What I’d do different // Tour Des Stations 240km UltraFondo RECAP

Just so you know, I was in a deserted part of the airport terminal recording this clip, hence the reason for the mask being down! I found this place on purpose.
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Thank you for watching this video. I hope that you keep up with the regular videos I post on the channel, subscribe, and share your learnings with those that need to hear it. Your comments are important to me, so please take a second and say ‘Hey’ ;).
Ed is an elite cyclist, current British Hill Climb Champion and former Under 23 British RR Champion. He has raced in Japan, Korea, Australia, Canada, Azerbaijan. He is also a public speaker, coach, and remains grounded with regular returns to his roots at Bynea Cycling Club.
This KZbin channel is a docu-series highlighting what it’s like to be a cyclist, full time eater, speaker and traveller in today’s competitive age of sport.
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[@NielsHeldens]

The heat can actually be quite enjoyable once the hallucinations kick in

[@stephenbrophy7310]

Ed, I found that a remarkably mature and cogent stream of consciousness. What stands out most is that despite the hellish rigours of the event, there is an indelible smile on your face as you reflect on your endeavours. You can’t buy such memories you've got to live through every sun-baked pedal stoke of them. Chapeau!

[@lorddilego6805]

Really interesting to hear your thoughts on it. I know exactly what you mean, when you're are in places like that with strong sunlight, minimal wind/breeze and temperatures in the high 30s/low 40s, it really becomes horrible. Words like baking and oven come to mind, because there's essentially no escape, the very air around you is warmer than the optimal body temperature. Your body sweats and sweats but no avail, even the sweat gets warm on your skin... I'm going to stop now, Ed is probably already sweating from this post triggering his PTSD from the weekend. :P Basically, considering the conditions you were in for a while there towards the end, it was without a doubt a strong effort to finish! Top10 is definitely within your reach if you can avoid those types of issues. Easy. ;) I somewhat get the impression that you're turning away from racing that kind of ultra fondos and instead looking at the gran fondos, where you can still race the climbs more normally. Is that accurate, or do you think it's just a matter of coming in better prepared and then you could still race an ultra findo like this?

[@edlaverack]

Bit of both regarding the GF. I like the challenge of the Ultra and feel like I’d like to stab at it now and try and podium before turning to the others

[@nickbroome8779]

Amazing effort mate. Followed you all day on the tracker. You should be super proud of yourself. Think you would defo be better suited to the GF. All about numbers and power to weight on the climbs. Think you could defo give it a good whack next year. UF is a war of attrition, hard to imagine how people 'race' that kind of distance. Hope to see you over here next year. I am signing up for the UF for 2021, to simply tick it off. Well done buddy, keep up the amazing work and content!

[@edlaverack]

Cheers Nick pal!

[@lindabillett4535]

Ah a lovely insight - so upbeat & happy. Great experience & great learning - didn’t know there was age categories & that you’re just a babe (but does Charlie know you’ll be doing these events in your 50s...👨🏻‍🦳😅). Well done to the wonderful BandofClimbers & Hexr. Clearly next time you tackle this we, your EdFans, will hire a minibus & follow you all the way up providing you with no stop refreshments 🥤🧃🍪🍕Well done Ed🤩

[@brianfisher8449]

May help to get to an epic ride this a few days early. Catch up in sleep, acclimate to the area. Chill a bit.

[@edlaverack]

Next year😜

[@georgec2894]

A 63 year old finished 33rd! I've ridden with him before. He was doing 4.8 W/kg for 30 mins on Sa Calobra with me! Ralph Sigg!

[@PierreAlainMaire]

We are not used to that heat in Switzerland, it was crazy 3-4 days... happens only once a year and usually in july. Add to the massive heat that you were on your own, not knowing the roads, I think you did very well ! For next time you could use your online community to arrange some feeding points ;-) You took it as an experience and enjoyed the trip and view. Fantastic.

[@edlaverack]

I really did enjoy!!

