Another Race Report from the Maratona

Hopefully you've all read Simon's race report by now, here is my view of events and there will be more to come from the rest of the team once some subtle reminders have been sent.
First off - thanks to everyone who generously donated money to our charity, we have surpassed the original target and the money is still coming in which is fantastic. Second off - thanks to those people who supported us - Epic Cycles (esp. Chris Lines) for the water bottles, servicing and advice, Skate Hut (esp. Ross) for our race tyres and helmet cam, Jaguar Land Rover for the vehicles, Dave Lee for recommending the accommodation (http://www.paracia.it/ for fantastic views and value for money) and transporting two of our bikes, Dr. Garry Palmer at Sportstest (http://www.sportstest.co.uk/) for his invaluable training advice, and last but definitely not least a personal thank you to my wife for supporting my training.
The journey from Warwick to the Dolomites will be the subject of a later post which will detail the misadventures and revelations of a group of men on an overseas expedition....
Back to my race - the final training ride took place on the Friday we arrived in La Villa (the start village), as Simon mentioned I was at the front of the group during our ride up the first (and fifth) climb of the Maratona, the Passo Campolongo, which started in the finish town of Corvara. It was steep at the bottom but that soon gave way to a steadier gradient, I was riding recovery but I slowed up after half way as I realised some of the rest of the team were beasting themselves to keep up. We were chatting with some Dutch cyclists after that point who had ridden the Maratona previously, they passed on some hints for the race and we spoke about how inappropriate our respective home countries were for preparing to ride in this kind of terrain!
What goes up must come down, panting faces were turned into insane grins as the descent back down the Campolongo was jolly good fun.
Saturday consisted of real rest, the World's Best Cappuccino in the morning to wash down a slab of Sacher chocolate cake, a sporty drive to collect Manuel from Brixen train station, a huge smorgasbord of delicious cold meats, bread and salad, followed by another coffee in the afternoon (just to confirm the earlier findings), then calzone for dinner then sleep. The sleep was tricky - not nerves, just the heat and Mark pratting about stretching and showering and flapping!
Alarm went off at 04:30 so we could get to the start line for 05:30, to aid the slower members of the team I came up with a competition - there was a prize for the last one to be ready, they would be carrying the apartment key. I was first out followed by Alan, Chris and Simon leaving the usual suspects to battle it out for the prize. Gav tried to claim that he was keeping Mark company but he still managed to get down about two minutes before Mark.
The start area was already quite full by the time we had ridden the short distance to get there. Garry and Manuel had arrived there earlier so were placed further to the front then we were. The start wasn't until 06:30 so there was plenty of time to implement some weight loss procedures. The TV helicopters were buzzing around overhead which added to the building anticipation of a great day's riding. Dramatic music was being broadcast from loud speakers in the run up to the start which culminated in a brief respite as the start of the lead pen was announced. Our pen started to inch forward and soon we were on our way, although the number of riders made it impossible to ride your own pace, this continued up the Camplongo which helped me to not use my usual starting style - 'the arse on fire approach'. The rider traffic started to ease a little half way to the top so I was able to start weaving my way through to try and get some space for the impending descent to Arabba.
The traffic was still a little heavy for my liking on the way down but I managed to make decent progress past the less confident descenders in time for the immediate ascent of the Passo Pordoi, it was starting to get warm at this point (still only 07:15!). My legs took a minute or two to get back into climbing mode and I soon found a comfortable rhythm which had me moving quicker than the riders around me. Halfway up I spotted a Lowroaders top in the distance I thought 'bloody hell Al's going well!' but as I got closer it turned out to be Manuel (our newest recruit) who looked to be enjoying himself, I gave a brief hello on the way past to leave him to continuing tapping away at his own pace. A few minutes later I passed Dave Lee, who also looked to be enjoying himself, then a bit further on a disembodied voice shouted 'keep going Steve, you're looking good', I waved randomly in the general direction of the voice which I assumed belonged to Garry.
