Raid Alpine 2011 - Stage Six

Finally got round to editing together some material from stage six of the 2011 Raid Alpine so I've finally finished that little project and can now move onto the next unfinished one!

Enjoy the ride:

Raid Alpine 2011 - Stage Five

Still slowly working my way through editing this material and have now completed stage five which I uploaded the other day but forgot to publish on here. This clip covers the stage from Vars to Valberg crossing the Col de la Bonette, the highest paved through road in Europe, on a beautiful day. I still have stages four and six to pull together, I'll get there in the end!

Raid Alpine 2011

Anyone who has visited this blog over the months will know that in 2011 I rode The Raid Alpine with Marmot Tours and had a great time. I've finally managed to pull together a collection of video material from both handheld and helmet cameras as well as a number of still images.

I hope the result coveys the spirit of what was a really excellent trip and that you enjoy it, this is definitely a "must do" route.

The Col de la Bonette - 2011

Short video clip showing the arrival at the Cime de la Bonette which is just above the Col de la Bonette, ridden during the Raid Alpine in 2011. These are the highest paved through roads in Europe and are well worth a visit for any keen cyclist, especially if you manage to find a day like this one!

I strongly advise people to shoot video and take photos of these trips, even after just 12 months going back and looking at these brings back wonderful memories and brings all the details we forget back to life.

The Col d'Izoard - 2011

Been finally sorting out the video material and other content that I shot during the 2011 Raid Alpine. I've now migrated it all over to Final Cut Pro X and can finish the job of editing up the final version of the video of the trip.

I've been doing some further experimentation to make sure things are going to work as I intend, here's one of my trial clips from the Col d'Izoard on a fabulous day in the mountains, really great memories to have.

Raid Alpine - Stage Three Video

Slowly working my way through the stages as time allows. Here is a selection of video clips,  helmet camera clips and stills from stage three.

Raid Alpine - Stage Two Video

Next stage video produced, this is a mixture of HDC-SD700 clips, helmet camera clips and stills taken during stage two of the Raid Alpine. Great ride. When viewed on YouTube the video can be viewed also in HD at 720p or 1080p, great for full screen viewing.

Raid Alpine - Carnet De Route

If you decide to ride the Raid Alpine you get a card which you have to get stamped in certain towns to show that you have passed that way, hopefully on a bicycle ;-)

Here is an image of my fully stamped carnet, this then gets sent in and in return you get your certificate of completion, complete with a profile of the whole route detailing all the main suffering sites :-)

Here's the profile which is on the back of the certificate:

Raid Alpine Stage One Video

Finally managed to spend some time getting some of the Raid Alpine material put together into a video which I've now uploaded to YouTube, hope you enjoy it! Lots more to come in forthcoming weeks :-)

Raid Alpine ID

I thought it would be nice to keep a record of this, my Raid Alpine ID. This is issued to every rider to identify you as a bona fide Raid Alpine participant. I did see several discarded at the side of the road as a I rode along, presumably either sodden by the rain or discarded in disgust on yet another climb!

Seriously, it looks rather forlorn now that the event is over having travelled over so many high passes and passed through such wonderful countryside. I just didn't fancy just binning it without recording it for posterity, if you see one of these on your travels you know what the rider is up too!

Introductory Video - Raid Alpine

Just a short introductory clip taken on stage one of the Marmot Tours Raid Alpine. If you've not cycled out there you should really think hard about making the trip, it's terrific. Best viewed on the HD (720p) setting or on 480p.

Raid Alpine Photographs

I have now had the chance to do some preliminary work with the photographs I took during the 2011 Raid Alpine Challenge. I have geotagged the photographs with an approximate latitude and longitude and uploaded them all to an online photo gallery where the photos can be viewed by stage either on a map, as slideshows, or as individual images.

Just follow the links to the stage you want to view by clicking below as required:

Links to photos of the Stages:

Stage 1 Monday 1st August 2011. Thonon Les Bains to Praz sur Arly (114kms with 2743m ascent).

Stage 2 Tuesday 2nd August 2011. Praz sur Arly to Tignes La Reculaz (105 kms and 3079m ascent).

Stage 3 Wednesday 3rd August 2011. Tignes La Reculaz  to Cesana Torinese (127kms and 2620m ascent).

Stage 4 Thursday 4th August 2011. : Cesana Torinese to Vars, plus Col de Sestriere (105.5kms, 3004m ascent).

Stage 5 Friday 5th August 2011. Vars to Valberg (132kms, 3142m ascent).

