Iseran, Galibier, Alpe d'Huez, Bonette. Names that resonate in the head of any cyclist. These are the ones I took this week on the Haute Route Alps. An edition now linking Megève (and no longer Geneva) to Nice, in six stages plus a time trial on a pass, with 800 km and 20 m of positive elevation gain. This characterizes the stage race as one of the most difficult in the world.
By David Polveroni – Photos: DR
The competitors, just over 400, came from all over the world. We find runners from Dubai or Canada. A great diversity, which makes this event also a richness in its own right. Let's briefly go back over each stage where I will tell you about my experience.
The first stage is a loop around Megève. It starts with the Col des Aravis then the Colombière-Col de Romme link. This is where the first timed section ends before a neutralisation until the final climb to the Megève Altiport, via the route de Cordon. I lose a lot of time on the descent of the Col de la Colombière, which will be detrimental to me in this first timed part. Two short minutes. Then I follow up with a slow puncture during the crossing of Megève, but I will manage to gain a minute on the climb of the Altiport. In front, two men emerge: Pipo Garnero and Loïc Ruffaut, who will be one leg above all week.
The second stage links Megève to Tignes via the Saisies and Cormet de Roseland passes, then the climb to Tignes. On the first pass, I managed to catch up with Loïc and Pipo, but on the descent, a little mentally blocked, I was dropped, then caught and dropped by the chasing group. I returned to the foot of the Roseland climb and kept in touch with the group. I then managed to regain a minute at the end of the Tignes climb, where the Tour de France riders were supposed to finish the stage in 2019. On this stage Loïc took back the leader's jersey.
Then it’s the Queen stage the next day : neutralized start until Val-d'Isère, then we continue with the Col de l'Iseran where the descent is neutralized. A little sluggish at the start of this stage, I concede about ten seconds, before a long nervous valley until Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, and we attack the Télégraphe-Galibier link. I start alone, and I manage to take up to seven minutes ahead of my direct pursuer and thus move up to third place overall.
Alpe d'Huez Chrono as the fourth stageI finished in fifth place and lost two minutes on my competitor but I still had a lead of 2'15.
To get to Briançon, we have a short and nervous stage. From Bourg-d'Oisans, we attack the Lautaret. I attack straight away, perhaps a little wrongly. At the top of the pass, there are four of us who switch, the first four in the general classification. At Lantin du Granon, I let the first three go and I get into my own rhythm. I then come back to the third 3 km from the summit. But he sprints me to the finish to take about ten seconds.
The next day, a very difficult stage with the arrival in Auron. A first part up to Guillestre with small hills. Then the Col de Vars, is finally the roof of this Haute Route : the Bonnette, still as magnificent… I ride a little too much, and my opponent manages to make up time on me in the Bonnette. 1'30. I then only have 30 seconds left in Auron where I completely lose my footing. I am fourth, one minute behind overall.
Last stage: another difficult stage with the Col de la Couillole. I attack even before this one, but my opponent's teammates organize themselves. And they come back to me at the foot. The race is a bit crazy. We find ourselves about twenty seconds behind the first two at the top of the pass. The explanation will continue throughout the stage. I manage to get out and take a little lead. But my opponent comes back to me. So I finish fourth in this Haute Route without any regrets, because I tried everything. I was able to really have fun this week and blossom with adversity and a homogeneous group, which was really pleasant. I had not yet lived this type of experience this year, or even on certain editions. To be continued, I will let you knowtagand every day I run my race on this high Route Dolomites, over five days, with four stages and a time trial.
The rankings : here
=> SEE ALSO: The site of the event
=> SEE AS WELL : All our MAG articles