[@winstoncat6785]

Ed, your performance was fine given it was your first such event. As I said, take a look at the specialists in these ultra-fondos and what they do. Nothegger, probably the most famous of all, alleges he does 400,000 metres of climbing per year for instance. He lives in Gran Canaria which helps. But I also mentioned Christina Rausch, (Peluchine Paco on strava) the winner of the women's category in the Ötztaler last year. She lives and trains near me in Lower Saxony, little different for hills than Wales. You are not really ready for these events. If you want to be, you have to train all year round for them. And I don't think you'd enjoy that. It's the life of an ironman triathlete which I wouldn't wish on anybody. The heat was definitely a factor however. This year was ridiculous. A once in 25 years thing. Most times, you'll be battling cold on descents there. The altitude is largely irrelevant. These passes are not high enough to to anything to you that they won't do to others (and it's now clear to me that I've crossed many more 2000m plus summits than you so I do know of what I speak). If you want to prepare "at altitude" you go to South America and live at 3500m for several weeks (I've also done this on 4 occasions due to my job - not for training purposes, but the effect was there). You then have a 2 week window of advantage. After 2 weeks it's gone. Bernal for instance gains no altitude advantage by the time the racing in europe starts. He may derive other training benefits from living for months at 2500m however. But altitude is essentially the same for everyone in the fondos. If you insist on doing more of these, I'd advise the Ötztaler. It's the biggest, by far the most prestigious, very well organised, attracts the best field there is, and it runs like a road race. It is very linear. The roads are largely closed (not on the Italian side) and it's mentally manageable - 4 climbs. You can actually try to race it. And you might be able to go to the end with your more road racing oriented training.

[@edlaverack]

This is something I will think about next year for sure!

[@nicksidell4797]

You may ramble on a bit Ed, but it is usually a good ramble on and you are always honest In what you say and how you feel and it comes across well, and at the end of the day it’s another little adventure You have done and you can always go back to it another time if you so what as now you have got a benchmark for yourself, really enjoyed it and look forward to the next just keep enjoying riding your bike.

[@davidives7668]

Very well done Ed , every day is a school day to learn from. I am very happy to put out my deck chair and wait 6 hours to give you a feed and some water when you come along 😉

[@donalmahon]

The best video ive seen from you Ed and a great insight. I bet you've learned more from this event than any other of your cycling achievements .

[@mathewrose2951]

Thank you for sharing your experience with this event. I had looked at the Haute Route series, but I didn’t book anything as those are all a couple thousand pounds. I looked at the Tour des Stations pricing and I appreciate the fact that they are making an epic day of climbing accessible to everyone without demanding an epic fee. I’d definitely consider doing this event in future years after seeing your vlog

[@edlaverack]

It is something you should do if you have the availability

[@tuonp]

It would probably help to install a Zwift setup next to a fireplace in a chalet on top of the mountain. I wonder if Swiss riders do that.

[@PierreAlainMaire]

While eating cheese fondue, of course we do that ;-)

[@simonbrown3993]

Fantastic insight again Ed and a truly fantastic effort on the day. As you say the only way you could have done the prep better would have been to ride those routes for a month prior to the event to get a real feel for them, the attitude and the weather but that was not possible, this time. Now the next tour of stations, will that be you cycling around all the remote train stations in Wales. Haha😂😂😂

[@nickpilgrim1966]

Agree with below... flying in the day before means there’s no recovery... a day or two just to sleep and relax is important. Also, it’s a big advantage for local riders having supporters to hand food and water. A race I did in Italy we had to use water stops (3 stops in 140km) where they only had small plastic cups (completely hopeless) but local riders had family with water bottles out on the course. Anyway great effort and it’s all good fun! (In Italy I crashed anyway so the water wasn’t a factor 😀)

[@simonnaylor9695]

Hi Ed. Firstly great result. I knew that the heat, altitude and length of climb (possibly) were going to make a hell of a difference to your performance. As usual though, you have analysed it perfectly and will use this event to learn and adapt to the extra stress this terrain brings. I am an average middle age plodder, but I have lived in both the Alpes and now the Pyrenees for almost ten years now, so am lucky enough to ride in this terrain every day, but slowly! These events are brutal. The grand and even medium fondos in the area I now live, every one of them would make a queen stage of any grand tour. Maybe next year you should look to spend a few months based in Andorra. It's the mountain equivalent to being based in Flanders. There are always small peletons of pro's and amateurs passing buy in every direction, all day. On some days you would be forgiven for believing a race or granfondo was actually on. You can rent a ski apartment in somewhere like Pas de la casa and sleep every night at over 2000m. The entire area of Andorra, the cerdanya and alt d'urgell to the south and Ariege to the north are a mountain wonderland. Take a look at events like la Purito, volta als ports d'Andorra, l'Ariegoise and the Fabio Casertelli. The Purito is especially hard with 4800m of climbing in only 120KM, right up your street! I am sure you will know a few pros living there or have some contacts in the area, it's well worth a look. Looking forward to seeing how you get on at the Marmotte, be good to see you you go for it on a parcours with a more (for you) normal distance.

