Thank you Mr. Mavic man – an ‘Etape’ers event Diary  October 2009
Report by Lloyd Scott
Monday 20th July 2009 : The day of reckoning arrived on Monday 20th July, the Étape du Tour stage for the ‘public’. This year it was to be a 170km stage through the Vaucluse and Drome departments of Provence commencing in Montmélian (the home of nougat) and arriving at the top of Mont Ventoux (the infamous beast of French climbs!).

A 4:15am rise to make the 53km trek from Valence to Montélimar – why do we do this to ourselves, I ponder. A breakfast of muesli followed by pasta and three slices of "Mamie gateau" (Paul, you thought the apple pie was delicious, but Mamie gateau is an experience!). Arrived at Montélimar and all preparations done, it was time to get placed in the ‘départ’ pen – only an hour to go!

Anxious? No!!!! Montelimar at 06 00.

The start of the Étape is nervous, lots of emotions pass through what is at this moment a fragile body – fear, doubt, apprehension… Ah, as in the words of Susan Jeffers just feel the fear and do it anyway! Ten minutes to go and the two small tins of creamed rice placed strategically in my jersey pocket are opened and consumed – the last big charge before the off. Dominic, the Englishman beside me approves. 7:00am and across the loudspeaker there is the announcement of the départ of the first pen; seven minutes later, and with a temperature of a mere 21°, I am away.

I settle in well despite all the jockeying for position by the masses. Through Espeluche I carry on towards the first of the day’s five climbs, Cote des Citelles (428m; cat. 3). This one’s a steady rise and I even managed it on the big ring – I must be going well. Down a slightly technical descent and groups are starting to form within the peloton, including one with those favoured Étape-ers sharing the lead and working together (ah, just like the Sunday morning Vets CP I try to convince myself!). Heading for Nyons (44km) and the landscape is breathtaking; that rugged Provencal charm and, of course, those fields of purple lavender in full bloom. I note that it’s even more picturesque than during our reconnaissance trip in April.

Back in the pack I am sitting comfortably as we approach the 50km mark – only 120 to go and all going to plan, if not even better. Then I hear a ‘ping’ noise and I think to myself that sounds like a broken spoke. I look down to find my back wheel has indeed broken a spoke and the wheel is now rubbing off the brake pads. Disaster! I stop on the roadside, losing contact with the peloton and the usual emotions of upset and frustration kick in. What am I going to do? Some might remember the old 36-spoke wheels where if you broke a spoke there would be no real problem in continuing on; a slight buckle in one of these wheels wouldn’t cause you too much upset. However, I was now finding out that my 20-spoke Mavic Kysriums, with the spoke shorn off at the nipple, were posing a much greater challenge. I get over my initial frustrations, phone Audrey (a problem shared is a problem halved and all that…) and set about ‘managing the situation’. The Étape du Tour replicates the pro Tour in so many ways and the event organisation engages some thirty police motorcyclists and at least as many civilian motorcyclists on marshalling duties. One of these civilian ‘motos’ comes along and I ask about the position of the on-road Mavic service team. No help is nearby, I’m afraid. Many groups pass me by and, sure enough, there’s no sign of a service vehicle. My thought now turn to how I might get myself to a location where Audrey can pick me up…my Étape is over!

Over the top and down the technical descent identified in the pre-event information as one of the eight dangerous elements on the course. With only a front brake to assist me (having released the rear brake to minimise the wheel rubbing) I limp down at no more than 25km/hr. By this stage I have lost forty minutes on my companions of earlier. But hey, I am still actually in the event and might even be able to get my problem addressed.

