8th July 2006 

Several local cyclist spent the summer participating in one of the most gruelling sporting events open to the public. "The marmotte" is a 108 mile cycle ride in the French Alps from Bourg D'Oisans to Alp D'Huez. The event is held in a London marathon style format with some racing the course and others just aiming to finish. But that itself is no easy feat, as the course climbs four mountains, totalling 17,000 feet of climbing including the legendary Alp D'Huez. This last climb is the most famous place in cycling history, with its twenty one hair pin bends and where the Tour de France has been decided on numerous occasions. Quite a change from the mainly flat roads around Peterborough.

 Cycling requires a great deal of dedication, if you decide to race, the old saying is, that the summer races are won on the training done in the winter. A normal training regime consists of only one rest day per week, any more and you will start to lose fitness. Sunday morning rides increase from 50 to 100 miles as the winter goes on, with the rest of the days varying according to the light and weather conditions. An hour a night is OK, more if possible and if the conditions are bad then it is time for the indoor trainer to get some use. High intensity work to prepare for racing then gets introduced, with hill work and interval training the norm. For those participating in the Marmotte this "normal" training had to be raised to 4 hour rides on Saturdays and 6 hour rides on Sundays, including as many hills as possible.

With over 6000 starters from all over the world, the start is chaotic and it takes the first climb of the Col du Glandon to sort things out. Unfortunately a serious crash on the fast dangerous descent saw 10 riders going to hospital and an hour's delay for the rest. Then it was on to the Col de Telegraphe and more climbing before the terribly long Col de Galibier. This is a 25 mile climb followed by an equally long descent, both of which require great skill and stamina. That just leaves Alp D'Huez. Many pros recovering from injury or aspiring amateurs looking for a contract storm up the mountain, but no one will get near the fastest times of Marco Pantani and Lance Armstrong, set in the Tour de France at just over 36 mins. For most it will take between 1 and 2 hours and that is those that finish. A lot don’t and this year was no exception with many being collected by ambulance as they collapsed at the road side. It is a marathon task, but for those who succeed there is huge sense of accomplishment and a short break, before they start training for next year. Local men from the Peterborough Cycling Club and Fenland Clarion, Dave McNamara, Zed Dhanji, John Powell, Malcolm Smith and Martin Jones, all completed the event with their times varying between 7 and 10 hours.