Marmotte report and results

The 175km Marmotte is the hardest of the sportives with its 5000m of climbing up the Col de Glandon, Col de Telegraphe, Col du Galibier and the final 21 hairpins of Alp d'Huez. The day dawned dry with a 6am ride to the start in Bourg d'Oisons and the team on route with a 7am start. Simon and Ed set a fast early pace with the rest of the Team Mkers looking to conserve energy with a steady ride to the foot of the first col.  

The steady climb of the Glandon was followed with a tight and twisting descent with many riders blowing out their tyres through over braking ...... luckily avoided by Simon who changed his patched tubes at the last minute. The long drag up the valley road was followed by the scenic climb of the Col du Telegraphe to the ski resort of Valloire with a full on scrum for the water fountains in the square and a regrouping of many of the MK riders. The false flat out of Valloire disguised the monster climb of the Galibier with is gaunt and rocky peak at 2800m. Everyone struggled over this climb with many riders paying the price for their early optimism with cramp and fatigue taking their toll. All were glad to get down the long descent through the numerous tunnels back to Bourg ...... just leaving the 1300m climb to Alp d'Huez where Phil decided to call it a day.

Fuul results below and a fantastic achievement for all the Team MK riders in the hardest of all events. Many thanks to Catherine, Ceri and Alan for all their support and much needed expertise.