Marmotte Granfondo Pyrénées - Sun 30th August 2020 - We Take Care of Logistics You Ride the Cols!
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Marmotte Granfondo
Pyrénées
We Take Care of Logistics
You Ride the Cols!
Sun 30th August 2020
Test your Limits in the Pyrénées!
Ride your Tour de France
Marmotte Pyrénées Sportive 165km 5500m climbing
The Marmotte Granfondo Pyrénées is part of the Marmotte sportive series.
If you have ridden Marmotte Granfondo Alps you will already have a
flavour of what these sportives entail. Like it’s big sister, Marmotte
Pyrénées tests you on 5 passes used in the Tour de France and Vuelta.
It is said that Marmotte Alps is the toughest sportive on the amateur
circuit. If that is true then the new Pyrénées sportive is a close second.
Featuring over 5000m of climbing and demanding gradients, the sportive
has everything to put your cycling skills through their paces. In some
ways, it could be argued that Marmotte Pyrénées involves tougher
climbing than Marmotte Alps. Where the latter has the edge is that the
attitudes are higher.
The views of the Pyrénées mountain range are spectacular and awe
inspiring. You will feel both small and part of the land as you reach
summits and descend into valleys, surrounded by thousands of your fellow
cyclists, all taking on the challenge offered by this fantastic sportive.
As you ride you will not only feel like you are competing in your own Tour
de France or Vuelta, you will receive prostyle support from SportActive.
Our support starts before you get off the plane when we secure your
registration. Once in France we collect you and your bike and take you to
your hotel and help you build it ready for the big day.
Prior to the race we discuss strategy and ensure you know where the feed
stations are. On the big day, our backup cars are ready to help you should
you run into issues, and we carry your personal items and supplies. Our in
sportive rider, SportActive’s head professional cycling coach Martin
ensures your pacing is on point to the top of the first col.
You will feel like a Pro when you ride Marmotte Granfondo Pyrénées. This
is your Tour de France. Ride well and good luck!
The Challenges of the
Marmotte Granfondo Pyrénées!
Pacing
It cannot be overstated how important good pacing
is to completing Marmotte Pyrénées. It is very easy
to believe you have more in the tank than you
actually do and this can and does lead to issues
towards the end of the sportive especially how easy
to get lost in the big event feel. One of the most
difficult climbs happens at the end of the sportive
and you have to ensure you have the energy to
complete it. Be mindful of your pacing from the
start and you will cross the finish line.
Climbing
Climbing is the prominent challenge. There are
5500 metres of it and hors category gradients to
contend. Your legs will feel it, and you will have a
renewed appreciation for pro riders. Once you get
to the summit, however, you’ll be pleased to know
that they are followed by winding descents. The
peloton of thousands and the awe inspiring views
will give you the inspiration to get to the top of each
and every climb.
Altitude
Riding at a higher altitude than what you are used to
also brings challenges. The air becomes thinner the
higher you ride, and this causes issues even for pro
riders.
Marmotte Pyrénées is ridden at a lower altitude than
his big sister but nonetheless, a little acclimatising
goes a long way.
Distance
The sportive is 165 kms of ride which is a
considerable and challenging distance. Given the
amount of climbing involved this can make it feel like
it is markedly longer. It should not be
underestimated and will demand focus and
endurance to cross the finish line.
You will not have to worry about mechanical issues
as we have your back. All you have to do is focus
on riding the sportive.
Peloton
With thousands of riders natural pelotons form. This
gives you the big event feel, and if you can use the
peloton correctly, you can save a considerable
amount of energy as you ride the demanding
climbs. That said, peloton riding demands focus
and attention. Mistakes can and do happen and this
can cause accidents especially if you are riding with
people you do not know.
Climate
The temperature can range from 10 – 30 °C during
the sportive. The higher you go the colder it gets,
and the lower you go the hotter it becomes. We
recommend you prepare for the cooler side of
Marmotte Pyrénées. As such bringing leggings, arm
warmers, gilet, long sleeve wind/rain jacket, light
long finger gloves, and overshoes is recommended.
