🇨🇭Conquer the Swiss Alps: 🇨🇭 Cycling the Marmotte Granfondo Valais | Tour des Stations Adventure

[@AL-gf4nb]

Another great video Mike. Looks like a seriously tough event particularly the steep gravel climb.

[@CyclingInTheAlps]

Thanks. Yes the gravel was a big kick in the teeth 🦷 !!

[@jonnieh6059]

Well done Mike those steep inclines must have been leg breakers. Great video and commentary as always, “Bon chance” for your next adventure.

[@CyclingInTheAlps]

*_Cheers Jonnie_* - hope all well. Mallorca Vets 4 day next! vueltamallorca.com/semana-masters/en/challenge-vuelta-a-mallorca-masters/

[@jonnieh6059]

That looks good, day 4 looks very similar to the ride I did 28/04/23 Coll de sa Batalla is a great climb 🚵.

[@CyclingInTheAlps]

Yep I did it a few years ago pre covid although it was a flat tt then. I think this one suits me better. @@jonnieh6059

[@rgjdk]

I did the Superfondo. I agree, it's a very well arranged event. Next year they've moved it almost a full month to August 31, hopefully its not colder there. It was a bit chilly this year.

[@CyclingInTheAlps]

Thanks for watching. This years was unseasonable cold. The type of weather we had for the beginning of August was more akin to September. Thats for the note of the date change.

[@bastiengab1861]

​@@rgjdki confirm, it was not so cold in 2024, 32 degrees 😄. August is very hot most of the time.

[@rgjdk]

@@bastiengab1861 Yeah. It was too hot. I was there, suffering in the heat ☀️So now I've tried both. And I prefer the cold edition 😅

[@iannelson6242]

Great effort and video Mike, really enjoying all you are producing. Good luck with your next adventure!

[@CyclingInTheAlps]

*_Many thanks for the feedback Ian_*

[@markedington7171]

Great vid again… I did Tour des Stations a few years back in the first summer of COVID when Switzerland was quite relaxed about everything, wore a mask at the start and that was it 😂 we stayed in Verbier night before and rode down to le chable, lift was also available for riders, agreed it is a great event, no closed roads though like Etape (which maybe explains some of the price difference) but roads very quiet and obviously super smooth being in Switzerland! (except the two gravel parts!) When I did it it was 30 plus degrees and I really suffered!!!! I think you got lucky, as I’m sure you know, it’s often, if not usually, hot in Valais in July and August… Agreed gravel section super tricky (I remember getting a push from a volunteer!) and that last climb was v hard. I was done at the top - I remember atmosphere back down in Verbier great at the end of the day too…

[@CyclingInTheAlps]

Thanks Mark - yes its been a blistering Summer in the Alps and we're back up to 34 degrees again now. It would be a different story in the heat - as was the Etape. I guess the Etape always commands a premium especially with closed roads. I did like the Swiss organisation and if you did have to DNF you could roll down to the nearest train station and get the train back to Le Chable for free!

[@davistucker]

Enjoying your videos. Somewhat like cycling vicariously. It's been a few years since I've been over from Texas to ride. Curious to know about your bike set up. You're doing some serious, climbing! Good on you.

[@CyclingInTheAlps]

Thanks for watching - I'm still using this bike at the moment kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6GkiYari9mkaK8 I' m not a natural climber so my gearing is 52-36 11-34 The bike started as a lock down project!

[@CyclingInTheAlps]

Have you ridden the Tour des Stations Marmotte Granfondo? What did you think? Drop any questions below! Stick this one on your 2024 plans. Cheers Mike

[@cd66061]

Tour des Stations currently has the slowest website ever though…never known one so bad. It’s like being on dail-up!

[@CyclingInTheAlps]

Mine or theirs? ❓

[@cd66061]

@CyclingInTheAlps theirs mate, sorry. Been trying to read the individual distance pages but gave up. Unless they are doing some site maintenance perhaps?

[@CyclingInTheAlps]

@@cd66061Yep just tried it - very slow - the home page has the distances in their logos at the bottom of the page - that comes up quick

[@cd66061]

@CyclingInTheAlps edited my post so it didn't look like it meant anything of yours 👍