The climbing soon turned to flat-out descending which was thoroughly enjoyable on closed roads with the other riders not providing too much of an obstacle. This descent then turned immediately into a climb up the Passo Sella. I looked up to see magnificent rock formations towering over the road which further made the ride an true epic adventure. The first feed station come up and was passed straight by as I had a full water bottle still. The road was then bordered by a band of crazed Tyrollian musicians that were beating the hell out of an assortment of gigantic cow bells and Stone Age Glockenspiels to create a 'unique cacophony' which brought a smile to my face. The Sella climb steepened nearer to the top but it was soon over and more descending then turned into the climb up the Passo Gardena. This was my first stop to fill both water bottles and I was soon on my way again over the Gardena and down a fantastic descent back into Corvara to complete the first loop known as the Sella Ronda. This was where the short course riders would finish their travails for the day, the rest of us were funnelled past to tackle the Campolongo for the second time which was a lot less busy than the first time up. I was feeling fresh at this point and a little concerned that I had gone off too slow but I reminded myself that the Giau was yet to come. The descent off the Campolongo was more enjoyable the second time around (less traffic) and I got got myself into a decent sized group for the short flat blast across to the foothills of the Giau. I couldn't just sit in the group not doing my bit so I moved up to the front, had a couple of turns before the road started going up again and looked round to find the group had shrunk from twenty five to four. The four then parted company as we hit the Belvedere, a short climb before the Giau, where I decided to risk not stopping at the feed station there and instead use my remaining two thirds of a bottle to get me to the top of the Giau (location of the next feed station). It was a gamble but I figured that the weight of a full bladder and 500ml of water would weigh less than an empty bladder and 1500ml of water.
I hit the foot of Giau at 10:20 and it was hot at that point, after the first 300m of climbing I felt a pang of guilt as I knew that the rest of the guys would suffer on this gradient and in the steadily increasing heat. Those thoughts were quickly replaced with the business of climbing the Giau, I felt every percent gradient of that climb, I was riding in whatever shade was available, although the longest shade was provided by a cruel stretch in an arrow straight tunnel that pointed disgustingly up to the sky. The climb opened out into the glare of the sun at the top and I was counting down the metres to the top and the feed station. The gamble with the water bottles paid off and I managed to get to the feed station at the top as I drained the last drop. Two full water bottles, half a banana and a 'convenience stop' later I was ready to descend off the Giau, or so I thought.
The second bend came up a little quicker than expected as I was still in climbing mode after an hour of tapping it out, the view of the descent using the straightest method possible snapped my brain back into descending mode before I left the road. This descent was more technical than it's predecessors but I was soon fluidly carving my way down the mountain, this was nearly interrupted by a rider crashing on a bend just behind me but I managed to get clear to look back to see he was still in one piece, although perhaps a little lighter than he was before the bend.
The Giau soon turned into the final climb of the day, the Passo Falzarego that turned into the Passo Valparola near the top (the significance of this was soon to be revealed). The climb started off sedately enough, the figures stated a 11.5km climb at average of 5.8%, and after 3km there was a flat section. I was soon up to my normal riding speed and enjoying the change from constant climbing and descending. Something caught my attention behind me and I looked around to find that I'd won a fan club of about fifteen riders who were all enjoying my draft, none of them offered to help ride at the front so I didn't feel bad when I dropped them when the Falzarego started to head upwards again. The climb started to drag and at 3.5km to go to the top the mountain had only achieved 1900m in altitude which meant there was still 300m of height to be gained equating to ~9% average gradient yet to come which truly manifested itself as I crested the Falzarego to then spot the final cruel piece of road to the top of the Passo Valparola. This didn't dampen my spirits that much as I knew that the final descent was in sight. The final descent was smooth and fast into La Villa leaving a shallow ascent back to Corvara. There were distance markers counting us down to the finish, at 200 meters to go an Italian in bright green cycling kit got a bit carried away with the cheering crowds and extravagantly sprinted past me after enjoying my draft for a bit. I let him get away as I could see the sharp left hander coming up that marked 100 meters to go, I took the corner wide then stamped on the pedals a bit to overtake the aforementioned Italian sprinter 10 metres before the line, childish I know but I couldn't resist it.
After crossing the line in 6 hours and 25 minutes (6 hours 20 ride time) I was presented with an unusual choice - a disgusting cap or 10 euros in cash. After a brief moment to check I wasn't suffering from heat induced hallucinations I accepted the money and went to get my finisher medal and much needed drink.
Gav arrived shortly after and we then gathered the team together over the next couple of hours to ensure that everyone was fed, watered and surgically separated from their machine.
I think I paced the race correctly as I managed to gain places all the way through the ride and only experienced some fleeting cramp towards the end of the last climb. Regardless of that the ride was thoroughly enjoyable and worth all the effort. My placings throughout the race are below -

