ElliptiGO European Championships 2018 ~ Mount Revard, Aix-Les-Bains

To add a bit of extra excitement to my marathon training this summer I decided to mix it up and head over to France for the ElliptiGO European Championships 2018. It takes place in Aix-les-Bains, France each year in the foot hills of the Alps. The event is a 21.2KM climb to the top of Mount Revard ascending 1,300 metres. And it was a race! I've never actually raced the ElliptiGO before despite owning one for nearly 8 years now. I've taken part in many long distance rides organised under Audax rules but these aren't considered races. So this was something rather different. I will openly admit to being a very competitive person so a race was something new and exciting. 

I travelled over on the Eurostar to Paris on the Friday. The race was on the Sunday (2nd Sept 18). It was trouble free getting through France with the ElliptiGO. French trains are very accommoding to cyclists and have a separate carriage ('chariot' in French!) for bikes. As show in the photo even my ElliptiGO Arc bike fitted very nicely indeed. 

A day of travelling saw me arrive in my AirBnB apartment in Aix-les-Bains just as it was getting dark. I devoured a whole vegetarian pizza from the nearby takeway which hit the spot. The young Frenchman who served me was very excited to try his English on me asking if I understood him. His English was far better than my French that's for sure. 

Aix-les-Bains is a pretty town that sits right on Lake Bourget. Typically French in architecture and charm. Saturday morning and it was time to find the local Boulangerie for breakfast. Many almond crossiants later and I had the rest of the day to not do too much but rest, ahead of the race on Sunday. The only important task for the day was to register for the race in town at 5pm with race organiser Eric Bouvier. A top chap who has selflessly put this race on for the last 5 years. This was the 6th Edition.

ElliptiGO family of bikes, latest Edition the SUB in blue

Fellow Brit, friend and ElliptiGOer Billy Grace had flown in from Jersey via Gatwick to Geneva to take part too. Billy won the 5th edition last year on his ElliptiGO Arc bike (the same bike I was riding this year although I have upgraded my gear set to Deore XT 10 speed). But Billy had a new plan too and had brought across his new ElliptiGO SUB in a flight box. The SUB is the latest model in the ElliptiGO range. It's their lightest model yet (so good for hills!) and all reports from those that have one is that they were quick! It's not an elliptical bike though and is based on a conventional bike crank set, but crucially still without the saddle (SUB = Stand Up Bike) with larger foot platforms replacing the pedals.

So essentially it was myself on the Arc versus Billy on the SUB and of course any number of other riders that will show up also eyeing up glory. One of these riders was Nate from the US who had flown over only the day before for the race. Nate finished 2nd in 2016. So the scene was set for a good battle up Mount Revard in the morning. 

Race start was 9am sharp in the main town centre. We would race half a mile or so to escape the town Centre before we hit the slopes of Mount Revard. 27 riders lined up at the start from 5 countries (23 Long Strides, 3 Arc's and 1 SUB). After some start area photos, pleasantries and comparing bikes it was down to business as Eric Bouvier called 6 minutes to the start. I wasn't messing around and got myself positioned on the left on the start line. Billy soon emerged from up the road to reverse his SUB to the right hand side also on the start line. We were all set. 

With friends: Emmanuel, Veronique, Eric and Billy

I was hyped and ready for action! 

There was countdown from 5 and we were off. I wasn't hanging around we were racing after all :-) Billy soon chased on as did two other riders Jeremy and Clement both from France. Jeremy also riding an Arc and Clement on the ElliptiGO 8C long stride. The four of us soon put some distance between us and the rest of the pack. Clement was pushing really hard on the slopes in town so he passed me and Billy followed him with the two of them just ahead of myself and Jeremy.

Off the start line! 

In the first few KMs this is how it stayed as we begin the rise out of town and onto the slopes of Mount Revard. It begins with residential streets before the houses disappear and give way to the mountain road. Clement was still pushing quite hard out in front and Billy right alongside him didn't appear to be working anywhere near as hard to maintain the same pace. But that could be because the long stride makes a lot more noise, but its extra weight (7kg more than the SUB) and the extra resistance in the rollers means it IS more work (but just as much fun!!!). 

Jeremy and I were back and forth position wise about 10 metres behind. I certainly didn't want this gap to widen any further even at this early stage so was concentrating on keeping my stride smooth, the gear changes precise to match the changing elevation profile and generally try to keep up whilst not wasting unnecessary energy this early on in the race. 

