Our hostel for one night (in country Germany vs. Belgium, the Belgians who have stayed there, we should hands down win!)
Thanks to my last year of "La Marmotte" I stand at a quarter to seven with another 450 in the first starting block and wait out that the starting shot was fired. I still do not know exactly what to expect, but the objective is clear: as long as possible to go all the way, if everything goes perfectly could end up even a Top 10 ranking jump out (using the previous times I was judged to be reasonably realistic). That was the theory, but which is often so gray as the morning, greets us with the fog. Slightly late start will be just before half past seven. The temperatures are pleasant, the vest and arm warmers would not really need it. The first approximately 12 km are nearly flat, the rate stabilized at 33-38km / h. No pushing, no hassle, not a single dangerous situation. Herrlich. If I'm there on many a Jedermannrennen remember where you die a thousand deaths, because no one around you even half-way drive straight on. Oh, just forget it after about 12km to terminate the first waves of the start of the climb to
Ballon de Servance on. The drive to increase circuit later we can only get the 'right and the view of the extremely steep street is now, however, even slightly scary. We first of all, the somewhat flatter road to balloon de Servance, the first summit of the day.
key in the first ramp I slowly from position 50 towards the first front-twenty, and finally, the road more closely, and I will forward to be there when a first group should be formed. Relatively soon, it is already happening, again and again that drivers can no longer follow the pace and fall back, I also notice that the Pace leaves me to be slowly but surely, the thick legs. I still go though the pace with the top, lying around in tenth position. As the tempo increased, however, again, I must admit to myself that my form is not enough at this breakneck speed to go along (a later look at my heart rate monitor has a maximum pulse of 193, which must have been at that moment). I have the choice between carrying and at the top are broken or find their own pace and remain in the race. I opt for the latter. I then find myself once overtaken by some drivers, so I am now located at about twentieth position. From behind me get a three-driver, their speed, I will concur. The four of us reach the top, get this one on the pass five other drivers ahead and take the narrow, paved with bad exit-equipped in attack.
In the downhill, we get a move on, and on our part also collected from drivers so that is at the foot of the exit, an approximately 20-strong group formed. Time to eat and drink. The following Col du Ménil is hardly noticeable, so flat it goes up on one side and then on the other down. As usual in such events, it is obviously impossible in such a large group of sensible cooperation to bring to pass. The majority of drivers expressed consistently by the leadership. Since this is too silly to me, and I also quite like to lead a group ride to keep track, I put my nose very well time after time in the wind. The climb to the Col d'
Oderen we go essentially to third from the front, not too difficult to increase, mainly I can leave the large leaves. "1min 40" is called out to us from the edge of the track, which must probably the difference in the top group '. At the Col d'Or is there the first time catering, but is ignored by our group together. I use the exit again to eat. Again and again I can easily group hasten away a few meters, the Belgians and Dutch in my group are simply not as good skier. Where should also practice? On the way up to the Col de
Bramont the pace is again held up, 1min 50s is now on the top of our residual group from which we pick up one or two more fallen back driver. At the Col de Bramont for the first time drove right pace, racing feeling arises. Back then the group starts to crumble a bit slow and I feel the pace - for which I draw as a track-responsible - quite painful. Over the Col de Bramont away it goes in a very short run and with momentum in the next increase, to us on the Col du Herrenberg on Routes should lead the direction of Grand Crêtes balloon inside. Ok, now it is serious. Front strike five drivers such a pace that even my first stay out of the air and I get a little scared of his own courage. I will break off. To me, are joined by two other drivers behind the group is now flying apart for good. But then the five drivers to slow down at the top, and my backlog keeps constant at 20-30m. I observe the situation a bit and realize that the drive up there any faster than me, while behind me open up more and more holes. "All right, now I just hope that does not deceive me my impression," think I'm going to the hole and in a quick-fix action. In no time I hang bit behind the group and can match the pace of the group. Six of the routes we reach the Crêtes that brings us gently sloping on Le Grand Ballon Markstein direction. To the Grand Ballon promises a look into heaven is not just good, deep black clouds hanging on the horizon and a few drops of rain we get from here already. The weather