Descending
The cols are steep and hard to climb and the
descents are thrilling, but they do demand focus
to avoid collisions. Unless you have ridden the
sportive before you may not have experienced
descending of this calibre or with so many other
riders around you. It is best to think of the
descents as an opportunity to recover.
The Cols of Marmotte Pyrénées
You will ride five major passes used in the professional
tournaments of the Tour de France and Vuelta. These
cols will test your limits as a cyclist.
Col du Tourmalet (Luz St Sauveur)
Tour de France First Appearance: 1910
Elevation: 2115 metres
Col du Tourmalet is one of the most famous climbs in
the Tour de France and is regularly used in the great
race. It is often stated to be the highest paved road in
the Pyrénées though technically this is untrue. Paved
Pyrénées roads leading to the mountain lakes Lac de
CapdeLong and Lac d'Aumar are higher.
Nonetheless, Tourmalet, with its challenging gradients
and distance is a test. It features 18 kms of ride and
has an average gradient of 7.4%. Some stretches of
the climb, however, exceed 10%.
La Hourquette d'Ancizan
Tour de France First Appearance: 2011
Elevation: 1564 metres
Once you reach the summit of Tourmalet you will face
the technical descending challenges of the Sainte Marie
de Campan road. Once you have reached the end of
the descent you will soon find yourself climbing la
Hourquette d'Ancizan.
This is a 22 kms climb and a 4% gradient. Do not get
complacent on this climb as sometimes the gradient hits
12%!
Col d'Aspin
Tour de France First Appearance: 1910
Elevation: 1489 metres
After a short ride, you start the Aspin pass. Aspin has
been used in le Tour over 70 times as it links Tourmalet
and Col de Peyresourde. Here you will ride 12kms to
reach the summit facing an average gradient of 6.5%
sometimes encountering a 9.5% gradient to keep you
on your toes!
This takes you back to Sainte Marie de Campan where
you face col du Tourmalet once more riding a different
side of the great mountain.
Col du Tourmalet (Ste Marie de Campan)
Tour de France First Appearance: 1952
Elevation: 1860 metres
Faced from Ste Marie de Campan, Tourmalet offers a
similar challenge but different views. This time you ride
17 kms rather than 18 kms. The gradients are similar,
however, with an average of 7.4% and a maximum
gradient of 10%.
Once at the summit, the final challenge awaits:
Hautacam col de Tramassel.
Luz Ardiden
Tour de France First Appearance: 1985
Elevation: 1720 metres
Arguably, the Marmotte Granfondo Pyrénées has left
Crossing the Finish Line the best till last. You now face Luz Ardiden, a col that
has been used in the Vuelta tournement twice. It is 13
It is a real cycling acheivement to complete kms of ride with an average gradient of 7%. In some
Marmotte Pyrénées. places, you will encounter gradients reaching 12%.
Once you have conquered this last beast you will be a
Once completed a good meal awaits you Granfondo Pyrénées Finisher! Well done!
featuring a starter, pasta, cheese, dessert,
drink.
Make Marmotte Pyrénées your Tour de
France!
Supported Tour de France Style!
Ride fully supported with SportActive!
Two Backup Cars and Insportive Rider!
Two Backup Cars
Our backup cars are on hand to help you
ride the French Pyrénées, and carry spare
parts to deal with issues should they arise.
Our expert logistical handling, mechanical
knowhow, and experience, all combine to
keep you in the event.
You are in good hands when you ride with
us.
InSportive Support
Martin, our expert professional cycling coach has
ensured that you will get the best insportive support
possible. Our cars are stationed at key points in the
sportive for easy access. After you have passed
them, they will keep moving with the riders to be as
close as possible should an issue occur. Martin’s
teams are well drilled and know the sportive well.
They are only a phone call away.
Experience Marmotte Pyrénées!
Granfondo Marmotte Pyrénées
Map & Profile
Distance 165 kms
Climb 5500 m
Finishing Times for Medals
Complete the course within these times and earn • Col du Tourmalet (Luz St Sauveur)
yourself a medal!