split times
place            day time       race time           place overall
Gardena       9:04.20,0      2:24.24,6174.    1060.
Corvara        9:16.07,8     2:36.12,4168.     1017.
Campolongo 9:39.20,2     2:59.24,8167.     969.
Selva Cadore10:25.26,5   3:45.31,1142.     804.
Passo Giau    11:23.43,6   4:43.48,2140.     755.
Falzarego       12:27.15,6  5:47.20,2135.      757.

Maratona D'les Dolomites 2012

Well here we are once again in the blog zone......




Our 2 discovery 4 vehicles (kindly lent to us from JLR) were loaded up with the team kit/bikes etc & we 
regrouped at Warwick services. After many attempts by Mark - AKA David Bellamy to get a pre Italy team photo it was upto one of the other team to get his mobile out & take a quick snap instead. Mark did manage to get his camera working (eventually) for later on in the journey to take some great shots.

  Anyway we set off & with only a few satnav errors from both vehicle which split us up but travelling through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria & Italy gave us some breathe taking scenery which was just simply stunning, but at long last & many hours driving, sleeping getting lost etc we ended up in our destination after a grueling long haul drive.

    

We got there with just another time to take in the first trial run of one of the climbs we were to experience on Sunday, but first we collected our Maratona packs had a bite to eat too. I must admit after the small ride to go & collect our race packs i wasn't feeling great, the heat was getting to me a little to start with & I think the lack of proper food made me feel rather crap. The short ride into town was hard for me as my body was just not playing along & short climbs along the way hurt as my heart rate was 170bpm which made me think have I done the right thing here! Anyway we collected our packs & dropped them off at the apartment then set out to do the first climb the Campolongo.

We started to climb & as Steve was pacing the front we set out rather quicker than I could handle, my heart rate was getting worse until Steve said did we want to slow it down a little, which I was very happy to do. The team then pushed on which soon turned into an enjoyable climb & by the top my body was adjusting to the change in temperature & conditions. What goes up must come down & once at the top we then started the descent which was what I was very looking forward to, all I can say was it was an amazing experience to feel the speed while throwing the bike around bend after bend & even though it wasn't a closed road we all made mince meat of any traffic that got in our way. Nowhere before have I experienced such a thrill & being able to go faster on the road than a motor vehicle.

At the bottom we regrouped all with massive smiles on each & every face, I then thought to myself perhaps I have made the right decision.

We all went back & showered to go out & experience some real Italian food & meet up with some friends that were already out here. We briefly met up with Dave Lee & agreed to do dinner with his team the following day. Dave had suggested a place to eat that evening so we set off & got a table, the food was fantastic the pasta & pizza slipped down like we hadn't been fed for a week. 

The next day we continued to carbo load & what better way to do it than coffee & cake, lots of cake. Then it was time to get our Lowroaders tops on & meet up with the Cycling Weekly crew for a general get together plus photo/video shoot. We all introduced ourselves to Ian Parr who was organising the cycling weekly event. After the general shoots were done we did our raffle to see who would win the signed Team Sky jersey (kindly donated & signed by Team Sky after stage 17 of Giro D'Italia via JLR) 

                              

We did a short video of this event & the winner was Malcome Guy. When we announced the winner sadly he had to go but one of his team members was there to collect the shirt on his behalf. After a brief discussion with Malcome Guy's team member it had a rather fitting story behind his large donation which was great to see that the jersey was going to someone that would appreciate it, it turned out that another one of his team was unable to make it to the Maratona due to the fact he had put himself on the organ donation list & was giving away one of his kidneys. Malcome had said that if he won it that he would have it framed so that they could give it to him as he was unable to do the Maratona, the whole Lowroaders tam thought this was a very fitting story for where the shirt was to end up.

More carbo loading that night with Dave Lee & his group continued to a little later than we would of hoped but then that did take the nerves off the main event a little, well for me anyway. I was starting to doubt myself whether I could actually do what I set out to do. The team were great to one another & we all told each other that the training had been done & that the Maratona would be conquered by one & all. It was discussed a long time ago that the team would ride at our own pace, this way each member could concentrate on their own goal of finishing without pushing too hard just to stay in a group.