I arrive in Buis les Baronnies and am never so glad to see the Mavic service van. My focus now turns to whether or not my broken spoke can be replaced. I approach the service person (Mr. Mavic man) and ask politely, in my best French, is it possible to repair my wheel. His response of "Oui, bien sur" (Yes, of course) is greeted with sheer relief. My Étape is not over after all! Mr. Mavic man reaches into the back of the service van to find a replacement spoke as I take the wheel from the bike. He appears with a shiny new red flat Kysrium spoke and sets about sorting the problem – but not without regular interruptions from fellow ‘étape’rs looking for assistance with their woes. All I want to do is to tell them to f… off, I am here first and my need is greater than theirs! While Mavic man is working on my wheel I take the chance to phone Audrey (thank God for mobile technology) and alert her to my position and progress (relief all round). Mr Mavic man completes the surgery, including removing the cassette as the spoke had broken on that side – all in all about twenty minutes. By this stage I calculate that I have lost an hour but, hey, I am now on course to complete, failing any other disaster. Overjoyed at the thought that I am still in the race I want to hug Mavic man but think better of it and just thank him kindly.

I’m on the road again with just 93 km to go and heading for the third climb of the day, Col de Fantaube (635m; cat 4). I start to settle in after my earlier exploits. The distraction of the buckled wheel has caused me to forget about eating and I realise I have to ensure I’m fuelled up to last the distance. Fontaube is a winding climb through some breathtaking countryside, passing from Drome to Vaucluse, but that’s for another day to stop and admire – we will return! Down a short descent and up towards the uncategorised Col des Aires (640m). Just two climbs to go now, Col des Abeilles (cat 3) and Mont Ventoux (HC). The descent of Col des Aires is quite technical and brings you along some quite lumpy sections towards Aurel (altitude 770m). This section might take its toll later on. As I proceed along the rise into Aurel, I catch up to a cyclist whom I cannot fail to notice is cycling with just one leg. I reflect on my own troubles of earlier and realise how very fortunate I am to have all my limbs. While people respect the effort and commitment I make to achieve a milestone such as this, I have such respect for someone who makes a commitment and defies their physical disadvantage to do the same.

I descend through Sault, noticing the elimination zone and can but think to myself that I could have been in the broomwagon but for my drive to continue and the work of Mr. Mavic man. I am also glad that I chose Mavic wheels! The penultimate climb of the day, Col de Notre Dame des Abeilles (996m; cat 3) and the first 2km are particularly steep (11%). It then eases out to 7% with a sharp rise at the finish following a short descent. The descent to Ville sur Auzon is an exhilarating experience on a wide closed road (one of the perks of participating in this event) reaching a top speed of 78 km/hr. Only 35 km to go!!

I reach Bédoin some five hours after leaving Montélimar and arrive at the final feed station to meet Audrey who, surprise, surprise, is waiting with my good friend Christophe. He has travelled from Chambéry to see me and, in that; he has his own story to tell and that is for another day. We spend a good few minutes chatting and then off I go to tackle the ‘beast’ starting from 320m out of Bédoin. My strategy for Ventoux is threefold; part 1 the first 6 km to be done at a quick tempo, followed by part 2, 6 to 16 km with an average gradient of 10% to be done as quickly as possible. The strategy for the final 6 km from Chalet Raynard is just to bury my head and go for it.

The temperature on the ascent is a ‘cool’ 35°C and the thought of having enough liquid on board to get me to Chalet Raynard occupies my mind. The two bidons given to me in Bédoin are sufficient and last me to the Chalet where there is a water stop. I take a welcome pause to restock for the final assault – just 6 km to go now. The swirling wind at this point on the open moon-like terrain, offers no assistance other than to cool an overheated sweat-ridden body. On the reconnaissance trip at Easter I believed the amber and black poles counting down the last 6 km in 10m intervals would be of assistance. On this trip I look at them only once and it is at 2640m. I approach the final km and believe I have just enough left to get me to the summit although the last 500m seems like it goes on for ever…

And that was it, the hardest stage of the 2009 Tour was completed and the memories will be long lasting and shared for many years to come. To get to experience the closed roads, the cheering crowds in the towns along the way and the feeling that you are a part of the biggest spectacle in world cycling is very special and is something that every cyclist should try to experience at least once in their cycling journey. And of course the personal story each and every participant has to tell is special. The sense of achievement, the will to accomplish a mammoth task and the experience of a special journey. Of course I will always be thankful of meeting and engaging with Mr. Mavic Man… what memories!