Stage 6 Saturday 6th August 2011. : Valberg to Antibes (149kms, 2051m ascent).

Here is an example slideshow from Stage 1.

Raid Alpine Stage 6

Well, the raid Alpine is complete, finally arrives in Antibes in the South of France, the home of some of the world's super yachts. It was interesting wandering around the port looking at the toys of the mega-rich and it struck me how totally bored all aboard looked gazing out almost appearing to wonder what life was really about.

I wondered whether I would swap with them given the chance, in all honestly, I wouldn't.

This has been an excellent trip, 703km and 16,300m of ascent, that's over 10 vertical miles, in the space of 6 days. We crossed 31+ cols and saw some of the best scenery on offer to the cycling enthusiast.

It was really excellent that all of the riders setting off on the challenge completed it in it's entirety which I understand isn't always the case, so lovely that nobody was left at the end feeling as if they had "failed" - everyone was a winner.

All of us faced up to our own challenges, some facing difficulties unknown to others and often unmentioned. Some had longer days than others but we all covered the same distance and we all crossed the same high passes, a magnificent achievement.

The trip was brilliantly organised by Marmot Tours and the support throughout was the best I have experienced on a cycling holiday to date. The Marmot Tours team of Helen and Nathan couldn't have been more supportive and nothing was too much trouble for them from the start to the finish of the holiday, 10/10 from me.

It will be nice to get home and one of the nice things about making an effort with the photo and video recording side of things is that all the memories come back as you get home to sort things out in the weeks and months ahead. Without those records, for me at least, things al become rather a blur!

What next? Who knows? To be honest by deliberately taking my time on this ride and taking the time to ride steadily, to pause to take pictures and to enjoy the scenery I have probably awoken a latent interest in cycle touring. It seems to me that with time and determination one could have a fantastic time travelling slowly carrying one's own gear through the countryside covering 40-50 miles a day and crossing maybe one col per day and really savouring every mile.

For now at least it's well done to all those who rode the Raid Alpine with Marmot Tours starting on 1st August 2011 on the shores of Lake Geneva.

Watch this space!

Raid Alpine Stage Six

Beuil to Antibes (149kms, 2051m ascent)

The route starts with an epic 22km descent through the Gorges de Cian, which should be impressive to say the least. From here we climb up the small Col de St Raphael (876m), followed by some fabulous cross country riding on an undulating gradient. The last main col of the trip is the Col de Bleine (1439m), which is followed by a well earned 27km descent into St Vallier de Thiey. The coast is in sight here. We head on over the Col du Pilon 786m (which we should hardly notice). Then there is a true downhill bias as we head into suburban Cote d’Azur. It will be a bit of a shock to enter such populated areas after the tranquillity of the route, but also there should be a definite ‘holiday’ feel about the place! We follow the quietest but least complicated (we hope!), route into Antibes and to the coast where we end our epic journey. Our hotel for the night is on the sea front of Cagnes sur Mer, just up the coast from Antibes. It is the perfect place to dip our toes (probably all of us in fact!) in the Med, enjoy a seafood dinner and partake in a few celebratory beverages!

To see the stage map and follow my position live follow the link below:

http://www.endomondo.com/event/2014501

Raid Alpine Stage 5

The Raid Alpine rolls on and after today's efforts all that remains is one day and if all things go to plan I will be in Antibes in the South of France and at the end of the journey tomorrow evening.

Today was spectacular, in particular the crossing of the Col de la Bonette, the highest paved road in Europe. It's quite hard to get your head around a climb like that as it lasts for 23 kilometres and involves an altitude gain of around 1600 metres topping out at 2802 metres, certainly high enough to make you feel the altitude.

It rained towards the end of the ride, the first daytime rain of the trip which wasn't a problem at all and I was only out in it for about 15 minutes at the very end of the ride, not unpleasant at all :-)

Spent a few minutes this evening looking at a few clips from the helmet camera and it looks as if everything has been working properly so that's great, hoping to have some nice shots to work with.

So, about 90 miles to Antibes tomorrow, and no massive hills! :-)

Onward to the Med!

Raid Alpine Stage Five

Vars to Beuil (132kms, 3142m ascent)

We continue our way up the Col de Vars with a 350m climb to the top, over 7kms, as a fairly gentle ‘warm up’! Today has some beautiful riding ahead with a great descent for approx 20kms after the Vars. From Jausiers, we start the ascent of our highest col, in fact of the highest col in Europe, the Cime de la Bonette (2802m). Though it will be a tough one in terms of the length of the climb (23kms), it is a fairly steady gradient, and thanks to this col, you get your incredible 53km descent from the top, down to St Saveur de Tinee! Just one more little Col – Col de la Couillole (1678m) before we stop for the night in the lovely town of Beuil.