To provide some context of what we were undertaking as far as the Mt Revard climb is concerned the course record over the 21K distance is just over 1:25.13.  The average gradient is 7% and it climbs 1,300 metres in total. It doesn't go much steeper than 7% but it is very consistent hence the need for efficiency with every pedal stroke. We were already riding the 7% stuff almost immediately once we were out the town and only 20 minutes into the race. So it wasn't going to get any easier and we still had well over an hour + of this high intensity effort to go.

As I dare to peer skyward you could see the clear peak of Mt Revard looming down large from such a magnificent height. There isn't a single road climb in the whole of the UK that climbs over 1,000 metres and I'd never attempted anything like this before. I was enjoying the challenge so far. 

A little further and I decided to close the gap.  We caught up and were now riding as a four. I sensed the pace might have slowed just a little so went ahead. Thoughts of race tactics then occupied my mind, and my initial thought was to try and control the pace from the front. That's what Team Sky do in the Tour de France right, so why shouldn't it work for me here too. Well one reason... Billy because he had other plans and pushed on again to up the pace. Clement pushed on too with a mega high cadence. The chap was fit and an Ironman! I had dinner with him and the gang the evening before and naturally conversation led to what events each has done. He was certainly fit and meant business, as was Jeremy who was younger (mid-twenties). Clement I'd put around my age ~ a young 40.

Anyway Billy was pushing on smoothly with a very consistent cadence that he made look effortless on the SUB. I followed on but the gap was probably nearer 15 metres now. With this push of pace Clement and Jeremy were now falling behind and we wouldn't see them again in the race. It was now just Billy up ahead and myself in hot pursuit but trying not to burn up my reserves in some madcap dash to close the gap. On this steepness gaps can't be closed quickly and our pace was already high. 

At this point I remember glancing at my watch and seeing the time elapsed of 28 minutes. We were only a third into the race (judged by the course record), but I should add that I wasn't looking at the distance on my watch as I didn't want to know. Nor was I preoccupied with the course record. I'd be lying if I said it wouldn't be nice to get close to it or even better it but right now that was totally irrelevant to what immediately occupied my thoughts. And that was Billy who was still way up the road as we started to enter switch backs to take us up.

The steady climbing continued

As you get onto the climb 'proper' with the winding mountain road there are KM markers indicating how far to the peak. The first one of these I saw was at 11KM, exactly half way up our climb. It was a nice moment in the race to know we had half the job done. But in terms of effort it was probably just beginning. As I looked to my left the views of Lake Bourget far below were stunning. Not that I could lose myself in the moment for very long as the gap to Billy just wasn't closing. I started to count the seconds between us when I saw Billy pass a point I could pick out. At this half way point it was roughly 25 seconds.

The only way is up

Over the next 6K of climbing the road surfaces were generally very good and smooth which makes for better GOing. But there was one moment when I could swear I had suffered a puncture. Game over I thought! The effort I was seemingly having to put in to maintain the same speed was higher. And the rear tyre just felt 'draggy'. It turned out to be nothing at all. Just the increased effort on a slight change in road surface which also creating a rumble effect like a flat tyre. The gap between Billy and I would close slightly and then widen again as we both hit different gradients stretching like an elastic band. He was always in my eye sight and this gave me hope but at the work rate we were both putting in to maintain our current speed I was starting to wonder what I could do to close it. So close yet so far is how I felt. 

Thoughts even started to cross my mind at this point that I would be happy with 2nd place if it finished this way. On the podium was a good result but it wasn't a win and I really did only come here for one thing. I knew it even if I didn't outwardly admit it that anything less than a win wasn't what I can here for. I wanted to win and I had to do something to change the situation because Billy wasn't appearing to fade at all.

Having fun!! Even time for a thumbs up :-)

As I passed the 4K (to GO) marker I knew then that I had to start doing more. So on every section where the gradient did lessen slightly I would change up a gear, sometimes two, and do a short surge pumping the legs. For the first few of these efforts I would then use my watch (rather than count) to see what the gap was. Around 20 seconds. A tiny in road but not much. I was actually amazed how little effect these efforts seem to have showing how strong Billy was riding. 