takes some getting care. After only a few meters, my decision turns out to that group in the increase approaching a dead right: we quickly build up a splendid working gyros, all without words, I do not know who I should speak in any language, there are Dutch, Belgians and French in the group. But that does not matter because I'm driving to cycling came from, and not to lead palaver. Another driver of the lead group catches up with us and rises into the leadership. A wonderful group, we agree and do it right pace. Le milestone is passed, it goes to Grand Ballon, the only increase, which I knew already, but this is coming from this page harmless, since joining only about 500-600 yards to a slightly steeper flat or slightly up piece piece . At the beginning of the steep sections I ride in the lead and simply pull my pace, which means that once a small Hole opens up behind me. Almost at the same time I see the lead group go over the pass. With the idea to the now upcoming food station, where should I stop well to get me to fill my bottles again, I prefer my "escape" through, because I do not know if the others would also stop, were a few in my group that is obviously supplied by attendants at the roadside, so that they would rather not stop. Once at the top but I will
enriched unlikely a bottle of water, which I accept in passing and transfer to my water bottle. A quick glance over my shoulder tells me that but I had already sold quite a good bit of my group. What to do? Continue or wait? I decide to continue in the hope that I can make a good skier and a good bit of time to the front and maybe pick up one or other of the top group would Abghängten. In the downhill, it starts to rain, but I have no major problems. A single driver from my former group includes the back up at me, so that we can at least two of the following alternate flat piece of something. Down in the city, I experience a brief moment of shock when I miss a turn-off to the right, luckily a car is moving the organization directly behind me and honks back on the right track. It follows the ascent to the Col du
Hundsruck , one of the lower mountains in the middle of the three large "balloon". My flight companion leaves me at the beginning of the rise and he can cater for a companion that to do so. Alone, I am now the increase in attack. Here I see for the first time that my legs are a bit difficult but, even though some are still to be covered 80km. Also, it starts to rain harder, which makes especially the downhill very unpleasant. I carefully navigate through the sometimes tight turns. At the foot of the descent is dry again, and so slow I long for the next Board bring the water in my bottle is slowly running out. "On the flat," said Jens Heppner would like, I try to continue to hold up the pace a little. The speedometer fluctuates so between 32 and 35km / h, from my persecutors still nothing to see, from catering too, however. After I had
seemingly endless miles, I finally reached the penultimate board right at the start of the climb to
Ballon d'Alsace . Here I filled my two bottles again full to the brim with water and Isostar, I grab a piece of banana, inquire about my current placement (front nine drivers are gone, so right now I'm lying in 10th place) and go with the hope that space to to aim to hold on. Although I have certainly been a minute, is not visible from my pursuers. Shortly after the board already has a sign: "Sommet à 10km" side of the road, and I take the first turn of the increase in attack. Fresh strengthened the first kilometer run fantastic, I am left even me time to enjoy the beauty of the landscape, the route of the lower part of the increase can arise alpine atmosphere and reminds me even a little of the Albula in Switzerland. But once the road is steeper, the forces can be returned to and the speed decreases rapidly. So slowly but make themselves felt alone the many kilometers. More bad rather than to reach the summit and when I turn around just before the pass, I can already see my pursuer. Still, I wait not at first, but go in the downhill on my speed and I can probably stop it a little, because I can see across the exit again no runner behind me. The departure is nice to drive, fast, wide turns alternate with tight hairpin bends, all on a relatively wide roads with good tarmac. Unfortunately, the departure is not so steep, so you have to work extremely well in the downhill to get up to speed. At km 165 Giromagny is reached, where we were yesterday on the directions and got through, and from there it was not yet more to the point where Champagney, where were we started. Where do because now please her 40km to 205km can be achieved given? I should see the same. First, I will, however, made at kilometer 170 of five riders, so that after 70km is my solo flight ended, and the battle for the top 10 begins again. If I can keep the group, so I'm starting to expect, I will at least Fifteenth. That would be ok too. First, it does me good but, to ride in a group, even if I immediately go through with the lead, it helps me the beginnings of cramps that I had been in phases, get rid of and recover a little.