That evening in the apartment the tension was showing a little without anyone wanting to show it, you could just tell that everyone was showing signs of nervousness which was perfectly normal. The lights eventually went out but no-one really got a great night sleep, it was very humid that evening & was difficult to settle. The alarm went off nice & early & as we had all prepped our gear the night before we had breakfast & made our way to the start gate. Here we gathered for a little while before we were able to set off.

             

There were all sorts going on people on stilts, music playing people everywhere just anticipating the start. There were helicopters everywhere with film crews on as it was to be televised on Italian TV.

Then it was time, we started to move & slowly we started to pedal, within minutes I had lost all of the team as there were just so many riders, but I thought this is it, this is my race of not just physical but mental too.

The Campolongo was the first on the hit list & as there everyone was still very tightly packed it was to be slow going, mainly because there was just no room anywhere. There were people beside me very heavily breathing & I just kept looking at my gamin thinking this is ok I'm in my zone, breathing was normal & i'm feeling good. My nerves had more or less now dispersed & I was concentrating on the rest of the event.

There was one rider who lost his footing & hit the deck straight on his shoulder, I thought that's got to hurt. I managed to stay far enough away that I wasn't caught up in everyone around him needing to put their feet down.

The next few hills were ok & I was feeling good, I kept my HR down & thought I can do this, the hill climbing was hard & I new the worst was still to come. As the day went on the heat started to get hotter & hotter, but after each hill I new there was to be an awesome reward, the descent I was picking people off in the field like they were standing still, the other riders just didn't seem to want to take the correct lines so I was under/over cutting riders everywhere. I never actually seen any accidents on my descents but there were ambulances loading rider after rider into the back, plus on the descent of the Sella ( I think) there was a rider who was seriously hurt after he had wiped out as an air ambulance was just landing to load him into the back. Marshall's were waiving yellow flags & blowing whistles to warm me to slow for the corners but I could see the line of sight & new what speed I was capable of doing so carried on at my own pace.

The end of the short course came & went & I there was a slight thought in my head shall I stop, then I thought to myself briefly & thought that I can't let the team down so pushed on & more upward.......

The same went through my head for the medium route too but I made the cut to be able to carry on & tackle the dreaded Giau 9.9km long & average 9.3% gradient.

There were a few small sharpish hills prior to the Giau, I had stopped at the feed stations prior & took on-board my caffeine gels & electrolyte drinks then I hit it, I must admit I started climbing & thought I can do this in one without stopping, but I was wrong, the heat got to me & I started to feel a little light headed & really sick. I ended up stopping around 8 times the sweat was poring off of me, but I was determined not to walk any part of the any hill. I may have stopped but I did not take one single step as that would off just done it in for me psychologically. I'd reached the top of the Giau & started to feel a little emotional, the one thing that kept me going around all the hills was a mental picture of my fiance Emma plus when I found it really hard I remembered what she had told me prior to leaving. Emma had said to me remember it doesn't matter how hard it gets & how much pain your in, that to remember why your doing this event & that is for the children of Birmingham Children's Hospital & that they will be suffering a lot more & a lot longer than the few hours that I will be, plus that I was also doing the event to remember a friend & bother of one of the other riders 'Nick Rawlinson'. This thought really helped out & inspired me to finish no matter how bad I felt.

The final climb & I new at the top that this was it that I had reached the worst of what the Dolimites could throw at me, there was a feed station there & I looked down & thought no need to stop so pushed on. In minutes I looked up & didn't remember that there was another kick up till the end which was a killer, but I did it even though my legs had almost given up. The last section which felt like forever was slowly done & when I could see the 1000m banner the euphoria that I felt was so intense as I new I had done what I doubted that I could do, I crossed the line at an official time of 9hrs 6mins 58 secs (garmin time 8hrs 35mins 6secs which included the ride to the start).

I would like to thank all of the team for their support of the past months with training & all the emotional times that I had to endure, plus Garry Palmer from sportstest for the training programme that got me prepared for this. Also I could not of done any of this without the support of my family especially my fiance Emma, her words of wisdom, encouragement & just all the love she gave to me to help me with this incredible journey. 

One last note before I blog off & thats to the rest of  Team Lowroaders - WELL DONE ALL