Overseas Sportives

2012 Schwalbe Tour Transalp - Germany

The Tour TransAlp is a 7-day stage race for amateur cyclists run by Tour, the largest cycling magazine in Germany and is their main event of the year. It attracts a field of approx. 750 2-person teams and runs from Germany to Italy. The exact route varies every year but on the menu for 2012 was 800 km with approx. 18,000 meters of climbing over 17 Alpine and Dolomite passes from Mittenwald in Germany to Arco at Lake Garda in Italy, with teams from 27 countries taking part.

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2010 Jotunheim Rundt - Norway

Once at the top the end is very close but my body took it as a signal to break down a bit, my hands were sore wherever I held the bars, my right foot was really hurting, shoulders were stiff and I probably don't need to mention my butt, how ever, a combination of standing, sitting and freewheeling saw me to the end in 19hours and about 40 minutes which is about 10 minutes longer than last time, I think a lot of that was lost in the energy conservation in the middle and headwind on the final section, basically it was 137k into a headwind

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2010 Vatternrundan

The road went up steadily just before Jonkoping and I soon felt the effects of not drinking enough in the build up and then working quite hard early on.  I had absolutely no power in my legs, earlier I had said that I may push on if I was feeling good so didnt think it right to give them a shout as I dropped out of the back of the group.

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2010 La Marmotte

Now came the ascent of the Galbier that's after a quick refill of the bottle i had drunk on the descent,i don't like this climb at the best of times,18 kms of climbing up to the summit at 8000 ft,i especially hate the middle part which alternates between 7% and 8% but seems to go on for ever and you don't even feel your making any progress..

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2010 Gran Fondo Marco Pantani

The descent from the Gavia was awesome.  50+km through the Stelvio National Park.  Semi closed roads and marshals at the hot spots meant you could hit the apexes without much fear.  I’d hooked up with the Sports Tours rep (Phil) at the top and he was a very experienced cyclist who clearly knew his lines.  Between us we flew down.

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2010 L'ariegeoise

An excellent descent down into Cabanes the final feed and bottom of the last climb at148km. We are both absolutely gunning to get on with it. After our final feed from the excellent feed stations we wish each other good luck and depart.

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2010 Gran Fondo Sportful 2010

At the top we were at 1300m and faced 6k of descending, interspersed with some short kick-ups.  The descent was horrible, the coldest and wettest I have ever been on a bike.  Normally you are worried about the climbs, on this ride it was the descents!  My arms started shaking uncontrollably, making it very hard to control the bike and therefore having to slow right down to avoid losing it in the corners.  I tried to keep the pedals turning but it's not enough to counter the fierce cooling effect of a 60kph descent.

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2007 Etape Du Tour

At the end of the descent came St Giron and the first feed station, as always this was a bit of a bun fight, I got my water and moved on to tackle the Portet d'Aspet. One of my main drives for getting over this one was so that I could stop at the Fabio Casartelli monument on the way down the other side. With maximum gradients of 17% this was a particularly difficult hill to get down with so many riders on the road...

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2007 La Marmotte

My target for this was Gold, which meant 9 hrs 15 mins, 1 hour faster than last year. I set myself pacing notes based on where I needed to be and by what time, and with them taped to my stem I rode to my own pace rather than hang on to faster groups and risk blowing. Was on schedule at the bottom of Telegraphe, 8 mins down at the top of Galibier...

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2006 Tour Of Flanders Sportive

The road surfaces were in poor condition and in some parts dangerous. In the early stages we cycled on concrete slabs that had been poorly repaired and there were many potholes and ruts between the slabs that were hazardous for cyclists. It soon became clear that with the large number of cyclists (double the number for the Etape) one had to be very conscious of other riders, some of whom knew what they were doing others who did not and at the same time keep alert for hazards on the road ahead.

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2006 Etape Du Tour

"24 hours after the event it's easy to be objective, but this has to have been one of the hardest physical challenges that I have done..."

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2006 Colorado Bypass

120 miles and over 10000ft of climbing over three mountains is tough enough but, for those who aren't locals, there is another challenge to overcome: altitude. There are various feed stops along the way with free refreshments and mechanical help if required. The organisers also provide sag wagons and there is a broom van to pick up those who aren't going to make the next checkpoint.

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2005 Fondo Campagnolo (Sportful)

The Gran Fondo Campagnolotakes place each May in the Southern Dolomite region of Italy. The event starts  and finishes in the small town of Feltre, and is mountainous, 208km route traversing 4 mountain passes including the Cima Campo, Passo Manghen, Passo di Rolle and the Passo Croce d'Aune.

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2005 Etape Du Tour

7,885 riders set off from Mourenx this morning at 7h00 for the 13th edition of the Etape du Tour Vélo Magazine, under an extremely clement sky. It took over 35 minutes for all of the riders to cross the starting line. The last competitor was scheduled at 17h30. He was the 7 242 rider to cross the finishing line. Depending on your fitness, the Etape may be the ultimate challenge, or 'just' a hard, rewarding ride.

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