Haute Route 2015

We can ride up and down Cime de la Bonnette and eat Magnums ffs.. That's what we do, right?

And Ridley Scott will give us exclusive access for lunch here (Paloma Beach Restaurant - Cap Ferrat)

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Have a look at Sophie Matter's 1000km Audaxes in those very areas of France.

https://sites.google.com/site/le1000dusud/

Considerably cheaper (previous editions have been 10 Euros to enter), and a lot more bare bones (you have to pay for your own food and accomodation along with everything else.) Luckily only 3 nights as you only get 75 hours to do it, but it is only 16000m climbing in that 1000km.

For the record i did 21,000m of alpine ascent in a week this summer.

Cost me more than the Haute Route in over weight baggage charges. As I tried to smuggle 'ALL THE CHEESE' into Norway.

I need a lighter bike......

Sweating near neat JD, while cycling up a mountain, with a massive head on. With only the promise of a magnum ice cream to drive me.

Sounds awesome.

Yep, This fella loves magnums, too.. Apparently.

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Bless him, look how happy he is to have met you!

I thought Marcel Kittel would be taller in real life but that's TV for you.

Negged for not using The Claw.

Haute Route gets rave reviews from people I know who've ridden it. It's a race and won most years by Peter Pouly who has been banned for doping. His Wiki page has been deleted. http://viciouscycleblog.com/2013/09/06/peter-pouly-interview/ Moral of the story wear cycling glasses to stop those pesky flies.

I'm sure it does get rave reviews - so does helicopter skiing, drag racing Lamborghinis, breeding quarter horses for polo etc etc. I just don't get why anyone should pay well over €2000 for a week of hill climbing on a pushbike. I'm not sure I understand those who do. It just seems like a cycle adventure for rich people and not, like hauteroute would suggest, an event for a broad range of cyclists catering to all abilities.

Man do I have a bee in my bonnet about this sportive or what?

Just imagine riding with the shower that actually signs up though...

What's the prize for winning the race?

I watched a docu about this last week.

There was a bottom 5%. That crawled over the line hours after most, every day. Thus they had very little time to eat and recover before bed. Where they had less sleep as their bodies hadnt wound Down. Spending each day more With more time in the red than the next.

I was pretty impressed.

The route is pretty lame. The Granon is nice so.

I reckon it would work out cheaper than my local multi day sportive, the VikingTour, and that involves sleeping on a sports hall floor, and eating stale bread for a week. With all riding likely in pissing rain.

But then again, some people prefer to spunk +£10,000 on a top spec road bike for a £2,000 charity or private ride across the alps, just so they can wear a bit of coloured lycra and come back with a tan. The truth is, its been done to death for nearly 20 years. Yep staying in crappy ski resorts and eating chicken/pasta every night with about 100 people. it's boring as fuck to be honest.

But easy to fix a couple of days out of Nice riding in the Canyons and Cols, with some mates, drinking local wine and eating Magnums.

The truth is is been done to death for nearly 20 years.

Some people must be enjoying it.

Evian to Cannes (8 days-1000km-20cols) in 2007 with 35 riders, operational costs =
£850 per head, excluding flights and accommodation in Cannes.

Evian to Cannes (8 days-1000km-20cols) in 2014 with 35 riders, operational costs =
£2,400 per head, excluding flights and accommodation in Cannes.

Same set up, same route... I guess its what you're willing to pay today for an escorted/supported tour.

easy to fix a couple of days out of Nice riding in the Canyons and Cols, with some mates, drinking local wine and eating Magnums.

In

Can't find it on the Haute Route website. Most race sites have a section detailing daily / sprint / overall prizes etc. Must be several times an entry fee as Mr Pouly makes a living out of cycling.

I just like competing With others. Its why I used to run marathons.
I grew up striking shallow temporary friendships, wearing silly bright clothing, and while being a sweaty mess. During the rave scene. Just trying to continue that really. The drugs are different, but the general concept is the same.

Ventoux plus Cayolle, St Martin and Turini when you're ready SF.... :)

See also; Far flung sportive's that have make shift car parks in farmers fields and get thousands of like minded folks there at sunrise.