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IM FRANCE 2008

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EVENTS 2008 

EVENTS 2009

Scientific Testing & Personal Testing

RACE ACCOUNTS

IM FRANCE 2008

Norseman 07 By Craig Maude

Journey to completing Ironman UK 2007 by Mark Browne 

Why everyone should do a triathlon by Amanda Vipond

IM UK 2007 by Nic Clay

The beginners guide to time trialling

I flew Jet2.com to Nice. The whole process was pretty painless even travelling with an oversized bike box. One of the wheels came off in transit, but Lufthansa already had done the damage. My bike + box weighed 25kg. This means that it cost me £80. The cost of the bike (£25 each way) and an extra £30 luggage excess (one way). They only allow 20kg weight allowance for a bike. I paid both ways at the same time and the check in staff looked at the receipt and didn't charge me the £30 excess weight coming back as they thought I had paid it. In other words - budget the cost of bike transport as c. £110+ if you get away with the excess weight on the return all well and good. The bike arrived in good order. It looked as if it had been treated pretty well.

The bus from the airport to the centre of Nice was 4 Euros which gives you a day pass (I think). There were two of us with bike boxes and that made the bus pretty tight with the other passengers. The bus goes along Promenade de Anglais so you can scope out the run route (it is not exciting). The pavement surfaces are rough and if you have to wheel a bike box + luggage any distance it is hard work. I was sweating profusely by the time I arrived and it was hardly hot (c. 14C). I was staying at the Hotel Regence on Rue de Massena. Very convenient for most things.

Most of the eating places in downtown Nice tend to cater for small groups. I was unable to book anywhere at this stage. I will be in Nice from 17th June so may try and do so when I arrive if desirable. The Old Town is more interesting but all the restaurants there are seriously small, so I don't think they will be able to accommodate us all. Food was on the whole excellent albeit it rather pricey due to the strength of the Euro. Stick with the white wine as all the reds I had were pretty ropey.

One of my mates had a problem with his bike. We took it to Velo Culture on Rue de France. The owner spoke no English (my mate did his degree in French so we were ok) but he speaks Italian if that is any help (it was to me). They were amazingly helpful although there were several cries of "C'est dangerous!"

No comments about the swim course - I had a stinking cold so despite carrying the wetsuit I did not set foot in the water. Jellyfish were seen. The sea was cold and rough - but then it is April.

The bike course is horrid. None of us were in a state to cycle the whole route but we did 125km along with the key climb - or at least one that did the same elevation / distance.

On exiting transition you head west along the Promenade and after c. 10km turn north at San Laurent du Var towards Carros. A few km before Carros you turn west again and head towards Gattieres. There is a short climb of about 10% as you come off the river flood plain onto the terrace gravels (I'm a geologist I was bound to get something about rocks in somewhere) and you head for c. 20-30 km at a gradual ascent towards Vence. The Ironman logo is sprayed on the road. After Vence there is a 8km descent from about 650m to c. 250m and you then begin to climb up to Gourdon and L'Ecre after Pont-du-Loup. This is the toughest climb of the day. We turned off at this point as at this point you are committed to the full 180km. However, the climb up to Cipier and then to Coursegoules was about the same ascent and distance and picks up the actual course near St Pons. I can only describe this as horrid. For about 14km my heart rate did not drop below 170 and was generally about 180bpm. My speed never raised above 16kph. The actual course allows for a long descent to near St Pons so it is not quite as horrid as this but as an analogue to the climb up to L'Ecre is probably about the same. East of St Pons there is a 5km long 400m ascent climb up to Coursegoules. Just turning into Coursegoulse (more climbing) you turn south towards Col du Vance for 6km out and back. I think this is an exercise in making up distance. After Coursegoules you are on a long descent.

At this point I could see why someone was killed on the course 2 / 3 years ago. If you wish to go at less than 40-45kph you have to stay on the breaks. There are several tight bends (some hairpins) and the crash barriers would do nothing more than pitch you over the handlebars head first off the road. The road surface is generally ok, but there were several landslides (more geology) as you come off the limestone upland (now I'm getting really excited!!) that cause some problems. At one point as the scarp of a small landslide curves towards the road edge I found that it was pushing my wheel towards the edge of the road.

One thing to be aware of is that there are speed bumps as you come into the village of Le Broc. You have to negotiate a hairpin bend so chance are you will not be going too fast but it could be tricky stuff. There is a grill after the second speed bump. The gaps are just wide enough to get a wheel into...

After that there were a few ups and downs down back to Gattieres and then back to Nice. I was glad of a few climbs as my neck was getting sore after almost an hour of descending and I was just downright cold. I am assuming that the road will be completely closed on race day. French drivers have a habit of cutting the corners. I cam close to being taken out by a Citreon. You then turn south towards Laurent (into what may well be an onshore breeze) and back to Nice.

I was warm when I started at sea level but when up at over 1000m I was pretty cold. On the descents I got particularly cold. Might pay to have some old arm warmers / top in the special needs bag for the bike course. June will be warmer, but it is still pretty high.

The run is flat, there is no shade. Sun block in the special needs back here I think.

If there are any specific questions drop me a line.