To see the stage map and follow my position live follow the link below:

http://www.endomondo.com/event/2014459

Raid Alpine Stage 4

Well, stage four completed and it's been another hot and mountainous day, the scenery has been amazing again.

Crossing the Col d'Izoard was a real highlight and the rock formations in particular that I've seen so often when watching the Tour de France were really memorable. I hope as I get even older than my memory for these things doesn't fade too badly as I want to enjoy them in the future but I guess at least I'll have my photographs to remind me if it does!

Another nice hotel and as you can see from the photos I went out for my usual baguette when I finished the ride, I can't think I'm going to lose much weight on this trip but I've got to try to keep my energy levels up ;-) Gawd knows how much ham and cheese went into it, enough to feed a small army, I just hope the Perrier was slimming ;-)

Tomorrow promises to be a really challenging day. The main obstacle of the day, standing between us and eventually the coast, is the Col de la Bonette which I believe is the highest paved road in Europe.

I've crossed the Col de la Bonette in a car when I was travelling up from Nice with friends to ride La Marmotte and at the time I remember thinking "I'm glad I'm not on a bike" - but now I am. I'll just see how things go, could do without the cold and sore throat I've now developed, almost certainly picked up on the flight.

Another hefty dinner tonight on top of the baguette so that should stand me in good stead. Right at this very moment the Col de la Bonette looms very large in my mind.

I'll let you know how things go tomorrow :-0

Raid Alpine Stage Four

Cesana Torinese to Vars, plus Col de Sestriere (105.5kms, 3004m ascent)

We sneak in the Col de Sestriere (2035m) for a ‘tampon’ before returning to Cesana Torinese and continuing back into France with a 500m climb up the Col de Montgenevre and then a quick 14km descent before the start of the infamous Col d’Izoard (2361m), with its monuments to Fausto Coppo and Louison Bobet. Not content with this epic 19km climb from Briancon, we also face the first half of the Col de Vars today, though only a 9km climb. It is a lovely route hopefully with great views and classic Alpine meadows. Sainte Marie de Vars is a classic ski resort and will offer us a good nights rest before our 5th day on the bike tomorrow!

To see the stage map and follow my position live follow the link below:

http://www.endomondo.com/event/2014403

Raid Alpine Stage 3

Another good day with Marmot Tours on the Raid Alpine :-) The weather was once again kind to us as we crossed first the Col d'Iseran (2764m) and then the Col du Mont Cenis (2086m). I could definitely feel the altitude on the Col d'Iseran, something I've not noticed so far but there will be more of that to come!

For some of the day I was convinced that it was going to rain but it held off for us and the views on both of the climbs were spectacular. Lorena and I will I hope be out here in due course in a campervan and that will be excellent, might be an idea to drive the route of The Raid just for the enjoyment of it, without the exertion :-)

Tomorrow's first climb is the climb from the hotel up to the ski station at Sestriere. We were given the option, if we felt we wanted to, to tack the climb onto the end of today's ride which would make for a shorter day with less climbing tomorrow, and a lie in :-)

I decided to take that option so tomorrow's first climb for me is now done, so tomorrow I have the Col de Montgenevre (1865m) followed by the mighty Col d'Izoard (2361m) to deal with. These will be followed by a far from insignificant climb at the end of the ride up to Vars, our stop for the night at the end of day 4.

So all going well so far and in terms of days ridden I'm at the half way point, onward!

Raid Alpine Stage Three

Tignes La Reculaz to Cesana Torinese (127kms and 2620m ascent)

We only have the last 17kms of the Col de L’Iseran (2764m) to do today (easy!), before another whopping descent of 31kms! A quick nip up (600m of climbing) the Col de Mont Cenis (2,081m) and then another lovely descent, this time taking us across the Italian border into the town of Susa. We head uphill from here (though not steeply) for approx 35kms to our end destination for the day, the small town of Cesana Torinese, just below Sestriere, which was home to the 2006 winter Olympics.

[The offical route was amended a few years ago to avoid this section of main road from Susa to Cesana Torinese. The amended route takes us over the col de Finistre and the col de Sestriere, however the final 8km of the col de Finistre is unsurfaced and is unsuitable for road bikes, hence we have opted to stick to the original route, but taking in the obligitory 'control' by riding up the Col de Sestriere from the east]

To see the stage map and follow my position live follow the link below:

http://www.endomondo.com/event/2014312