It’s the “hardest” sportive on the calendar!

174kms with 5,000 metres of climbing over the Col Du Glandon, Col Du Telegraphe, Col Du Galibier and finishing at the top of Alpe D’Huez. The winner's time – 6hrs 9 minutes and NO none of us were anywhere close although we do figure amongst the 5,295 finishers.

First away and first to finish was Chris Spence in 7:23:13 and 231st overall an early start achieved by concealing his real number and climbing over the fence in to the front pen! Up with the lead 100 riders Chris, in his first sportive was “going like a train” on the Galibier only to find Alpe D’Huez tough going. Dave Mayman had a trouble free ride hampered only by the early season ailments that reduced his training. A sub 9 hour ride and a Gold Standard time of 8:55:36 for 1,695th were his reward. Backing up Dave and benefitting from his early season hill work was Simon Fenton, chief organiser and butt of Gary’s jokes in a credible time of 9:11:31 to finish in 2,062nd place. Shortly thereafter, Peter Hubert arrived in 2,745th place in a time of 9:42:21 just missing out on a Gold Standard. Sometime later Chaz Knight arrived after 10:14:17 in the saddle and 3,423rd finisher. Flying the flag for the Ladies, Helen Goulding finished in 10:17:53, 3,504th overall and 42nd in her category (and 53 seconds outside the Gold standard). Our final finisher was Gary de Gruchy in 10:36:30, 3,900th.

Unfortunately for Peter Glendewar, the organisers closed the course at the feed station just outside Valloire as thunderstorms covered the Col Du Galibier and he was caught on the wrong side of the barrier ending his day in the broomwagon.

Of note on the day were the temperatures – Scorchio! The number of crashes on the descent from the Col du Glandon – loads! And the views back down from the top of the Galibier – spectacular….

Thanks go to Torty and Sam for manning the team car on the Galibier and providing moral support, refreshment and baby wipes and to Simon for organising the trip. [Report by Chaz Knight]

It's worth looking at the times for climbing Alpe d'Huez and comparing these to the above:

Here're a few photographs from the climb up to the Col du Galibier:

Chris Spence - the fastest Jersey rider

Chaz Knight seeming to make easy work of it

Helen Goulding: third fastest on the ascent of Alpe d'Huez

Dave Mayman's concentration was easily distracted by the thought of food

Peter Hubert - never short of company

Simon Fenton stopping for fuel and words of wisdom from Torty

And here's VSJ's Martin Cudlipp - completing the course in an excellent time of 7:43:50

A quick comment from Sam Goulding: Having completed the Marmotte in 2004, I know at first hand the physical effort and mental fortitude needed to complete the Marmotte – particularly in climbing Alpe d’Huez with over 100 mountainous miles in your legs. Indeed, it could be argued that the bottom of the Alpe is effectively the half way point. I did however have to revise my views of the scale of the success of our finishes when seeing a rider 4km from the summit of the Galibier with one leg and one arm. I also saw him again mixing it with the hundreds of riders climbing the Alpe an hour or two later. Now that’s some courageous achievement.