Thinking to next year!!! Well the Alps should be on the cards for the Etape in 2010 as they haven’t been to them for the last three years. Also, given that the 150th anniversary of Savoie’s reunification with France is next year there may be a special stage planned for the Alps. Looking forward to the announcement on the 15th October 2009 when all will be revealed.

Lloyd Scott

September 2009

League Races 15/18/19 August 2009
Report by Peter Doyle
22nd July: Corduff
This was on the Corduff circuit.  I think that is what it's called, it's the one we used for our championships and our Nags Head 10mile TT.  We were scheduled to do two laps so that was a welcome relief from the 3 we had to do the last time.   As we hit the Nags Head on our first lap I rode to the front and tried to pull the pace up so we could keep away from the scary group 4 riders who we figured would be going hard on the hill.
We caught group 2 somewhere on the second lap.

Just before our second time on the hill I thought about having a pop and trying to solo away, but I figured it might be too far from the finish to stay away so I didn't go.  As we entered Ballyboughal we got caught by the later group.

On the road towards the finish, someone took a flyer with about 1km to go.  I wasn't sure exactly how far from the finish we were, so eventually I tried to bridge across in the hope of sitting in and jumping out to try and get a placing.  All I did was drag everyone else with me.  We rounded a bend and there was the finish line.  Then everyone started passing me and I think I came 9th or 10th.

12th August: Bog of the Ring
We had to do 4 laps of the circuit.  I always find this a fast circuit since it's pretty much flat apart from the two bridges over the motorway.  We caught group 2 on the last lap just as we entered the back roads leading up to the finish.  When we caught them I knew that there was still a group up the road.  However, something happened along that stretch that made me forget all about that.  What was it?  Oh yes!  Paddy started stringing the bunch out by riding at over 50kph for what felt like bloody ages.  All short-term memory was dumped out of my brain as I struggled to hold on to wheels.  As we neared the finish I forgot all about the first group and started sprinting.  I was pleased with myself getting what I thought was 6th place.  Then I saw all the earlier riders making their way back.  Turns out I got more like 16th instead of 6th!
In order to help others avoid the same mistake, here is Peter's Top 3 Guide to recognising that you are not in the group sprinting for the win.

3.  The group you caught has 10 people in it, but 20 started before you
2.  The finish line marshals are not looking at the finishers
1.  Half the people in your bunch sat up ages ago

16th August: Clonalvey
A nice circuit.  It goes over the Three Sisters and has some other nameless 6% slope.  We had 4 laps to do, but we started near the Oldtown Graveyard so we had to do the 3 sisters 5 times.  Oh you're filthy!  First time up the hill I think we lost a few people, not sure.  The descent is nice and open and we take a left hander down a quick bumpy road leading very quickly to another left hander and on to the nameless slope.  This is a nice narrow twisty lane which eventually leads up another slope to the finish line at a school.  Just after the school we have a descent which takes a left just after a church eventually leading back on to the main road so we can ascend the Three Sisters again.  I'm not sure when or where we caught groups 2 and 1 but somewhere along the course people from groups 1, 2 and 3 were still together with 2 ascents of the Three Sisters to go.  On the second last ascent the pace went up on the hill and some people lost contact.  There were 5 of us together for the last lap.  As we hit the roads at the back of the circuit we lost one rider.  4 of us left to duke it out.  On the final slope to the finish line I tried to sprint ahead for the win.  Derek was right on my wheel and I couldn't gap him.  He came by me and won by a few lengths.  Derek, I'd like a 20% discount when I buy a frame from you, thanks ;o)