[@edlaverack]

Thanks for this buddy!! Appreciate your expertise!!

[@A.WTolver]

Thanks Ed

[@geoffwoods3653]

Well done Ed, great effort!👍

[@st939]

I'm Swiss, I know the guy who finished 5th and he's a real beast. I must say I'm kind of disappointed by your result Ed given everything I've seen you doing both on Zwift and outside. However Ultrafondo is torture and one must be specifically prepared and organized to face it. Now that you know I hope you will rejoin next time and do better. Kudos anyway. Oh and I own a place up in Nax, let me know next time I'll let you stay free of charge...

[@edlaverack]

Cheers pal. I’m happy, I was 11th on the road at one point and if I had some feed support I would have been right up there for a heck of a lot longer with my abolity

[@radoslawmroz9729]

Epic ride Ed !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jacquesperrenoud1368]

Merci ED

[@howkiatz]

I see how in walles still was 15-16 grades in July and I was thinking wow great temperature for did good effort, in Italy start in June with over 30 grades, lot high umidity and can’t do nothing of really good but is great adaptation for this situation 😀

[@edlaverack]

Too true!!!

[@MishMash95]

Heat is absolutely insane. Turboing through lockdown got me adapted to doing intensity at 24-25C, but this week in London with 35C+, its just on another level. Was crawling along at 150w yesterday and felt awful xD Solid effort from you anyhow, impressive numbers on most of the climbs, especially given the conditions, would have been interesting to see how you would have faired in the short event, I believe Jason Osbourne (ex pro rower) was the first finisher, he seems to be insanely strong, beyond the level of many pro riders.

[@edlaverack]

I was in the same challet as Jason. I’d now consider him a great friend🙂

[@leegregory5597]

whilst i am not in the same category as you and in no way compared to your abilities, in 2009 for my 40th birthday i did the etape du tour when it finished on Mont Ventoux. It was about 140k ish and a moderate amount of climbing apart form the last mountain. It was about 103 degrees that afternoon and it took me 4 hours to climb Ventoux, it took just over an hour to do the last 6km from Chalet Reynard. I had trained for the distance quite well but the relentlessness of the climbs and the heat just destroyed me both physically and mentally. It was 3 days before i could get back on the bike. As you alluded to in your video, some things you just have to experience in order to learn and appreciate. I am sure the guys who raced that on Saturday would probably have regular access to the climbs to be able to ride them whenever they want and get used to them and that would count for a lot.

[@edlaverack]

Nuts Lee!

[@MichaelBoogerd]

I’m getting a sense of disappointment in the result Ed... but that was a cracking effort, considering the amount of new variables - conditions, lack of support, high mountains riding, multiple mountains in high altitude. Anyone who has ridden climbs going that high, knows what it takes.. and what it takes out the body. Mountains and their temperamental climates command a different kind of respect.

[@sonnymiles-currey9195]

Did a great job at the Tour de stations! Do you now look back and think maybe it would have been more beneficial to put effort into making the bike lighter and taking time to grab food at fuel stations rather than the weight of a frame bag and carrying the weight of the days food and a frame bag over the first few climbs?

[@MrBJPitt]

There was nothing wrong with Eds bike setup. The heat simply cooked Ed, you know he was suffering when he wasn't able to exceed 200 watts on the final climb. I'm certain that if this event had the same weather he was used to, he would have finished 2 hours up the road.

[@sonnymiles-currey9195]

@@MrBJPitt I wasnt saying there was a problem with his setup and i know it was the weather that took it out of him. im simply asking if he would still go with the same setup again or he would make changes.