• La Hourquette d'Ancizan
Men Women
Age Gold Silver Age Gold Silver • Col d'Aspin
C (1829): 07:55 09:25 A (1834) 09:30 11:20 • Col du Tourmalet (Ste Marie de Campan)
D (3039): 08:15 09:50 AB (3549) 09:45 11:35
E (4049): 08:40 10:20 B (50&+) 09:55 11:55 • Luz Ardiden
F (5059): 09:05 10:45
G1(6066): 09:30 11:20
General Information
Your Schedule
Friday Arrival in Tarbes Lourdes Airport
Flight to Tarbes Lourdes Airport and transfer with private
coach to our Hotel in Luz St Sauveur. The bus will leave
Lourdes at the arrival of the Dublin flight at 13:25. Should
you arrive from a different airport please make sure you
arrive in a time bracket of 1 hour after the Dublin flight.
Once arrived, we build bikes and go for a ride!
Saturday!
Time to explore the area and become famiiliar with your
surroundings.
Sunday the Big Day!
The start at 7:30 is in Argelès Gazost, 19 km from our hotel.
During the Sportive, you can manage your own ride
(feeding stations available; details will be provided) or you
can stay with the SportActive coach who paces the group
up the first climb. The first backup car for support will be on
top of Tourmalet. You can have a small bag with private
items in each car.
The second backup car will be at the top of Aspin and then
at the arrival in Luz Ardiden.
A warm meal is served to the riders: featuring a starter,
pasta, cheese, dessert, drink.
Two options to get back to our hotel in Luz St Sauveur: you
ride down the mountain (19 km) or SportAcrive vehicles will
take riders back to the hotel as well.
Monday Flight Home
Transfer to Tarbes Lourdes Airport with private bus. Travel
safe, see you next year!
Your Hotel
Hotel Le Montaigu
the perfect place to prepare
for Marmotte Pyrénées!
You’ll stay in the 3star hotel in Luz St Sauveur, very
close to the start line. The hotel is just outside the
village in an extremely quiet location and only 4 minutes
walk from the village centre, where you will find a vast
choice of bars, shops & restaurants.
The hotel offers nice & spacious ensuite rooms. We
book B&B with welladapted breakfast menus for
cyclists (even porridge!). On Sunday morning breakfast
will be served from 5:00 am.
525 €Ride Marmotte Pyrénées
Test your Limits!
Package Price 2020 (per person sharing)
3 Nights Fri 28th Mon 31st August 2020
Package Price 2019 (per person sharing)
3Early
Nights Fri 23rd
Bird*: 829 € Mon 26th August
Regular 2019
Price 879 €
Early Bird*: 799
Single 52 €/night
€ Regular
Suppl: Price: 849 €
*Early
*Early Bird
Bird Discount:
Discount: Book
Book before
before 30/10/2018
31/01/2020
At a Glance
How to Book Price Includes:
Registration to the Sportive
Transfers airporthotelairport for you and your bike.
To Ride Check details
SportActive bike mechanic for assistance when
Phone Martin: assembling your bike
Secure bike storage
0044/(0) 28 71 36 5997 High pressure pumps and tools
Preevent information meeting
Email : Three backup cars for assistance
3 nights’ B&B in 3 star hotel Luz St Sauveur, based on 2
flora@sportactive.net people sharing room ; very nice & comfortable large en
suite rooms
Visit : Optional Extras
Single supplement
http://sportactive.net/ Third Party Bike hire: Please contact TourmaletT Bikes
(http://www.tourmaletbikes.com/)
We carry inner tubes and spare tyres for purchase
Book your place before it sells Not Included
out! Flights
Private expenses
Private medical & travel insurance.
Travel insurance. See www.worldwideinsurance.com
SportActive Cycling Holidays and Camps
28 Gelvin Gardens, Trench Road, L/Derry, BT472DQ
Northern Ireland
Tel : 0044/(0) 287136 5997 © SportActive Cycling 2018You can also read
