as his turns where getting shorter and slower and inevitably he popped and I was on my own again. I did think about sitting up and waiting for the the group behind me, I knew there was one with about 15 guys, but didn’t want to wait.
I soldiered on and passed a few more on each climb and also got passed by a couple on the way down each descent, but caught and over took them again on the climbs.
On the 6th climb I was caught by about 8 guys, they where kind enough to ask if I was ok and if I was suffering, I said I was- in a few different words I’m sure you could use your imagination. They also asked if I needed anything like a gel or a drink. I told them I was good and tacked on to the back of the 8 of them. Which soon turned to less as the climb got longer and harder. I was happy at the pace they where doing and stayed with them. I also stayed with them on the next descent- shame didn’t ride better on the previous descents. But as this one was a descent that we had already done in the race I was familiar with it and descended much much better. Although in saying that there was an old Jag (car) with an old man driving blasting his horn on his was up as we where going down. Some of these blind corners where not only dangerous in general, but with a few cars slipping though made it even worse.
The final climb was the hardest with in parts the gradient getting to over 20%. I passed a few on the way up, and passed someone walking- there was no way I was going to walk up it. Push on, and that I did, I got just before the top and saw Mike Bonner standing and cheering us up- this gave me the final bit on energy to get up and over the top.
One last descent then some cobble stones and I would be finished. I could hear cheering all the way up to the finish line, with people clearly Aussies yelling out “go Aussie go”…
What an awesome feeling that was to finnish.
A few regrets. I regret getting sick a couple of days before the race which saw me having 3 days off the bike and not getting to ride the second part on the course. And another was not getting closer to the from before the first climb and spending too many beans on the flat section.
But at least I will never regret not taking part in such a race, I will definitely not regret spending all the money getting to Belgium for only ‘one’ race. The race was hard, but I loved every minute of it. The pain in my legs will go away and my heart rate would eventually go down, but my memory of the race will be for ever. And what makes it even more memorable- wearing the Australian Kit…..
A big thanks to SPR for the support. A bigger thanks to my partner Tanya, I’ve spent quite a bit of time on the bike and not with her. Big shout out to Chris my traveling partner and to all the other Aussies that gave it a go.
Thanks for reading and I hope it wasn’t too boring…
Garmin Details- http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116338458
Results-
http://www.chronorace.be/web2/Classements/Classement.aspx?eventId=5561982648326&lng=EN&mode=large&IdClassement=7395
http://chronorace.blob.core.windows.net/files/7375.pdf
Unfortunately the photos just don’t do the climbs justice in both length or gradient…
and they are a little mixed up with some photos of a couple of our rides pre-race day…
Also someone has posted a couple of clips on YOutube..
And the description on the course from the website – http://www.uciworldcyclingtour.com/
Road Course
The point of departure and arrival of the roadrace is the picturesque Stavelot in the ‘Ardennes Bleue’. With the legendary climbs of the Côte de Stockeu and the Côte de la Haute Levée within reach, this is the ideal operating base for experienced cyclists.
The organizers opted for a combination of a relatively smooth run-up with a demanding final across the monuments of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. After the start, the first main roads are taken towards Trois-Ponts, Vielsalm and Lierneux in order to get to the foot of the first climb of the day after approximately 42 km, L’Ancienne Barrière. It is a long strip of 4.8 km with an average climbing percentage of just under 5%.
After this climb, the route continues via the descent of the Côte de Brume towards Trois-Ponts. From then on, the actual final begins and there are few smooth surfaces. In Trois Ponts, we take straight ahead towards Spineux where we go left over the Côte de Spineux. This is the classic climb of the Côte de Wanne as climbed by professionals such as in la Doyenne. The climb of the Côte de Wanne (on average 7.6%) is just over 3 kilometres with some halfway sections of 12%.
After the climb, a dangerous downhill brings us back in the center of Stavelot for our first lap of 70 kilometers.
There is not much time to greet supporters. The legendary Côte de la Haute Levée awaits like a hungry lion to tear apart the entire pack. There is a steep ascent from the first meters on this Haute Levée. The beast has a grip on you and does not want to let go. The first kilometres remain almost constantly around the 10% climb to then gradually weaken after 3.6 km.
There is almost no time to recuperate as -after a brief descent- it is time for another classic, the Côte de Rosier. Yet another beast that wants to go for our throat. It is a steep climb from the first metres in a forest towards Andrimont where the angle of inclination is again reduced. Just before the actual top we turn left after a 4 km climb to the highest point of the competition.
After 81 km, the height measurer indicates 545 metres. We get a well-deserved break in the form of a long 6 km descent towards La Gleize.
Those who wish to play a tactical game should take this opportunity now. The road between La Gleize and Trois-Ponts is relatively smooth and offers opportunities for freebooters to slip away. Saving yourself for what is to come is another option, as there is still a spectacular final to follow.
The Côte d’Aisomont is the side of the well-known Côte de Wanne of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The 4.5 km climb has an average of 5% and the top is at less than 10k from the finish.
This is followed by an extremely dangerous drop in the village of Wanne with two hairpin curves towards Stavelot. The sting is in the tail as the hardest climb of the day is in the final section. After an extremely fast descent, it is best to switch to the lowest gear, as what follows seems like a wall. The foot of the legendary Côte de Stockeu lies just 2.8 km from the finish, making it the absolute executioner. Until the top of the Eddy Merckx monument, there is a kilometre with percentages that never go below 11%. Halfway, there is a section where you even have to accelerate in order not to fall over. After a quick glance of the top on the best cyclist of all times, there is a one-kilometre descent to get to the old part of Stavelot via a small bridge, and after 107 km you can hopefully put your arms in the air as the new world champion!