Of course what I could not know was much much effort Billy was putting in to. When you are following someone else and watching their motion and ride you only see and witness the outcome as they appear to effortlessly glide up (in this case) the mountain in front of you. I couldn't experience or know if Billy was also going through the same turmoil. I could see that Billy would look back occasionally to see how far back I was. Did I have him worried? Was I closing fast enough to provide any concern? I wasn't sure. 

The surges continued on every section where I could. I had stopped counting the gap between us by this point. Counting wouldn't bring it closer. Only working harder would. The switch backs continued and we rose higher still. But where once the peak loomed high above it was now achingly close. I saw the 1K marker and I knew Instantly that it was now or never. It wasn't a waiting game. This was a race up a mountain to see who could get to the top the quickest. And what a race it was turning out to be. The gap was now visibly closer in that final 1K. What I had no idea about was what Billy had left in the tank when I try my move. 

What actually surprised me in the final stages of this race is that on the surges my legs were still good. In fact I was feeling better now than when I checked my watch at the 28 minute mark. Whether in reality that was true or it was just my brain telling me that you are nearly there so it gives you permission for one effort I don't know. I think it's a mixture of both. I knew I had something in the tank but I was petrified about blowing up by going too early, or leaving it too late and not making the catch. 

Something told me to GO as I approached a switch back with a building to the left side (which surely signaled we were approaching the top). With Billy having ridden the event twice before he knew exactly what was left. I had no idea but just rode as hard as I could from this point. This was my final move. Next was the catch ~ I passed Billy to my right, I didn't look across mainly because that would take more effort and it wasn't as if we were about to engage in conversation. I also didn't want anything to distract me. I just focused on driving hard as I could up the hill.

Steepest climb in the last 1KM

With a left turn I now followed the lead motorbike which had accompanied us the entire way. I still didn't know the way but just followed and hoped that I could make the move stick. I didn't look back. I just clung on, prayed and hoped. My legs were screaming, my lungs bursting. Surely we were almost there. There was a series of very short but steep zig-zag climbs through tight twisting roads amongst dense trees and (I think) some huts. We then came out of the trees and the road widened a little, and the motorbike rider indicated to follow a path off the road. This was a tricky 90 degree left hander from tarmac onto gravel. I had to slow down to take this safely but I had a feeling that Billy wasn't directly behind me. I followed the path left and then right as it opened up on the final short slope down to the finish.

Crossing the finish line

  

I shouted with pure emotion and joy, tremendous satisfaction and extreme relief. I had won the European ElliptiGO Championships 2018. That made me happy of course. But it was the whole sense of occasion, the race, how it unfolded, how Billy had ridden that made it so special. We rode that mountain together from start to finish and we pushed each other on to a finishing time that individually I wouldn't have managed alone. You have to be pushed to bring out the very best in a performance and Billy pushed me to my absolute limit.

Bottom right: Jeremy, me, Clement, Billy

My official finish time was 1:19.08. Knocking 6 minutes off the previous course record set in 2015 of 1:25.13. Billy came in 1:19.29 just 21 seconds behind me on the SUB. Clement appeared and crossed the finish line in 1:28.21 on his ElliptiGO Long Stride. An absolutely brilliant ride. I honestly thought with the effort he was expending on the lower slopes only 15 minutes into the race that he would blow up. So it was brilliant to see him hold that position and get on the podium. 

So three different ElliptiGO models all on the podium!! That says alot about these bikes and their development. Every one of them performs. What's unique about the ElliptiGO is that the products complement each other. They aren't rivals. They aren't competing for the same space. Each one has a set of unique benefits which owners love. And that's why many ElliptiGO enhausiasts own all three models (in some case even more!!)

Full race results 

Hey hello anyone still there? ....  I'm still stuck up this mountain....  Now it was just the small matter of getting back down.... 🤣

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Huge and special thanks to Eric Bouvier and all the volunteers that supported the event. The whole weekend had a unique and special communitu feel to it. It was an honour to meet so many other ElliptiGO riders whom just like me are hugely enhausiastic about the bike we all love to ride. This event really does attract and suit all abilities. Every one of 27 riders who started finished all the way up to 3 hours as the gathering crowds cheered and encouraged them across the finish line. Many new friends were made, information on the bikes and mods shared, a chance to chat, socialize, eat good food, and generally just have an awesome weekend in an awesome setting in France. 

So if there is anyone reading this that has always thought about coming over to the European ElliptiGO Champs, or who hasn't thought about it until now but wants to then I'd encourage you!! You'll have a blast.