Défi de L’Oisans

15 to 20 August 2004

200km, D+=12.000m, 6 jours, 8 etapes

Last week I ran this “Challenge of the Oisans”, a 200km trail race around the GR54, starting and finishing in Les Deux Alpes east of Grenoble, and passing through the most fantastic alpine scenery. The route has 12,000m of ascent split over 6 days and 8 stages. Six of the 8 stages are timed races, the other 2 being recuperative walks.

Day 1. Walked from Les Deux Alpes to Auris en Oisans (14km) as a group, then set off at 11.30 for the start of the race proper. A tough 28km to Le Chazelet with heat and altitude to contend with. Fell off the pace a bit towards the end, and finished 8th in 3:42.

Day 2. Walked from Le Chazelet down to La Grave (sore quads) for the morning’s 5km time trial. A quick 24min blast up and over a grassy tree-covered hill to the picturesque village of Villar d’Arene. A bite of lunch and then the next stage – a fast runnable 21km to Monteniers Les Bains via the 2350m Col d’Arsine. Took a crashing fall in jaggy boulders on the descent, trying to cut zig-zags. Much blood, but finished OK in 2:05.

Day 3. A much needed rest day. Walked 20km from Monteniers Les Bains to Vallouise over the 2400m Col de l’Eychauda

Day 4. The biggest day. 54km/3000m from Vallousie to La Chapelle over 5 cols all higher than 2500m, the final col being exciting steep-angled skiddy black mud and shale. A tough 7k run-out down the road at the end having run out of water. 6:19.

Day 5. A surprisingly tough flog over 2 high cols. Tricky rocky 1100m descent from first col. Unrelenting scorching heat on climb to Col de Cote Belle, then superb runnable 1000m descent down to picturesque village of La Senestre. 4:35.

Day 6. The final day. Set off fast up 1300m climb to Col de la Muzelle (2600m). Tricky descent down boulders and rock hard snow patches. Quick drink at Refuge de la Muzelle, before continuing the fantastic 1700m descent to Bourg d’Arud. Seering heat as you left the forest and crossed the valley to Venosc for the 700m climb back to Les Deux Alpes beneath the telepherique. A shuffle run up the street, then a sprint for the line when the finish banner is in view. 3:06.

Finished 8th place of the 50 runners.

Full results here:

http://www.raidlight.com/site/smag/index.htm

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