Prague
LONG ROUTE 129,6 km Elevation: 1 600 m
The craziest thing that can be done? Sign up for a L'Etape competition for a long route 130 km i 1600 m of elevation – without training, preparation and having the most on the cycle computer at one time 90 km. Welcome to Prague!
The competitions were originally supposed to take place in June, They were moved to the end of August and we had time to shoot kilometers, because I will not call it preparation. We combined the trip to the competition with sightseeing in Prague, which we haven't seen yet.
Arrival and 2 days until the competition – 18 km of sightseeing in legs.
Photo. Organizer
1 day to the competition – 28 km of sightseeing in legs and picked up packages. Earlier, we had huge problems and confusion with the confirmation of registration, which we straightened with the organizers using e-mails. Receiving the packages itself went very smoothly.
My nervousness grew, This may be the, that I knew, that we are not prepared? I slept very badly at night, in the morning my stomach was cramped and I was thinking, that he would vomit out of nerves. Never before, before any start I was not so nervous!
We arrived at the starting point with a lot of spare time, there were no problems with parking spaces. We stood right next to the start. I didn't know how to dress – it was cold and rain was forecast. I opted for gloves, which were invaluable and a long sweatshirt – I had a raincoat in my pocket.
The crowds thickened, Several thousand people stood at the start. Honorary start and the first 7,5 km was announced at a calm pace only then a sharp start. It was like we feared it (one honorary start is behind us) full throttle from the start and pace well above 40 km / h. I do not even know, where was the sharp start?.
Photo. Organizer
We were quickly behind the lead and more riders were ahead of us. To 30 km, I had a crisis and I wanted to withdraw from the race. I saw no point in driving further, Maciej convinced me, that we have time and we will easily reach the limit, let the others race. The route was very varied ascents and descents – sometimes very dangerous and slippery. We traveled, I decided to skip the buffets, because I said, that once I stop, I won't move. The more, that I had the right amount of gels and bars in my pockets. We didn't manage to create or join the group and we went together.
After 100 km I already knew, that I will reach the finish line, but such a distance is not for me. About 30 km before the finish line, the weather was bad and we were really bad, fortunately some 10 km to the finish line it stopped raining. The organizers gave us the finish line in the uphill stretch and just before the final hill my chain fell off, but it was the only defect on the route. Cali, tired and not necessarily dry after over 5 hours, we checked in at the finish line.
It took me a while to recover. We wanted to use a regeneration meal, but getting to the town was a problem. When we realized the queue at the buffet for a container of pasta – skipped. Standing for over an hour, it was the same for coffee. We only have beer, which were distributed very efficiently! We didn't take advantage of the announced showers in this crowd, I didn't even feel like it. We ate, we changed clothes and rested in the car for a while, then we went back home.
I was very disappointed with the organization after the event, what was happening, crowds, problems with “publishing”, chaos and queues – shouldn't have happened. The route is a big plus – bardzo urozmaicona, ciekawa, marking, security and fans, in some places. Although I admit, that on our local Via series, fans often add up.
I did not feel the atmosphere of the Grand Tour. The Czechs organized the L'Etape cycling event for the first time under the aegis of the Tour de France, could it be better? Definitely. I am proud, that we passed 130 km and we reached the finish line. Important, that without problems and within the limit.
Prague also disappointed me as a city and capital. Dirty, anointed city, smelly, full of chews, beggars and sun loungers. In such a scenery, the monuments are relegated to the background…