But with the recovery, it is not too long way off, what follows is one of those dog common undulating sections who is worthy of a profile of the world properly (according to section, the distance to the foot of the final rise more or less flat to be), but a give in easily angeknocktem state out the rest. Moreover, it has become quite warm, which I also really is not so. So it is now so there: narrow roads, 50 meters up, then 30 down, then up again at 60, then down by 80, etc., etc. On one of the waves can demolish two riders from our group, which means that we front four of more pressing's pace, finally come back should no longer. Is always one race and no RTF! Suddenly, a white with a start number is at the wheel (that is, a 205km off the track) on the road and mend his tires. Although common, but in this moment, I thought, "Great, another place in the top 10 will be free!" So I now had a 50-50 chance of ever reaching the Top 10. When it left the second after Champagney goes, and we are back on the street is, we had traveled in the morning on the first few kilometers, we get a another driver with a white bib, which apparently is also pretty good one in the shoes added. But to us it is not much better, nobody wants to lead, we still morning with nearly 40km / h had gone along, we are now barely reached 30km / h. One of our group is too stupid, no runs behind, so he goes fast a head start out of about 100m. Behind another driver and tried it again, but I'm going to the hole more times, although I still really do not have power nor the right motivation to do so. Only the driver, we had collected in Champagney, we are thus going on.
The three of us take the final
increase in attack. Before us in his one torn hlnauf drivers already in a zig-zag up the mountain. The first kilometer is equal to infinite times sharply, over 10% on average, felt 20%. The first two or three hundred meters are still ok with me, even if the driver who had been left on the last 30km the strongest impression on me, can settle quickly. I lie still in the top 10, and the "zig-end" driver before me, I would catch up already someday. Forget it. After about 500m the legs are getting heavier, while the others are slowly around me faster, my commute is a speed at 8-9km / h. I'm like a bucket, and what comes next should be the longest of my life 4km. Ok, I have up there. Somehow. Would push perhaps better? No, you can not give the nakedness. yes 8 km / h are embarrassing enough. comes to it all, even the first of behind and overtook me. To ride is to not think, even if my legs could still somehow (which I doubt heavily in this moment), I simply do not want any more. I just want this shit that mountain is over, and it is up Cola. Yes, coke, now that would be a dream. Instead, at the end of two kilometers on a short flat section (it is even slightly downhill) enriched water. Well, not wrong, my bottles are finally again nearly empty. The expected kick brings but not, instead it goes on with 8 km / h. Other drivers that I had not seen for over 130km to get to see me and it is even quite loose and fast, especially from. Insolence. I am suffering here and I must also be humble. The mileage and do not want to end up simply, and this mountain is just stupid infinitely steep. Sometime last the last km is reached, the count down so I spend as hundred meters (still 900m, 800m or even 700m, etc.). Once at the top Thomas makes a few photos of me, I drive by's goal. Directly to the concession stand, and finally there is to drink the longed-brown liquid.
the author in the final meters, the blank stare cleverly hidden behind the mirrored sunglasses
might end in a time of 6h 54min (at least I still had undercut the brand-7h) 20th place overall and 5th in my age group to book. A little annoying is the whole thing already. So close I was never in the top 10 in a real cycling marathon to it (the winner is after all a French GS3 professional!), And most annoying is the fact that I had only about two minutes less won a podium in my age group and if I would have been about four and a half minutes faster, it might even have enough to win in the age group. These minutes, I've definitely lost the last five kilometers, I'm standing up the mountain more than driven. So
in a new next Year, this marathon has the length and height meters forth exactly my cup of tea. The competition is not quite as unattainable as in "La Marmotte" or the "Iceman". I will next year be the start address and then hopefully something more rested the conclusion can increase. A little more knowledge of the line then it might be helpful.
My two companions Thomas and Matt then I will not forget: Thomas has shifted the time of the demolition of rear wheels and on its (geliehenen!) Rear ruined seven kilometers from the end a spoke, so that it the final climb and unfortunately a top 30 placement on the 104km route denied has stopped. Matthias fared in the final rise similar to mine, although he has enjoyed an excellent time of 7h 42min and thus the 155th Place overall (18th place in his age group) occupied.
Matthias in the final meters (equal's Cola!)
RIG Freiburg in the target: Thomas, Matthew, the author (left)
