Vice XTERRA World Champion in 2010, Franky Batelier (Fra) is now working in the global cycling ergonomics.
Through the website and the newsletters, he will advise and will help you to prepare the XTERRA France. This is his first view and advises of the XTERRA France bike course.
'' Start to study the course with figures: 2x18 km / positive uneven : 1500m / negative uneven : 1500m The bike course in Xonrupt is not a place where you have time to look at landscapes. Don't forget that you are riding in Vogesen mountains. To pre ride the bike course is essential if you want to save precious seconds. You can even save few minutes. If you feel haggard at the swim exit, it doesn't last a long, as soon as you start the bike course by a long hill of 5,5km with steep passages. When you reach the top, you are now around 1000 altitude, breath deeply before starting technical downhills through single tracks. Sure that you will enjoy this moment. Then, back to up and down trails, it's rarely flat there. I hope for you that you'll be in good shape !
At km 14, you know that you'll enjoy all efforts you made to reach the top of the hills. You start the final downhill to go back to the lake of Xonrupt ! Rapid descent, technical parts but never dangerous, enjoy it and control your speed. As you reach the famous jump with a lot of spectators, at the end of the first loop, don't forget that you've ''only'' ridden 18km. Now it's time for the second loop which is exactly the same than the first one. Even if you don't trust me, I swear it's the same one but you feel it tougher !
I know it's simple and easy to say that but manage your efforts. This bike course is probably the toughest one among the XTERRA European stages. If you look closer to the bike course, you will note that for each loop you have 2 hilly parts and 2 descent parts. Between these, tough trails. When you know the profile, it's easier to manage your efforts.
Early July in Xonrupt, that can be hot, very hot with an amazing smelling of resin when you ride through the forest. It can be also humid, very humid with a fat mud that stick to your bike. Whatever the weather and how you manage the 2 loops bike course, don't forget to keep forces for the last 10km trail run.
Next time I will advise you about your bike stuff to optimize your performance.
Train smart ''
Franky |