Last year I discovered a new sportive / gran fondo-type race called the Haute Route (and wrote about it here) and Coach Rob, relisher of all things physically painful, apparently got stuck on the idea. Over the last year, while I’m sure the thought was germinating in his brain, I would get the odd reference to the Haute Route from him in his emails. Then, as this year’s event got closer, I couldn’t take it anymore and asked him how serious he was about doing it anyway. The answer was ‘99.99999%’, which is (apart from being many, many ‘9’s), quite serious indeed.
To be honest, I wasn’t considering the race quite yet, mainly because I figured that I’m living here anyway and can do it anytime, plus I already had one crazy objective in mind for 2013. In addition, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to do such a monster of a race…
2012 Race Statistics Intermission
- 7 timed Stages (i.e. 7 days), including an ITT up Alpe d’Huez
- 780km of riding, from Geneva, Switzerland to Nice, France
- 21,000 meters of climbing, over some of the most famous cols in France
…but then it dawned on me that I’d already done a Ventoux Triple and two Etapes du Tour this year and that, maybe, just maybe, I could participate in this madness. I got back to Rob with my ‘95.55555%’, which quickly mounted as I got more excited about it, and I think I’m around his many, many 9s now, too.
But the clincher for all this is the fact that, as you know, Rob and I are actually family, but have only ever met once (last year in Nice). Because of geography and other inconveniences we won’t have many opportunities to get to know each other. And what better way to bond than a 7-day sufferance (OK, don’t answer that. I can also think of a few better ways..)!?
Incidentally, this year’s event just started on the shores of Lake Geneva yesterday. The Haute Route has a clean and interactive site and you can ‘watch’ the stages as they progress (probably only interesting if you know someone in the race, but it’s there).
Here is a video from last year’s race:
And a short preview of this year’s, complete with dramatic Lord of the Rings-style music score:
So, there you have it. I’ve made it official (till I decide to delete this post!). With a little help from Rob’s 2013 training program and my winter knee injections, this time next year I’ll be grunting over the Alps, probably wondering what evil spirit had possessed me when I made this decision!
The Vicious Cycle 
+1
I’m aiming to be there next year too – http://www.velonomad.com/articles/haute-route-guide/
Sweet! By the way, getting redirected again when clicking on your links..
Hey Tim – I left a note on your blog site too. Gerry and I are looking for a few other “crazy people” to join our team for next year. What do you think?
Rob, replied to you. Will drop you an email. There’s a chance I will be going with a group as a journo, but not sure yet. All depends on funds, too!
Tim
Hi Gerry
Been reading your blog for a while but never commented.
I did last years haute route and I’m in this one now! Using the free wifi at the finish. What a day – it’s supposed to be the easiest.
Tomorrows 4700m of climbing is going to be hard.
Might do the Haute Route Pyraneses next year. Hopefully see you there
Dane
Dane, thanks a lot for the comment. I’d love to get your opinion on the organization and overall experience of the race after it’s all over. You wouldn’t happen to be The Boyfriend of a certain cycling blogger who takes wonderful photos, would you…?
Good luck tomorrow and the rest of the week. I think I know what 4700m feels like (nearly) and for doing it in the middle of a week of climbing, you get the hard-ass award of the day!
Your appetite for pain is astounding and admirable. I hope your knees keep well over the winter.
It just seems like the right thing to do, somehow. The knee is generally better this year and not sure why. Hope yours gets back to normal a bit more, too, so you can begin turning in those remarkable yearly mileage totals again.
Hey, It’s all your fault, I wouldn’t have known about this race if you hadn’t sent me the link. Never tempt a guy that loves a good sufferfest. I can hardly wait.
Besides, I think the main reason you’re doing it is to have enough Blog content to last a year.
I won’t deny it. The blogging potential is endless with this one. The lengths we go to for good material..
And I have no doubt you will be wildly successful in both the Haute Route Alps and the UCI race. It’s way further to S. Africa though. Don’t I remember that Rob qualified?
Would you email the source for wonderful cycling photos you mentioned above?
Next year’s UCI Worlds will be in Europe, they’ve assured me. This years has happened already, I think. And yes, Rob easily qualified…of course. I’ll email you the link, but also put it here for all to see. She’s got some wonderful photos: http://lovethybike.wordpress.com/
What a challenge! it’ll be an amazing experience. Best of luck with it.
You mean you’re not joining us, Steph…?