Grand Raid Cristalp

Setting off from Verbier the route goes straight into a decent 800m climb, taking you up to the next lift station. My intention to stick with my riding partner Ross was dashed early on in amongst the mass of bikes jostling their way out of town through the forest and up the winding fire road. I had expected a quick start, but Ross’ warning about the nature of the course (he rode it some years ago, when he was a few pounds lighter but no less determined, and managed a very respectable 9hrs 23 mins) and how it got progressively harder towards the end were fresh in my mind.

ECG scan profile of the 2013 Grand Raid Cristalp

The field seemed to consist mainly of Swiss, Dutch and French riders, conspicuous for the number of new and very expensive looking carbon hardtail 29ers they all passed me on. I knew I was probably carrying a few extra pounds on them (on the bike, mind) so was content to let them go. My strategy was going to require some fast descending to recompense for my pedestrian climbing.

Just to keep things tight the organisers have a system of cut off points. If you miss them, and they are reasonably tight, particularly if you have the misfortune of encountering a technical issue, you are removed from the race.

Lining up to start I had done my homework for the Grand Raid Cristalp (or so I thought)

The closest we managed to a flat section all day was to be found at the top of the first climb. A path skirted the edge of the mountain for 1km before disappearing into a tunnel marked ‘Welcome to Hell’ and wired up with a PA system blasting out AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black’. I guess it all started to get interesting around that point.

Ross goes for the Ray Charles on a mountain bike look

The first descent of the day was something of an eye opener for me. Long and very fast fire road. My preparation consisted of trips to mud and boulder strewn stretches of Wales, and the forests of Surrey’s Leith Hill and the surrounding area. Where were the big rocks and repeated switch backs I was so used to? As I pondered this, the same aforementioned European riders came past me at a tremendous speed. I mean, they were bombing it. I could see at that point that a change of strategy was required. So started my education in riding gravel covered fire roads. Not the most interesting, but as I found there is a certain skill to it. And I have to say, the Canyon Nerve AL 9.9 29er was perfect for the task.

From there on the route traces a jagged path through, over and round the mountains of the Valais region, with nothing even resembling a flat surface to be seen again.

Not just a number…

The facilities are typically Swiss, and by that I mean well organised and efficient, with regular feed stations along the route. As always seems to be the case in the Alps, the support is immense, with people lining the route to cheer you on and show you a smile as you pass them; quite a marked difference from the surly and at times murderous car drivers I’m used to encountering on the Surrey and Kent Hills.