[@gerrybarnes9999]

Every day is a school day 👍💪

[@philadams9254]

ive heard some of the hill climb guys acclimatise to heat by doing Level 1 on the turbo with layers on for a couple of weeks before an event. obviously, HCs are freezing, but the adaptations apparently help power in cool conditions too

[@sjon02]

Nice race dude. Gotta correct you on what you said @3:40 though, can tell you're not that well read into fondo's :P, as MINNAERT MICHIEL is clearly (to me atleast) a Belgian. MSO-Chrono noted alot of ppl as being Swiss, including myself actually.. PS: i like @tuonp's advice aswell ;D.. O well. Big Day Out for all that competed! That's for sure!

[@edlaverack]

Cheers pal. You know I was there for the experience more than anything. I know these people are well in to their gran Fondos in Europe!

[@tunaficiency]

As a carb junkie which in all fairness you probably need to be for hill climb events have you thought of adapting your body to keto be perfect for an ultra ? You could try it for 2 or 3 weeks in the winter you’ve got nothing to lose ( well you can’t lose any more weight I guess 😂) anyway that heat sounds beyond

[@edlaverack]

I have indeed and would love to try it in the winter months comi BF up!

[@jasonetherington37]

Fatigue resistance is probably the number 1 least trained for thing by most people. The modern day obsession with Zwift and crits has left people with great power but after 90mins they are dead. I prepared for TDMB by doing long easy rides of 5-6hours then 1hour efforts at the end so your body is prepared for work when it’s tired. Wales is your best bet for long steady climbs in the UK. Getting support from the roadside is obviously a major factor though.

[@edlaverack]

Everyone I work with gets this fed back to them at the end of every month. Being able to resist fatigue is MASSIVE!

[@jackmorrissey5318]

Probably next time you should use an altitude tent or altitude training

[@jonshaw4344]

its amazing that Geraint Thomas won the tour really, such a hostile environment compared to home, mind you he didn`t win first time around

[@edlaverack]

Doesn’t live in Wales as much as me😂

[@xirtam57]

Stonking!

[@simonbrown3993]

Lord you are not first haha 😂

[@KOMHuntTV]

Doh!

[@lindabillett4535]

P.S That kind of heat is very debilitating especially when not used to it living in UK - it had similar effect on the Team Canyon guys at the Ventoux Challenge race🥵👎🏻

[@adcuz]

Any plans to attack Alpe d'Huez?

[@edlaverack]

Yes!

[@KOMHuntTV]

Have we got spED up Ed again... this one is tough one for me.... Hmmmm Yes, I'm going for sped up... Come on... was it??

[@edlaverack]

Defo not!

[@KOMHuntTV]

Ed Laverack Ooooooo there was a small cut and after that my ears were playing tricks on me 😂 I’ll let you off but I’m keeping my eye on this 😆😆😆👑🍦

[@madmonkeycycling9098]

2nd place was a 28 yo Belgian. He's not used to altitude, neither is he used to hot weather. He rides 16 hours a week on basically flat roads, but normally wins a couple of granfondo's a year and places on the podium for 90% of them.

[@edlaverack]

The top 3 were Swiss Mad Monkey

[@madmonkeycycling9098]

Ed Laverack No, Michiel Minnaert is Belgian. I know him

[@edlaverack]

Results have him down as Swiss, maybe he has dual citizenship. In which case, that would help. Doesn’t make him a better or worse rider than me by the way🙂

[@madmonkeycycling9098]

Ed Laverack No, it’s just a registration error. Hé’s 100% Belgian and lives near Gent. You can also look him up on procyclingstats and strava, he publishes power and weighs around 54kg. You can see what it takes

[@edlaverack]

I know what it takes👍🏼🙂

[@winstoncat6785]

Another thing. You cannot "acclimatise" for heat. You are already optimally suited for it anyway. You have extraordinarily low body fat. That's the best you can do. Human adaptations for heat are long term, genetic ones.

[@glenorourke2823]

Fondo rides are odd events....you should have sat on wheels for as long as possible then go hard at the end. Wheel suckers win fondos. Even hilly ones btw. Stick to koms for real tests of your ability. These gnarly old guys are ruthless at these events.

[@edlaverack]

Thanks Glen! Understood.

[@MrBJPitt]

This is an article I think may help for when you choose to race this ride. www.outsideonline.com/2407295/why-higher-vo2max-isnt-always-better

[@edlaverack]

Thanks Pal!